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Benefits of Baby Led Weaning

Inside: Starting solids with your baby? This post will go into four benefits of choosing the baby led weaning with your baby.

Welcome back to the Mamas Tell All: 10 Q & A Baby Led Weaning Series.

Today, I want to go into four benefits of baby led weaning.

I will start with offering the benefits my son has received from doing baby led weaning. At the end, you can read the baby led benefits from other mamas who have embarked on their baby led weaning journey.

Did you do baby led weaning? If so, let us know your experience in the comments below!

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This post will go into four benefits of baby led weaning  when introducing solids to your baby for the first time.

1. Baby led Weaning encourages Courageous Eating

Once Lennox hit six-months of age and started baby led weaning, he has tried an array of foods.

From his first foods, avocado and fruits, to chicken and seafood, there were very few limitations on what we could give Lennox. To see what you should not offer during baby led weaning, click here.

Not only did Lennox develop a rich palate for a diversity of foods, but he learned to appreciate different food textures, colors, feels, smells.

Exposing him to different foods, with different textures is the reason today, at two-years-old, I can serve Lennox dinner, and he will gladly try everything on his plate. There are times that he doesn’t like something, and that is completely fine. However, he is not hesitant to try new things. I love that about him, and it makes my life a little easier because I do not have to worry about preparing separate meals for him.

Four Benefits of Baby Led Weaning
Photo Credit: tatyana_tomsickova at Getty Images Pro

2. Baby led weaning encourages intimate family time and socialization

Since it is recommended that baby led weaning take place around the dinner table, for us, it has forced us to allocate a special part of our day to mealtimes and family socialization. This forces us give the phone and TV a break, and create genuine family memories. This brings me to my next point.

3. Baby led weaning facilitates dining out experiences

Since Lennox is used to having a mealtime routine, this makes going out to eat a lot easier. NOW, that does not mean that Lennox is an angel when we go out and about because that is FAR from the truth. In fact, he’s quite the terror. However, as soon as Lennox has food in front of him, the scenario changes.

Also, from a financial perspective, we save money going out to eat because since Lennox is such a courageous eater, he shares food with Carlos or me.

Four Benefits of Baby Led Weaning
Photo Credit: tatyana_tomsickova at Getty Images Pro

4. Baby led weaning allows parents to eat at the same time

This is the best part. Since Lennox started BLW, I have hardly had to feed him. He feeds himself and insists on feeding himself. It’s beautiful to be able to eat my own food, and also to watch him develop his fine-motor skills using utensils.

These are four awesome beneficial impacts baby led weaning has had on Lennox. Let’s see what the other mamas said.

More baby led weaning posts:

Let’s see what these mamas have to say when I asked them about the benefits of baby led weaning

Kassandra at Adelaideandi

Adelaide is definitely the opposite of picky and will eat pretty well whatever is put in front of her. I never have to worry when we are out to eat because there’s always something on the menu she’ll like!

She’s a really great eater and is not picky at all besides a handful of veggies she has never liked. She has days where all she wants is peanut butter toast, but don’t we all?

Taylor at Mindful.mom_ents 

Russell is pretty good at trying new things and eating clean. I think it’s great for fostering independence and works well with our Montessori style of learning

Like a normal toddler – likes something one day, doesn’t want it the next. Sometimes isn’t too hungry but likes to snack all day. But he does sit down at his table and eats things with a utensil well and doesn’t just play in his food.

Four Benefits of Baby Led Weaning
Photo Credit: tatyana_tomsickova at Getty Images Pro

Jessica at HeyMamaJess

My son developed his pincer grasp very early. He also is a pro at using silverware at 18 months, like a 30 year old haha

 Emily at This Crazy Maze

My son is independent and actually eats really well for his age!

He just turned 1 and he eats with his hands (I JUST bought baby sized utensils… oops) but he eats everything and wants to eat everything!

Sheridan M.

My children are very adventurous eaters and love sharing meals with family.

Both have a great variety of fruits and veggies they eat, 2 is teething and picky right now, but stills eats veggies!

Brooke at Simply Well Family

My children benefited from being able to taste multiple foods at each meal.

They are good eaters today. My oldest is willing to at least taste whatever I offer while my second enjoys every fruit & vegetable offered to him.

Lastly, I want to get the results from question 10, If you had the option to do baby led weaning again, or with your next child, would/will you do baby led weaning again?

If you had the option to do it again, or with your next child, would/will you do baby led weaning again?

Thank you for reading this series. I hope it has helped you with your weaning journey. Please feel free to reach out to me for any questions. Follow us on social media for daily toddler tantrums and activities.

Heather

Tuesday 17th of September 2019

Starting solids can be scary for new moms. I feel like this post is encouraging and makes it so uncomplicated! Thank you!

Kale @ steakandkale.com

Tuesday 17th of September 2019

"Since it is recommended that baby led weaning take place around the dinner table, for us, it has forced us to allocate a special part of our day to mealtimes and family socialization."I LOVE the emphasis on family dinners! It is such a positive time for families. :)

Kristie |Girl Mom Chaos

Monday 16th of September 2019

I did not do baby-led weaning with my first two daughters but I did with my third. I think there are so many ways that is was a benefit to my youngest daughter.

It allowed her to eat what we were all eating. She seems to eat so much more of a variety of foods than my other two girls did at her age. She also seems to have a healthier appetite so she eats more food than the other two girls (but in a good way).

Lindsey | GreenMamaLife

Monday 16th of September 2019

I love this! We used baby lead weaning and our little is definitely very confident and excited with food! Totally agree with these Moms. Thanks!