Written by: Jess Kurosaki, In-house Dietitian
Today we're chatting the different methods to starting solids. What’s the right way to start solids?
Let’s rewind.
There is no “right” way.
There are just “ways” to start solids
We’re not here to tell you which way is better, or what will work for your baby. We’re here to break down some pros and cons of each method- and let you see which style suits you better! Let's get into it...
Purees
Puree’s are the more traditional way to introduce solids, and the benefit list is long.
For any bub starting before 6 months, purees are the safest and most recommended path to take. This is a ‘physical readiness’ issue for bubs with head and neck control, and they’re simply not developmentally ready for solids before 6 months.
Purees help with the practice of eating off a spoon (essential for adulthood) and swallowing food (also, essential). Purees provide a choking-hazard-free option for babies, and allows a bit more calm when introducing those first bites.
In a quick round up:
- For bubs starting before 6 months, purees are safest
- Purees help with the practice of eating off a spoon (essential for adulthood) and swallowing food (also, essential).
- Purees provide a choking-hazard-free option for babies
- Can be a calmer, more parent-led experience
Baby Led Weaning
Baby led weaning has picked up some fans in the recent years, and that’s for great reason.
It allows babies to set the pace, and choose the foods which they’d like to eat off their plate. It creates an autonomous eater from the get go, and allows them to be the boss of when enough is enough... and that’s truly a skill for life, so the sooner babies can learn that the better off they’ll be!
Picking up finger foods from their table allows them to practice the pincer grip too- which helps with fine motor skills.
Finger foods are great for that swallow motion, but they’re also great for the chewing and tongue lateralisation motion... as well as the gag reflex. Babies are likely to gag on baby led weaning foods, so if choking-hazards aren’t something you’re comfortable with- this may be a sign for you to start with purees.
In a quick round up:
- Autonomy. It allows babies to choose what and how much they’d like to eat off their plate.
- Sets them up to self regulate their appetite, because they stop when they’ve had enough
- Helps to practice the pincer grip by grabbing foods with their fingers- amazing for fine motor skill development.
- Finger foods help to learn how to chew and use their tongue for eating
- Often leads to learning the gag reflex, by introducing foods which might be more of a choking hazard.
What do we choose?
We find so many benefits of each feeding method that we’re big fans of “a bit of this, and a bit of that”.
We see no reason that (after 6 months), these two styles can’t be incorporated together- so we mix it up a little.
(And the help of a Le Puree order with delicious puree and finger foods has made this OH SO EASY). Shop our range.
