What Is Baby-Led Weaning – Is It Better?

If you are a new mother and are thinking of weaning your baby, then you should read this article till the end. In this article, we are going to talk about baby-led weaning or BLW as it has been acronymed in the medical world. BLW has a lot of benefits, right from healthier eating habits to better outcomes in the long term while growing.

What is baby-led weaning?

1. Baby-led weaning or BLW is the procedure where the newborn baby leads forwards during the switch from breastfeeding to consuming solid foods gradually.
2. During a BLW, the baby becomes the active participant during the feeding procedure and the mother becomes the passive participant.
3. Due to this reason, it has been noted that babies tend to develop healthier food habits while growing up.
4. If BLW is practiced, then the baby will be able to understand his or her hunger with time.
5. In addition to that, the baby will be also able to comprehend and validate his or her feelings relevant to food and hunger.
6. BLW toddlers are likely to become less responsive to food. This means that the toddler will eat food when he or she is hungry rather than seeing food.
7. To conclude, baby-led weaning ensures your baby develops healthy eating habits which will be based on the baby’s appetite rather than the visual or smell of the food.

What are the benefits of Baby-led weaning?

1. It prevents your baby from gaining extra weight and becoming obese thereafter.
2. With BLW, babies can consume food at their own pace and eat till they decide that they are full.
3. The lesser influence of parents or elders ensures that the baby is not force-fed which could lead to weight gain.
4. Spoon feeding babies on the other hand have higher chances of having overfed babies both consciously or subconsciously.
5. There have been several studies conducted that have shown that babies who have followed BLW will have regular weight than babies who have been weaned with traditional weaning.
6. Baby-led weaning also ensures that babies are less fussy around food.
7. It reduces the chances of the baby to grow up and become picky water.
8. In addition to that, mothers who follow BLW also happen to put less pressure on their babies which in turn reduces the chances of the baby repelling from their mothers.
9. Babies who lead the weaning procedure are less likely to prefer sweets over babies who have been weaned through traditional methods.
10. Using BLW as the weaning procedure ensures your baby has a healthy relationship with food.
11. The baby will respond to foods and react naturally to different food items or when the baby is hungry or full after having meals.
12. Baby-led weaning will also ensure your baby’s communication skills will grow and enhance with time since you are not controlling their food preferences or portions.
13. BLW ensures feeding your baby is no longer a frustrating and lengthy task. You do not have to purchase purees from supermarkets not boil and blend vegetables and fruits to feed your baby.
14. You can instead provide your baby with BLW-friendly family meals in lesser portions.
15. If you are a working parent, then this will work in your favor as you will not have to cook extra for your baby. Instead, you can put the same food as the rest of your family will be eating on your baby’s plate.
16. In addition to that, you are also letting your toddler choose and develop his or her own choices which will also help in their life skills development.
17. Studies have shown that BLW-mothers have less anxiety and stress about their baby’s feeding habits. Along with that, they also worry less about any potential weight gain of their baby.

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