If you’re looking to incorporate baby-led weaning into your baby’s routine, then look no further! In this article Annabel Karmel shares baby led weaning tips and ideas based on the most frequently asked questions.

What are the best baby-led weaning starter foods?

Babies around six months tend to use their whole hand to pick things up. They need to be able to close their hand around the food, so avoid making the pieces too wide. Fairly long pieces stand a better chance of being picked up. I would suggest cutting food into 5–6cm batons or sticks so that half is held in a baby’s hand and the other half sticks out.

Start with softer fingers foods such as cooked sticks of carrot, broccoli and sweet potato, and chunks of banana, avocado and cucumber. First tastes like steamed carrots should be cooked until soft but not too mushy so that they can grab it with their fist. It’s best to wait until your baby has teeth before you offer harder foods like raw carrot.

Try using a crinkle cutter when you’re cutting fruit and veg. The ridges will make it easier for your baby to grip the food – and even more fun to chew on.

Don’t overwhelm your baby with too many food options at the beginning. Just a couple of pieces of food, or a small portion of a family meal will be adequate.

How do I avoid too much mess when baby-led weaning?

It’s inevitable that there will be mess, but to ease the clear-up, choose an easy-clean highchair with a wide tray. Alternatively, choose a highchair without a tray and bring it up to the table.

Don’t worry about serving meals on plates or bowls when you start out. The likelihood is it will end up on the floor anyway. Just place the food straight onto their highchair tray. Invest in a wipe-clean bib and a splash mat for the floor. Shower curtains are a great option and can be bought cheaply.

Can I give my baby what I’m eating?

Baby-led weaning or BLW, is about making family mealtimes a social experience. While finger foods are important (particularly soft foods at the beginning), there’s no reason why you can’t serve them a portion of cottage pie, a mini roast dinner, or some salmon and roasted cauliflower. Just be sure to leave out the salt.

Don’t worry if your baby doesn’t like certain foods – it’s important that they explore a wide variety of foods independently. Try and think of mealtimes during the early stages as playtime, when baby explores different tastes and textures and gets comfortable with different foods.

Let your baby pick up food with their fingers when they start baby-led weaning. Babies must learn to move foods safely around their mouths, so don’t put food in their mouth. That way they will only pick up foods they can manage.

What foods should I avoid giving my baby before 12 months?

It’s important to be aware of the foods which your baby shouldn’t eat under the age of 12 months. Check out the foods to avoid.

Wait until your baby is ready. She should be able to sit in a highchair unassisted. Check out the signs that your baby is ready.

Don’t rush your baby or encourage her to eat a set amount or specific food. She chooses what, how much, and how quickly to eat.

Should I still be giving my baby milk feeds?

Babies should be given breast or formula milk for the entire first year. She’ll gradually consume less breast milk or formula in favour of solid foods, although between six months and one year, your baby will still need 500-600ml of breastmilk or formula each day.