Introducing your baby to food for the first time is an exciting time for any parent. That being said, it can also be a bit nerve-wracking, especially if you are unsure about whether to go down the more traditional baby feeding route or to embrace baby-led weaning.
The NHS recommends that you start giving your baby food from 6 months and that you focus more on introducing them to new tastes and textures rather than on how much they are eating.
This advice lends itself perfectly to baby-led weaning as your baby will have the opportunity to explore a wide variety of different foods with minimal intervention.
If you are unsure about whether or not this method of introducing your baby to foods is for you, keep reading to discover the top five benefits of baby-led weaning and how it can help your baby become a varied and non-fussy eater!
1. It’s more enjoyable for your baby
When your baby experiences something for the first time, don’t you want it to be as fun and enjoyable for them as possible? Baby-led weaning is arguably more fun and stimulating for your baby than being fed some puree from a spoon.
If you are worried about the mess, and it’s a valid concern when it comes to choosing baby led weaning, Bibado has the perfect solution for you in the form of long-sleeved baby weaning bibs that catch any flying food before it has a chance to fall on your floor.
2. It’s a natural process
Think about how your baby develops, how they learn to crawl and walk. It’s all a matter of trial and error. If they fall, they simply pull themselves up and try again. It is the same with feeding; your baby should be allowed to learn this skill themselves without too much help from you as their parent.
Babies love to experiment, and they especially love to put things in their mouths; it’s how they explore, so it makes sense that they would do the same when it comes to discovering foods for the first time.
3. It builds their confidence
If you want to raise a strong, independent child, then you need to let them learn things for themselves. Yes, they may get more broccoli in their eyes and their hair than in their mouth, but in time they will learn, and they will get more skilled at feeding themselves.
As your baby discovers new textures and flavours that they like, this will teach them that they can make good things happen, resulting in improved self-esteem and overall confidence.
4. It’s cheaper
There is no getting around it; babies are expensive. However, if you are looking to save money, it is worth knowing that baby-led weaning is a lot cheaper than spoon-feeding your baby a shop-bought or even homemade puree. This is purely because your baby can pretty much eat whatever the rest of the family is having for dinner.
5. It’s safe
There is no evidence to suggest that baby-led weaning is more likely to result in choking than spoon-feeding. The only thing that you will notice with baby-led weaning is that your baby will gag more. However, this is perfectly natural and is a safety mechanism that prevents your baby from choking.
