You've probably seen numerous videos online of babies eating on their own and you've probably wondered why their moms are not feeding them the usual pureed or mashed fruits and veggies. This type of feeding is called baby-led weaning.
It's when you introduce solid food to your baby by letting him feed himself—there's no spoon feeding and no purees. You sit him down on his high chair and let him pick up the fruits and veggies you've prepared for him.
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This method was made popular by Gill Rapley an experienced British nurse, midwife, and breastfeeding counselor.
Rapley said baby-led weaning has a lot of benefits. For one, it allows your baby to explore taste, color, and smell. It also encourages confidence and independence.
Not only that, with baby-led weaning, you don't have to worry about food prep. You just need fist-sized chunks of fresh fruits and veggies and you're all set—just be prepared for the mess!
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Baby-led weaning can also help lessen mealtime battles and the likelihood that your child would grow up to be a picky eater.
It's pretty normal to be afraid that your baby might choke, but you have to trust your child. You also need to make sure you supervise your baby while he eats.
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Watch this video to learn more about baby-led weaning (and it's also cute to watch babies eat LOL!):
Have you tried baby-led weaning? How was your experience? Did you and your child have fun? Share it in the comments section! If you have videos like this or stories you'd like to share, email them to smartparentingsubmissions@gmail.com.
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