BLW method: what it is, benefits and how to start

The BLW method, which in Portuguese means baby-led weaning, is a type of food introduction where the baby takes food cut into strips or pieces with their hands and eats it alone, which helps to improve their motor coordination, their connection with food and interaction with family.

This method can be used at the beginning of the baby’s complementary feeding, which should occur from 6 months onwards. During BLW, the baby eats, alone and without a spoon, the same meals as the family, avoiding the offer of baby food, juices or purees.

However, to start this method, the baby must be able to sit alone and without support, support their head and neck well, and hold food well with their hands to take them to their mouth. It is worth remembering that feeding should always be supervised by parents or guardians, who must pay attention to the baby’s signs of hunger and satiety, in addition to avoiding possible choking.

Benefits of BLW for the baby

The main benefits of BLW for the baby include:

1. Stimulate motor coordinationas the method promotes the baby’s agility and movements when looking, picking up food with their hands and bringing food to their mouth;
2. Improve food acceptance, as the baby interacts directly with meals, being more participative and becoming familiar with the different flavors and textures of food;
3. Stimulate speech, as the muscles of the mouth and jaw develop better when the baby chews food;
4. Help prevent overweight and obesity, Because the baby gradually gets to know when he is hungry and when he is full.

In addition to BLW, there is the BLISS method, known as Baby-Led Introduction to SolidS, which is similar to BLW, but with some additional recommendations, such as ensuring a food source of iron in all of the baby’s meals; prepare food to avoid choking; and always try the food before giving it to the baby, to see if it is possible for him to chew it.

Possible disadvantages of BLW

Some possible disadvantages of the BLW method are:

1. Need for guidance: Although the BLW method is very safe, parents or guardians must be well advised by a health professional about the types of food, their preparation methods, sizes and consistencies to avoid choking.

2. Less Food Intake: At the beginning of the method, the baby may eat little or only want breast milk or infant formula until he gets used to it. In addition, the baby can also play with food a lot, eating less food.

As it is a type of feeding where babies have the freedom to eat food at their own time and in different ways, being able to throw it and mash it, for example, it may require a little more patience and time from the parents, or responsible, during BLW.

How to start the BLW method

To start the BLW method, the baby must be at least 6 months old, which is when the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics recommends the introduction of complementary feeding. Furthermore, it is important that the baby is now able to sit alone and without support, support his head and neck well, and hold food with his hands to bring it to his mouth.

During the method, the baby must sit at the table and eat meals with their parents or guardians. It is necessary that the baby’s diet consists of only natural foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, proteins and cereals or tubers.

It is recommended to start the method by offering softer foods to the baby, which can be broken during chewing with or without teeth. Cutting food into large pieces, like a toothpick, can also help the baby at this early stage.

Furthermore, it is essential to let the baby interact freely with the food, touching it, playing with it and getting dirty, if necessary. Just as you should let your baby eat at his own pace, without being pressured or interrupted.

What can baby eat

Some examples of foods that the baby can start eating in the BLW method are:

• Cooked vegetables, such as carrots, broccoli, tomatoes, zucchini, pumpkin, chayote, green beans, cauliflower, beets or cabbage;
• boiled tubers, such as yams, potatoes, sweet potatoes, yams or cassava;
• Cooked cerealssuch as corn, pasta or rice, preferably whole grain;
• proteins, such as shredded chicken fillet, boneless fish or boiled egg cut in half;
• Fruits, such as whole banana (removing the skin until the middle), pear cut into sticks, grapes peeled and cut into 4 parts, papaya, mango and melon cut into sticks, and orange in pieces, without the skin of the segments.

Meals can be grilled, roasted or stewed, using natural seasonings, such as parsley, chives, garlic, onion and green chillies.

Food cannot be too cooked/soft and fruits cannot be too ripe, as this may make it difficult for the baby to grasp the food.

Harder foods such as apples, carrots and cucumbers should be cooked to make chewing easier and avoid choking. Just as it is important to offer food equal to or larger than the size of the baby’s fist. However, cutting the vegetables into sticks is the best way to help you hold each piece to put in your mouth.

It is important to emphasize that the ability to perform chewing movements does not depend on the presence of teeth, since the baby’s gums are effective in chewing all foods except the hardest. However, if there is any doubt as to whether or not the baby can knead food with their gums, parents or guardians can do a test by placing the food in their own mouth and trying to knead it with their tongue on the roof of their mouth.

Foods your baby shouldn’t eat

Sugary foods, such as ice cream, sugar, sweets in general, and processed foods, such as sausages, nuggets, cookies and any type of fast food, are not recommended for babies. In the same way, meals high in salt and high in fat should not be avoided, as they can encourage inadequate eating habits, promoting diseases such as obesity and diabetes even in childhood or adolescence.

Furthermore, honey is not recommended for babies under 1 year of age, because this food can cause botulism, an infection that can cause complications, such as difficulty swallowing, breathing and moving, which can cause death.

It is important to emphasize that it is not necessary to completely avoid textures such as purees, yogurts or soups when opting for this type of method for your baby, because these foods are not nutritious, healthy and tasty. In these cases, the baby can use spoons adapted for the BLW method.

How much food to give

The amount of food to give varies according to the baby’s age and acceptance. For a 6-month-old baby, lunch or dinner should contain an average of 2 to 3 tablespoons of all foods, including protein, vegetables, cereals and legumes. For babies aged 7 months, you should give them between 3 and 4 tablespoons at lunch and dinner, for example. See what a baby’s diet should be like from 0 to 12 months.

The amount of fruit to offer the baby should be between ½ portion for morning and afternoon snacks and, if the child wants, the same amount can be offered after lunch and dinner.

However, it is important to remember that the baby will not always eat the entire meal, and it is important for parents or guardians to observe whether the child is still hungry or not and, if necessary, assist with feeding.

How to know if your baby has eaten enough

The baby usually stops eating when he is full or loses curiosity about the food on the plate. One of the ways to know if your baby is eating enough is to check whether he is growing and gaining enough weight at each pediatrician appointment.

Another way to know if the baby has eaten enough is to pay attention to signs of hunger, such as when the child points or gets excited when he sees food, and satiety, when the child eats more slowly, pushes the food away or takes a long time to swallow.

How to make sure your baby doesn’t choke

So that the baby does not choke, it is important that he remains seated at the table during meals, paying attention to the food he picks up and puts in his mouth. Furthermore, the baby should never be left alone, lying down, walking or with distractions, such as when playing or watching television, while eating.

To avoid choking, you should avoid offering foods cut into slices or rounds, such as grapes; raw vegetables; raw apple; oilseeds, such as almonds, peanuts and walnuts; and popcorn, for example. However, it is also important that parents or guardians know what to do if the baby chokes, such as calling emergency services and performing choking maneuvers on the baby. See how to perform the baby’s choking maneuver.