How to prepare ahead for BLW

Are you ready to start solids with your baby? Baby-led weaning lets your little one take charge of eating right from the start. Instead of spoon-feeding mushy foods, your baby picks up soft finger foods and feeds themselves. This lets babies explore different foods at their own pace.

 

Every bite helps them build skills – from using their fingers better to learning how much food feels right in their mouth. 

 

So it’s necessary to take time to learn about BLW weaning recipes, get the right equipment ready, and set up a comfortable eating space to help both you and your baby. There will be messy moments as they try new foods, but that’s all part of infant led weaning. 

 

Learn About BLW Basics

Starting your baby on solid foods is a big step that starts around 6 months. There are a few signs that you need to observe before starting BLW. Here are the common signs:

1. Your baby should be able to sit up straight in their high chair and show real interest in what you’re eating.
2. They need to stop pushing food out with their tongue, a natural reflex younger babies have.
3. Most babies start reaching for food from your plate and watching closely when you eat.

 

During BLW weaning, your baby picks up soft finger foods and learns to move them to their mouth on their own. This helps them learn about different food textures and builds confidence in eating. Most parents find this method much easier than making and freezing many purees for traditional weaning.

 

To start this journey, you can have proper meal planning like you can cut foods into sizes your baby can easily grip. This method helps babies join family mealtimes from the start and learn to stop eating when they feel full, which is good for their future eating habits.

 

Create a Feeding Environment

 

Setting up proper eating space helps make feeding time fun and less messy for your baby. You need to create this space before your baby’s meal preparation. A good high chair with a solid footrest helps your baby feel stable and secure while eating. The footrest gives them better control of their body so they can focus more on learning to eat. Pick a chair that can slide right up to your dining table so your baby feels part of family meals.

 

Flat plates work better than deep bowls when babies are learning to grab food. Suction plates and bowls stick to the table which makes it harder for your baby to tip them over. You keep a few spare plates ready as babies usually throw things away during meals. You can get splash mats under the high chair that make cleanup much easier.

 

While your baby is eating, cover nearby surfaces with easy-wipe cloths or mats. You keep cleaning supplies close but out of the baby’s reach. You can keep paper towels, wet wipes, and a handheld vacuum. 

 

Know the Foods to Start With

 

Giving the right food to your baby makes the whole journey much better. You can have a proper meal planning for this journey. You give the baby soft-cooked vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin. These are the best first foods. 

You make a puree of these soft vegetables or cut them into long strips that your baby can hold easily. In fruits, you give them bananas, mangoes, and papaya. These are perfect starter foods and are easily obtainable. You cut round fruits into small pieces and remove all seeds.

You can start with khichdi, well-cooked dal, and mashed rice. Remember to cook vegetables until they’re soft enough to squish between your fingers. You avoid adding salt or strong spices in the beginning.

Watch carefully when giving allergens like dairy products and nuts. You can start with small amounts of curd or paneer and wait three days before trying something new. This way you can do your baby’s meal preparation and offer different foods. Never give whole nuts, raw vegetables, or round foods like grapes or chickpeas that could cause choking. Always sit with your baby during meals to make sure they’re eating safely.

Know about Choking vs. Gagging

Signs of Gagging

Gagging happens when babies learn to eat and look scarier than it really is. Your baby might make loud sounds, push their tongue out, or cough while eating. Their faces might turn a bit red, but they’ll keep breathing normally. This natural reflex helps keep food from going too far back in their mouth before they’re ready to swallow.

Understanding Choking

Choking looks very different from gagging and needs quick action. A choking baby stays quiet or makes odd noises while trying to breathe. Their faces might turn blue, and they might grab their throat or chest. These signs mean food is blocking their airway and needs help right away.

Safety Steps to Follow

1. Keep meal times safe by always watching your baby eat.
2. Cut foods into the right size and shape – about as thick as your finger.
3. Never leave your baby alone with food, even for a few seconds.

First Aid Knowledge

Learning basic first aid helps parents feel more confident

• Take a baby first aid class to learn what to do if choking happens.
• Practice the back blow method and learn infant CPR. 

Prepare Your Baby’s Diet Plan

Doing meal planning for your baby helps them get all the good things they need to grow strong. Start with iron-rich foods like soft-cooked dal, ragi porridge, or mashed eggs since babies need lots of iron at this age. Mix these with soft fruits and vegetables. Remember that breast milk still gives most of their nutrition in the first year.

You can cook the same foods you eat for your baby, just make them softer and skip the salt and strong spices. If you’re making rice and dal for the family, set aside some for the baby before adding spices. When cooking vegetables for everyone, take out the baby’s portion before they get too crispy or hard.

Take it slow when trying new foods so you can spot any problems easily. Wait 3 to 5 days between each new food you give your baby. Start with single ingredients like plain rice or mashed potato before moving to mixed dishes. 

You write down what foods you try and any reactions you notice. This careful approach helps you learn what foods your baby likes and handles well.

Equip Yourself with the Right Tools

Getting your kitchen ready for meal preparation with the right equipment makes feeding time easier and more fun.

• Soft silicone spoons and forks help your baby learn to feed themselves without hurting their gums. Keep several sets handy since they often end up on the floor during meals.
• Basic kitchen tools like steamers make cooking baby food quick and simple. A good steamer keeps vegetables soft while saving their natural taste and good nutrients.
• Sharp peelers and food cutters help make perfect finger-sized pieces that your baby can hold.
• A masher works great for softening fruits and cooked vegetables when your baby needs softer foods.
• Food storage boxes in different sizes help keep baby portions fresh and ready.
• Ice cube trays work well for freezing small portions of soups or dal.
• Small containers with tight lids make it easy to pack food for trips outside.
• Get a few different plate dividers too as they help serve different foods without them mixing.

Having these things ready before starting solids makes the whole process much smoother and less stressful.

 

Join our HappyEaters community and get helpful tips, recipes, meal planning ideas and expert advice for your baby’s BLW journey. We share daily meal plans, answer your questions, and connect you with other parents on the same path. Download our app today and turn mealtimes into fun moments.