Skip the Spoon: Let Your Baby Feed Themselves

Before giving your baby solid food, talk to their doctor. You might want to ask about something called baby-led weaning. This is a different way of starting solids—and some parents really like it!

What Is Baby-Led Weaning?

With baby-led weaning, you don’t feed your baby with a spoon. Instead, you let your baby pick up soft foods and feed themselves. There are some cool benefits:

• Babies decide how much to eat. This helps them learn when they’re full.
• Babies start when they’re ready. You wait for signs your baby is ready before giving solid food.
• It’s great for family meals. Your baby can sit with everyone and eat at the same time.

Safety First

Ask your doctor what foods are safe to try and how to prevent choking. Good starter foods are:

• Soft foods you can mash with your fingers (like cooked veggies or ripe fruit)
• Big pieces of food that baby can gnaw on without small pieces breaking off (like well-cooked strips of meat)

Make sure your baby is sitting up straight during meals, and always keep a close eye on them while they eat.

You Can Mix Methods

You don’t have to choose just one way. Some parents use both baby-led weaning and spoon-feeding. Talk to your doctor to figure out what works best for you and your baby.