Parents: 3 Ways to Decide About Baby-Led Weaning

As parents, there are lots of decisions to make about how you're going to assist your child's development, and baby-led weaning (BLW) is one option that needs to be considered. It constitutes allowing your small child to teach themselves how to eat by providing finger foods and no purees. As a mother to a young child myself, I took to the internet to find articles containing both sides of the debate.

Zoe Williams wrote an article for the Guardian explaining why she was not jumping on the bandwagon. Firstly, she believes BLW is a “bogus” fad that will pass with time. She also worries about the potential of a choking hazard, and also adds that it's unnecessarily messy.

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On the other hand, Julia Scirrotto argues in her NY Times Motherlode article that spoon-feeding babies is an outdated practice. She states that there's no evidence that BLW poses a choking risk, and says that the added mess is worth it for a hands-free mealtime.

So how can you decide what's right for you and your baby?

• Do your research – Read up on baby-led-weaning as well as purees. There are pros and cons to both methods, and strong arguments for both options.
• Ask your doctor – Your child's pediatrician will be able to give you the best advice, along with the results of the most current research.
  
• Know your baby – You are the best judge of your child's abilities. Trust your instincts and proceed the way you feel most comfortable.

Only you can make decisions for your baby, so consider the options and do what works for your family.

Halliday is a motherhood and lifestyle blogger. She is also a student of Social Media Marketing on Coursera. You can find more articles from her at HallidayNelson.com or find her on Facebook and Twitter.

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