Baby-Led Weaning: A Maternal Health Nurse's Starter Guide

Starting solids is one of those milestones that feels equal parts exciting and nerve-wracking. If you've been hearing the term baby-led weaning often shortened to BLW and wondering whether it's right for your family, this guide will walk you through what it actually is, when to start, which foods are safest, and how to tell the difference between gagging and choking — without the pressure or perfectionism. What is baby-led weaning? Baby-led weaning is an approach to introducing solids where your baby feeds themselves soft, appropriately-sized pieces of family food from the very first meal — instead of being spoon-fed purées. The idea is that your baby controls what goes in, how much, and how fast. BLW isn't a strict method. It's not "no purées ever", it's not a rule that you must skip stages, and it's not a competition. Most families who do BLW end up doing a combination approach — some self-feeding, some spoon-feeding — and that's completely fine. When to start: the 6-month readiness signs Australian and international guidelines NHMRC, WHO recommend introducing solids at around 6 months , not before. Your baby is ready when they show all of these signs: They can sit upright with little or no support. They have good head and neck control. They reach for food and bring it to their mouth. They've lost the tongue-thrust reflex food doesn't automatically push back out . Age alone isn't enough — a baby who turns 6 months tomorrow but can't sit steadily isn't quite ready. Wait the extra week or two. If your baby is showing signs before 6 months, talk to your Maternal Health Nurse before starting. BLW vs purées vs combo feeding There's no medal for choosing one over the other. Research shows babies introduced via BLW, purées, or a combination end up with similar growth, similar iron status, and similar likelihood of being adventurous eaters by age 2 — provided the food offered is varied and iron-rich. Choose whichever feels manageable for your family. Many parents start with soft finger foods at home meals and offer iron-fortified cereals or mashed foods on the go. That's still baby-led in spirit. Safe first foods The golden rule: soft enough to squish between your thumb and finger, and shaped so your baby can grip it. Good first options include: Steamed vegetables in finger-sized strips — broccoli florets with the stem as a handle , carrot sticks, sweet potato we…