Baby-Led Weaning

Traditionally, babies have been introduced to solid foods in a puréed or mashed form. Baby-led weaning is a different approach where a baby is offered finger foods and allowed to self-feed from the very beginning. The definition of baby-led weaning varies, but, generally, parents/caregivers do very little or no spoon feeding.

Despite its name, breastfeeding or fomula feeding continues when introducing solid foods by baby-led weaning. They will still get most of their nutrition from breastfeeding until feeding with solid foods is well established and baby is eating 3 meals per day and 2-3 snacks per day.

Exclusive breastfeeding* is recommended for the first six months.¹ Baby-led weaning is not recommended until a baby is about six months old and showing signs of readiness.² There is not enough evidence to recommend one approach to starting solid foods and many parents/caregivers do a combination of traditional spoon feeding and baby-led weaning to make sure their baby gets all the nutrition they need in a safe manner.

How do I know if my baby is ready for baby-led weaning?

Exclusive breastfeeding* is recommended for the first six months. Breastfeeding should continue until 2 years or as long as mom and baby desire, along with solid foods.¹ Babies are usually ready to start solid foods at about six months when they are showing the following signs of readiness:²

• Able to hold their head up
• Able to sit up in a high chair
• Able to open their mouth to accept food, close their mouth around a spoon 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 high chair is especially important with baby-led weaning to ensure the baby’s safety.

How do I safely and nutritiously start baby-led weaning?

• Continue to breastfeed regularly on demand. Baby requires a vitamin D supplement of 400 international units (IU) until they are two years of age and getting vitamin D in their diet.¹
• A parent/caregiver should always supervise all of baby’s meals and snacks.
• Offer baby soft-cooked, cut up finger foods that can be easly grasped in their fist.²
• Baby’s first foods should be iron-rich, such as poultry, meat, fish, tofu and beans.¹
• 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 nutrient dense foods, like fish, eggs, beans, cheese, avocado, sweet potatoes, and bananas. Include a variety of foods, including meat and alternatives, milk products, whole grain products, and vegetables and fruits.
• 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 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. One feeding approach does not have to be chosen over the other. In fact, Health Canada recommends introducing a variety of textures after six months, including pureed, minced, mashed, lumpy and finger foods.¹
• Some sample 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 More research is needed to determine the safety of baby-led weaning and any effects on long-term growth and development. Talk to your healthcare provider or a Registered Dietitian about introducing solid foods and whether baby-led weaning is right for 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.