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Ready to get messy? Here’s everything you need to know about baby-led weaning.
If it’s time for your baby’s first taste of solid food, you might be thinking about ways to wean, including baby-led weaning (BLW).
From how to get started to the ideal foods for tiny fingers, we’ve got you covered when it comes to your baby-led weaning adventure.
What is baby-led weaning?
Baby-led weaning (also known as infant-led weaning) involves offering your baby finger foods and encouraging them to feed themselves from their very first taste of solid food. This is instead of your baby being spoon-fed with pureed and mashed foods1.
It’s a great way for your baby to explore food and its different textures, smells and flavours, and learn new skills as they pick food up and feed themselves. Of course, it’s also an opportunity for your baby to throw food far and wide - but it’s all part of the fun!
Baby led weaning vs traditional weaning – the pros and cons
There’s no right or wrong approach to weaning; it’s all about what works best for you and your baby.
Take a look at some of the pros and cons of both baby-led weaning and a more traditional approach, to help you decide what’s right for you2:
| Baby-led weaning: the pros | Baby-led weaning: the downsides |
|---|---|
✅ Encourages confidence and independence around food. ✅ Your baby may be less fussy about the foods they eat later on. ✅ Develops hand/eye coordination. ✅ Helps your baby learn how to chew, strengthening their jaw and helping their speech development. ✅ Helps your baby control the amount of food they eat. ✅ Can reduce the risk of food allergies, with a broader range of foods being introduced into your baby’s diet early. ✅ Can save you time and money—no batch cooking of purees and no creating different meals for your baby and the rest of the family. | ❌ The mess! If you’re a fan of clean floors and surfaces, baby-led weaning might not be for you. ❌ Many parents worry about the risk of choking. There’s no evidence to suggest that your baby is more likely to choke when using baby-led weaning, but it’s important that you feel comfortable with the approach you choose. ❌ You may wonder how much your little one is eating and whether they’re getting enough of the nutrients they need. Remember, though, that at this stage, breast milk or baby formula will still be your baby’s main source of energy and nutrients. ❌ Waste - sometimes, there’ll be more food on the floor than in your baby’s mouth. |
| Traditional weaning: the pros | Traditional weaning: the cons |
✅ You can see how much your baby is eating. ✅ Makes it easier for people to help out. Not everyone is comfortable with baby-led weaning - especially if you’re not around. ✅ Less mess - but don’t underestimate how much mess can be made from spoon to mouth! | ❌ Your baby may not be as involved in your family meals and may have less opportunity to learn from others at mealtimes. ❌ Your baby could get too comfortable with purees, making them more reluctant to master lumpier textures and finger foods. ❌ They may become a little fussy when it comes to new flavours in the future. |
How to Get Started with Baby Led Weaning (BLW)
First things first; make sure your baby is ready for solid foods. For example, can they pick solid foods and bring them to their mouth? At around 6 months, if you’re spotting the clear signs that your baby is ready to wean, then it’s go time!
Pick a time that works for you both, when your baby isn’t too distracted, tired or full after a milk feed. Start with a selection of single fruits and veggies that are:
- Cooked until they’re soft.
- The right size for little hands to hold - the size of an average chip is about right.
- Cool enough for your baby to hold.
What happens next is up to your baby. They may play with the food you give them, squish it, or even throw it on the floor. But rest assured that some will eventually end up in their mouth.
Let your little one take things at their own pace, they’ll let you know when they’ve had enough. Watch out for them spitting food out, becoming restless and ‘squirmy’ or losing interest, and never force your baby to finish any food they don’t want. Most importantly, have fun watching your little one master a new milestone.
Baby led weaning foods
Get the inspiration you need for your baby’s healthy and balanced weaning diet, from fruits and veggies to proteins and dairy.
Vegetables for baby-led weaning
Savoury flavours such as vegetables are a good place to start, as this can help to avoid your baby developing a sweet tooth. Try offering your baby finger sticks of3:
- Broccoli florets.
- Green beans.
- Courgette.
- Asparagus.
- Parsnips.
Once your baby is used to these scrummy veggies, introduce the ones with a sweeter flavour, such as sweet potato and carrots.
Fruits for baby-led weaning
Juicy and delicious, introduce your baby to a selection of fruity flavours. Offer your baby finger sticks of:
- Bananas.
- Mango.
- Oranges.
- Melon - great for soothing sore gums if your little one is teething.
- Cut Strawberries.
- Cut Raspberries.
Remove any hard skin, stones, and pips, and cook more solid fruits (such as apples and pears) until they’re soft enough for your baby to manage3.
Proteins for baby-led weaning
Protein is an essential part of your baby’s weaning diet, and you can start introducing protein-rich foods from the moment your baby is ready for solid food3:
- Meat - try your baby with manageable pieces of chicken, pork, lamb and beef.
- Tofu.
- Eggs. Only use eggs that have the British Lion stamp mark. Scrambled or softly boiled eggs are a great lunch option for infant-led weaning.
These foods contain other essential nutrients for your growing baby, such as iron and zinc.
Dairy for baby-led weaning
Dairy is a good source of protein and calcium, essential nutrients for your baby's growing teeth and bones4. Tasty and healthy options include3:
- Full-fat pasteurised cheese. Try this suggestion from Sylvie’s mum: “my little girl loved cucumber sticks dipped in cottage cheese. Messy but worth it!”
- Full-fat yoghurt. Opt for unsweetened or plain varieties. “Plain yoghurt with banana slices was always a firm favourite and still is”, says Isla’s mum, “at times it was difficult to tell where the yoghurt ended and the baby began!”
Wholegrains for baby-led weaning
Your baby should try a range of starchy foods as part of their weaning diet, not just wholegrains. This is because wholegrains are high in fibre, and may fill your baby’s tummy up before they get enough calories and nutrients5.
Wholegrains like brown rice and wholemeal bread are fine for your baby to enjoy, just make sure they’re offered in moderation.
Keep up the milk feeds
When your baby starts weaning, they’ll get most of the nutrients and energy they need from breast milk or formula milk, their main drink during their first year.
Try offering breast feeds or formula feeds after your baby’s weaning meals rather than before. Your baby might be more reluctant to try solid foods if their tummy is full3.
Tips to successfully manage baby led weaning
Discover top tips and parenting hacks to help with baby-led weaning.
- Create a distraction-free environment. Seb’s mum says “I learned very quickly that if the TV was on or there were toys nearby, my son struggled to focus on his food. So I moved everything out of the way until after dinnertime.”
- Encourage your baby to eat with you at mealtimes. “I used to take the tray off the high chair and pull her up to the table with us”, says Eve’s mum.
- Offer lots of different foods - small amounts with plenty of variety!
- Let your baby make a mess. A top tip from Sylvie’s mum: “I had an old plastic table cloth that I put under my baby’s high chair. Once they were done, I simply shook it off into the bin. It didn’t stop the mess, but it made the clean up a little easier.”
- Take your time and relax. Baby-led weaning is a great way to spend time with your baby and enjoy food together. Follow their lead, let them learn from you, and enjoy every moment.
Baby Led Weaning FAQs
Got questions about baby-led weaning? We’ve got you covered.
Is baby led weaning safe?
There’s nothing to suggest that baby-led weaning isn’t safe. Whether you’re spoon feeding with purees or starting with finger foods, there are some precautions you should take to ensure that your baby is weaning safely2:
- Never leave your little one alone when eating or drinking, even if they’re used to solid foods and are eating confidently.
- Make all foods age-appropriate for your baby. Start with bigger finger foods that they can pick up and grasp. Once they get the hang of things, you can introduce smaller pieces of food.
- Thoroughly clean all surfaces, feeding equipment, and your baby’s high chair to prevent the spread of germs.
Won't my baby choke?
There’s nothing to suggest that your baby is more at risk of choking with baby-led weaning. You may however notice that they ‘gag’ more.
Your baby is born with a gag reflex, which allows them to push food forward and out of their mouth. If you see your baby gagging, it can be a little unsettling, but rest assured that this is because they’re in control of the food they’re eating2.
To reduce the risk of choking, chop small foods like grapes, cherry tomatoes and larger blueberries in half and lengthways, and always check that any meat or fish your baby will eat is free from bones2.
Won't my baby choke?
Take a look below to help you know the difference2, 6
| Spot the signs of gagging: | Spot the signs of choking: |
|---|---|
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Can you do baby-led weaning with purees?
Of course! There’s nothing like the best of both worlds, and offering your baby purees alongside finger foods allows you to benefit from both approaches.
- NHS. Your baby's first solid foods [online 2022]. Available at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/weaning-and-feeding/babys-first-solid-foods/. [Accessed March 2025]
- NHS Just One Norfolk. What is baby-led weaning? [Online]. Available at https://www.justonenorfolk.nhs.uk/healthy-lifestyles/infant-feeding/weaning-moving-on/what-is-baby-led-weaning/. [Accessed March 2025]
- NHS Start for Life. From around 6 months [online]. Available at https://www.nhs.uk/start-for-life/baby/weaning/what-to-feed-your-baby/from-around-6-months/. [Accessed March 2025]
- NHS. What to feed young children [online 2023]. Available at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/weaning-and-feeding/what-to-feed-young-children/. [Accessed March 2025]
- NHS. Young children and food: common questions [online 2022]. Available at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/weaning-and-feeding/young-children-and-food-common-questions/. [Accessed March 2025]
- St John Ambulance. Choking baby [online 2024]. Available at https://www.sja.org.uk/get-advice/first-aid-advice/choking/baby-choking/. [Accessed March 2025]
Last reviewed: June 2025
Reviewed by Nutricia’s Medical and Scientific Affairs Team
Do not leave your little one unattended when eating and drinking
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