How do I know if my baby is ready for baby-led weaning?
Babies are usually ready to start solid foods at about six months when they are showing the following signs of readiness:2
- Baby is 6 months old (give or take a few weeks).
- Able to hold their head up
- Able to sit up in a highchair
- Able to open their mouth to accept food, close their mouth and refuse food by turning their head away
- Able to pick up food and put it in their mouth
Being able to sit upright independently in a highchair is especially important with baby-led weaning to ensure the baby’s safety.
How do I safely and nutritiously start baby-led weaning?
- A parent/caregiver should always supervise all of baby’s meals and snacks.
- The parent/caregiver decides which foods to offer and when and where meals/snacks are served. The baby decides which foods to eat and how much to eat. At first, baby may just play with foods or eat very little.2
- Offer baby soft-cooked, cut up finger foods that can be easily grasped in their fist.2
- Baby’s first foods should be iron-rich, such as eggs, poultry, meat, fish, tofu and beans or fortified infant cereal.1
- After baby has started eating iron-rich foods and is offered them twice a day, offer other foods like vegetables and fruits, food made with whole grains, and milk products like yogurt and cheese
- Wait until 9-12 months to introduce cow’s milk. Milk products, like cheese and yogurt can be introduced after six months. Avoid honey until after 1 year of age.1
- Avoid high-choking risk foods, like whole nuts, whole grapes, whole hot dogs, popcorn, hard candies, whole cherry/grape tomatoes, chunks of celery or pineapple, and sticky foods. Foods, like grapes and cherry/grape tomatoes, can be cut into quarters and served safely.1
- Baby can also be offered some traditional puréed foods.
- Some nutrient dense food ideas:2
- Wedges of hard boiled eggs
- Strips of chicken or tofu
- Pieces of cooked fish
- Pieces of soft fruit, like banana, canned pear packed in juice, and avocado
- Whole grain toast with thinly spread peanut butter
- Strips or spears of soft-cooked vegetables, like broccoli, sweet potato, carrots and green beans
- Shredded cheese
Regardless of feeding approach, baby should be about six months of age and showing signs of readiness to begin solid foods.1 Talk to your healthcare provider or a Registered Dietitian about introducing solid foods to your baby.
*If you have made an informed decision to offer infant formula to your baby, the recommendations for offering complementary (or solid) foods are the same as for babies who are breastfed.
Resources
Feeding Your Baby: A Guide to Help You Introduce Solid Foods
Feeding Your Baby from 6-8 Months
Feeding Your Baby From About 9 Months
Iron for Babies and Young Children
Vitamin D for Breastfed Babies
Vitamin D: How to Give to Baby
Eating Well for New Moms
Other Resources
