Baby-Led Weaning Part II: Feeding Types BLW, Combo, or Purees

Baby-Led Weaning (BLW) is a form of feeding your infant. There are 6 requirements your child must meet in order to be ready for BLW (see here…). In today’s day and age there are three popular camps to feeding one’s baby: 1) baby-led weaning, 2) combo feeding, and 3) baby foods and purees.

BLW is focused on providing your baby the same types of food you eat but in a baby size portion and shape. Most foods are fair game, Baked potato, broccoli, apples, you name it. So this sounds easy right? Why isn’t everyone just doing it? Well I would say the #1 reason is fear. Fear of baby choking and not being able to help.

Disclaimer: I will not be choosing one feeding method as the “best.” Every child is different, you know your child, and you know what is best for your home. However, I will share from the BLW book by House why she doesn’t recommend the others.

Combo feeding is giving solids but also purees. I have a friend who loves this methods because she always wanted to make pureed organic baby food for her little one. She has a very healthy happy little one eating up a storm. The only disputes to combo feeding seem to be about confusion. Baby doesn’t have to chew broccoli that’s pureed but then receives real broccoli (nearly the exact same flavor) and is confused about how to eat it. Again, my friend’s baby is doing great with this method though. Personally I don’t want the extra work, it is already hard enough meal planning regular food for our nearing 8 month old let alone making purees too. I also love that he is learning to eat like I do and worry that purees would confuse him or set us back.

Purees are just straight jar food you spoon feed your baby or give them pouches. Many moms did this for years, are we all still alive, yes, so is it harmful no. What we have learned though is that babies learn more eating independence sooner with BLW. Babies are able to eat more successfully earlier on their own with BLW. Babies CAN in fact chew without teeth (long thought the reason we needed purees to begin with).

Therefore, in this brief post after reading House's guide to BLW, we knew that combo feeding and purees were not right for us. If you feel like BLW is right for you, you are ready to have your little one trying those scrambled eggs and toast you had for breakfast keep an eye out for our next BLW blog on how to prepare!