Pediatrician Explains Baby-Led Weaning: Benefits, Risks, and Getting Started

[@kaysharogers32]

BLW has encouraged me to have more fruits, vegetables and textures at the table. My own diet has definitely improved as a result :)

[@cla9751]

Great starter info, but would you guys ever consider having a pediatric dietitian as a guest? I would love to see the comparison from someone used to sharing feeding tips from a more focused approach

[@perlakarinacisternas8270]

I make the food for my baby. Ive done it with my 3 children. We start with purées until they have teeth, which is when I introduce solid foods. They're not picky eaters, never been. Its actually easier for me because I just Cook once a week for my 9 month old baby and freeze the food so I have 2 meals for each day. Ive already introduced meat, chicken, pork, fish and egg. My baby eats everything (including fruits and vegetables) and she loves her purées, she gets excited every time she sees her plate. So, no blw for us, the traditional method has worked perfectly 👌

[@kristina282k]

BLW had another advantage for us. Made us also improve our diet, including more fruits and veggies, watching that salt content skipping on take out or ordered food and cooking almost entirely at home. Definitely not the lazy moms way 😆

[@TheDoctorsBjorkman]

It helped us with this too! We were already eating primarily home-cooked meals, but we definitely upped our vegetable game once we were also feeding Baby Cec.

[@lareinadelcrystal4652]

Thannk you for the INFORMATION You guys provide better EXPLANATION THAN MY OWN pediatrician for my baby AS A FIRST TIME MOM IS SCARY STARTING ON MY OWN

[@BioBioLove]

I found BLW being the exact opposite to lazy mum weaning 😂 You have to modify the meals you make for yourself (to exclude salt/sugar/honey), you have to cut stuff up, and clean the ginormous mess multiple times a day. Lazy mum weaning for me is buying a puree from the market and stuff the baby not allowing them to touch anything and making a mess. Don’t get me wrong BLW is the best thing for our family, but lazy it is not IMO.

[@kristina282k]

Fully agree with you on this one! We started at 5months with the market purées and at 6months we switched pretty quickly to blw, cause as soon as our kid tried proper food, he never wanted those jars again 😂 and totally was much easier with the jars and less messy 😃

[@lastpolarbearcub]

My understanding is you don’t need to fully exclude salt. We definitely started eating more healthy meals that were vegetable centered, but that was a win-win. And we have a dog for the clean up 😂

[@BioBioLove]

@@lastpolarbearcub 🤷‍♀️ I do try where I can to exclude it. Now that baby is 10m+ I am more flexible but still all his grains I cooked separately without salt. I guess it is up to family how they choose to do it. I do need a dog though, cause the mess is out of control 😂😂😂

[@richkategoldman4413]

I do agree with you!

[@TheEesmee]

Definitely not lazy! Especially compared to store bought baby food. But probably slightly easier than home prepped baby food/purees?

[@julia738]

I literally was doing a deep dive on BLW yesterday, and looked on your channel hopeful for some info. You guys read my mind; so excited for this!

[@TheDoctorsBjorkman]

So glad this matched up with what you were looking for. Hopefully it’s helpful!

[@haliejones2127]

I have 3 children and am currently pregnant with my 4th. I did baby led weaning when my 3rd was ready a little after 6 months and at 18 months she has been my best eater so far. My other 2 children had iron issues and hers was a 13.9 at her 12 month check

[@micahholman8539]

I’m a little nervous about doing full BLW, so I think I’ll do kind of a combination of purées and solids at first to ease my mind :)

[@kellycrawford4433]

Me too! That's what I'm doing with my 7 month old :)

[@crystalgale15]

That's what we did too. I started with purees at 6 mos and only started blw at 7 mos 😊

[@chrismc3410]

Same here. This whole concept of BLW is kinda stressful for me to think of while baby is only 5 months old, Im following my instinct of being safe than worry.

[@crystalgale15]

@@chrismc3410 that's the best rule to follow. You're the best judge of what kind of approach is okay for your kiddo. Once you think he's ready for blw, then you can make the switch. 😊

[@chrismc3410]

@@crystalgale15 thank you for the support on this

[@katiegibbs4097]

Everytime I need a to know something you guys make a video at the exact time

[@emilyopie4247]

Can you talk about sippy cups as well? What types are preferred to start out with, and how they transition over time? I feel like there are so many options out there and am overwhelmed on where to start. Also could you talk about what liquids to give in the sippy cups, how much, and when is best to give them?

[@dr_mantis_toboggan9796]

Yes I second this. I’ve bought a few different kinds and he only responds to one. Isn’t interested in figuring it out either

[@janinedear-barlow]

My sister went straight onto cups

[@samanthacook8245]

Sippy cups are actually unnecessary. Buy a tiny cup made for baby's to practice open cup drinking 🙂

[@chrismc3410]

This video just saved me. Just in time for my LO starting solids next month. The information i got from you today somehow eased my stress about starting solids whether puree or blw. Im scared of the concept of blw with regards to choking. I guess i’ll just start with it when i see my baby is a confident eater. But the idea you told us that starting solids is just to practice the eating habits and feeding milk is still the priority until baby gradually progresses into purely eating solids, is very relieving to know

[@ashleynoles2802]

I just have to say I am incredibly thankful for this channel! I have a 3 month old now and I have watched and learned so much throughout my pregnancy and now as a mom for the second time. It has been so encouraging watching the two of you as physicians learn as you have become new parents as well. Thank you so much for the honesty in your experiences! My oldest is 8 and I was told we wouldn’t be able to have another child due to my endometriosis and pcos diagnosis- but here I am with my second little one. Fingers crossed for your fertility journey! Sending all the good vibes and baby dust your way!

[@catherinecase1142]

I was on the fence about investing in the Starting Solids bundle, and I think this pushed me over the edge. Thanks! Looking forward to the rest of this series 😊

[@TheDoctorsBjorkman]

We loved the bundle and used it so so much. Hopefully you feel like it’s worth the investment after you’ve used it for a few months. The best part is that we will still have access for any future kiddos too!

[@sidorelakodra117]

#Droigiangbe herbal Cure is the best doctor to consult herpes cure Chicken pox treatment HPV cure shingles cure and many more His the Best./

[@MYKIDSPLATES]

As a baby-led weaning expert, I absolutely love how this video breaks down the benefits and potential risks of BLW while offering practical tips for getting started! For parents looking to streamline the process, we offer a First Foods Chart Set on Amazon, designed to make introducing solids easier and more enjoyable for both you and your baby. Thank you for sharing such valuable information!

[@mihaelaroman4718]

Solid starts is the best app ever!!!!

[@kerriebishop7326]

Love solid starts! Gave me the confidence to start with my own baby.

[@allisonfalzon8927]

I just "fed" my babies healthy food when they were little. Never put a label on it. Whether it was purées or solid food, it was just called eating. Why do we have to have names for everything these days?? My sons turned out to be wonderful eaters, always have been. Will do the same for my daughter.

[@elizabethc8254]

feels like you guys did sort of understate the findings from LEAP--it's more than a soft suggestion that early exposure to allergens are safe, it's a strong recommendation to introduce peanut as early as possible

[@rashelkeeley6712]

When I first heard of BLW I though people were saying ‘baby linguini’ and I was so confused 😂

[@LOLITA541]

😂

[@aspeckofstardust]

Our pediatrician didn’t entertain it for a second, I told her we started blw and she just said it’s not recommended due to choking risk. Looking for a new pediatrician 🙃

[@MiroslavaSommelier]

I guess if you are supervising your baby at all times there is no risk at all. I’m going to try blw when the time comes with my baby too! Good luck mom

[@ashlieleavelle]

You are looking for a new Pediatrician because she had a difference of opinion?

[@aspeckofstardust]

​@@ashlieleavelle More like unwillingness to stay up to date on things, or to engage in a conversation with me instead of just saying "he could choke" - I have a MIL for that, haha. I didn't invent blw, there is enough research on it and recommendations for how to make it as safe as possible.

[@ashlieleavelle]

@@aspeckofstardust I see. I personally am for blw. I do think Pediatricians stay up to date on parenting issues, but they may hold to one side or the other. While I love blw personally, the reality is they can choke. Best wishes in your search.

[@janinedear-barlow]

@@ashlieleavelle the reality is they have just as bigger chance of choking on purée.

[@madisonraike1078]

Thank you for laying out the data and studies on this in a way that lets my husband and me make an informed decision with what is best for our family!

[@irynad798]

As a mom of 2 I can say each baby requires personal approach. My son wanted to eat purées only till the age of 18 months while my daughter refused purées as old as 8 months old and now she is enjoying baby led weaning

[@N.M.N.]

That's the problem with store bought purees is they have so many mixed ingredients.

[@erikabreuner9234]

This is GOLD! Thank you!

[@Amy-ol7jk]

With 38K views Solis starts should really be sponsoring you! Thanks for the tips ❤️

[@HealthHackers]

I like that you covered allergens too in this video. I have a severe food allergy and, as a new mother, have started early allergen introduction with my baby. I’ve made a review video about one of the allergenic baby food products available: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bpK0dqSXnd9rnM0

[@Weee-q6k]

excited for part 3 because my baby is 5months

[@chrismc3410]

Same here

[@profoundpronoun4712]

Great job guys! We are gunna try it!

[@shirleymarie2288]

When I introduced solids for my youngest daughter 10 years ago, I waited til she was 10 months and had never heard of baby led weaning, she was just starting to get teeth so it just made sense to me to start solids. Luckily I followed this advice without even knowing there was advice on this. She was only nursed (no cereals or purees or other foods) prior to 10 months and WIC told me she needed iron fortified foods. Is this true for breast fed babies, that they need iron rich foods? I thought breastmilk was considered complete nutrition up to one year of age.

[@hunnybubbakids]

Love this video, great insights ❤

[@crbarillas]

Thank you so much for this video!

[@Aksakhanvlogs]

Hi!! Which high chair do you guys recommend? It’s so hard to find right one when there’s so many options 🙏🏼

[@rivercitylactation]

Great topic!! 🤍☀️🤍

[@krissarobert6564]

Me watching this 35 weeks pregnant 😂

[@hidudettess]

So informative, thank you both. My babe is only 2.5mo so I have some time but good to start learning early. Also, love your name necklace. Where did you get it from?

[@jontahhayes-joshua546]

Hey guys love your videos, I wonder if you all can do a video explaining the best types of baby formula. My wife is due in November and with a formula shortage happening in my city. I want to be prepared. Thanks

[@justlikehearts]

we’ve always used @bobbie and it’s been so great. An amazing company. check them out and subscribe… they’re coming to target stores soon too

[@Nuutochka]

It's interesting that you've mentioned Solid starts at the end - some of their advice differs from the advice that you've shared. They don't recommend waiting 3 days between introducing new foods that are not considered allergens.

[@beatag0609]

You should only wait 3 days when introducing potential common allergens (coming from Paediatric Dietitian). Waiting 3 days for all other foods reduces the variety you can introduce fast. Studies show that if baby has not been exposed to variety of tastes and textures by 10months they are a lot more likely to be fussy/selective eaters.

[@CutieMoli]

People in the US buy baby puree in stores?? In my country it's called "emergency baby food" for when you have to travel and stuff. Mothers here cook for their baby.

[@jeng5026]

Can you provide more information on vitamin supplementation recommended?

[@Pineapples8theWorld]

I did BLW with my daughter, now 2.5. She eats cheese/dairy, chicken, and fruit. So don't do it thinking it's going to save you from picky eating!!

[@MiroslavaSommelier]

Just started thinking about this with my little one. Thanks for the info. Will definitely try blw 🙌🏼

[@moldyvoldy1231]

What about those little pacifier looking things that have mesh sides, and you can put fruit in, and they can chew on them?

[@surprisehaircut]

Please cover colic in a future vid 😅

[@kimcontado]

What vitamins and brands do u recommend?

[@tamigarbarino6036]

BLW wasn’t the route we took, but I wonder if it would have helped since my little man just turned 1 and we have to go see a feeding and swallowing specialist because he squirrels any food that doesn’t turn to mush in his mouth and takes literally hours to swallow foods like beef, and chicken.

[@TheDoctorsBjorkman]

Maybe… but maybe not. You’ll honestly never know the answer to this. The biggest piece of advice we can give for feeds is to not force it. Picky eaters and eaters with oral aversions can be very difficult for caregivers, and unfortunately, sometimes the harder you push, the worse the aversion gets. We’re so glad to hear that you’re getting the help your baby needs. Please know you have our support.

[@tamigarbarino6036]

@@TheDoctorsBjorkman he’s more than happy to eat the food lol he just holds it in his mouth forever

[@yrg4389]

thank you 😊

[@lidyasium7309]

Can you guys please help me with my daughter’s appetite supplement or something? she’s a year old and doesn’t eat any food I tried everything baby led weaning and spoon feeding, she was eating around 7 months old and now she eating nothing just breastfeeding and doesn’t like bottle.

[@rpalotay1]

What up seat did you use? My daughter can sit up, but still likes to slump a little in her high chair

[@hello7198]

My almost 4 mo old only eats while sleeping. Have you seen this before ? Is this semi normal ? Any advice?

[@elizabethcaruson11]

9:13 you spelled safety wrong 🙈

[@MewsView]

How do you figure out how much to give? I started with purees and had been doing 1-2 tbsp. She seemed so in to it yesterday that I let her do 4 thinking that maybe she was ready for more. That night she threw up a lot in her crib.

[@niyoshaataollahzadeh2455]

How should I cut the night feeding she is 6 months old

[@ZieSpiralOut]

You look and sound so much like a young Matt Damon it’s almost ridiculous, lol. Awesome videos, I’m 20 weeks with my 2nd. I really appreciate all the insights! ✌️

[@maamepokuaa5788]

Hi Sarah, I watched a video you made about the oil you used for stretch marks during pregnancy. Can you please share the link to where you got it? Thanks

[@ldubss]

It’s the Hatch Belly Oil. Just anecdotally…I used this consistently and got stretch marks 🙃 it smells nice though!

[@TheDoctorsBjorkman]

It smells very nice! … and maybe it helped a little bit too.

[@maamepokuaa5788]

@@ldubss Thanks for your response 👍

[@maamepokuaa5788]

@@TheDoctorsBjorkman Your response is much appreciated 👏

[@hannaha.8385]

Hello, love your videos! I've been following since right around my 2nd trimester, and my baby is about to be 5 months old now! I'm conflicted on doing blw vs purees. I love the benefits of blw and was set on going that route but have seen that some studies show to introduce allergens BEFORE 6 months and that introducing after will increase the chance of baby being allergic? We have no severe allergies on either side of the family. Would we be okay to wait then and do blw or would it be best to introduce them before? Hopefully you will see this comment, and I plan to also ask my pediatrician about this at our appointment next week (:

[@kitkatbreak22]

Did you end up getting an answer for your question from your pediatrician?

[@hannaha.8385]

@kitkatbreak22 i did ask about it but she didn't give a definite answer. she basically told me that either way wouldn't really make a huge difference as long as he was introduced to them before 9-12 months.

[@kitkatbreak22]

@@hannaha.8385 Thanks. The suggestions seem so conflicting here!

[@tiffanyms2881]

I do a combination of BLW & puréed foods. Whatever works with our schedule on any given day. I’m not about to stress myself out! As long as she’s fed, who the hell cares.

[@RosannaChistiakov]

I love this! I like how you give the facts backed up by data! Can’t wait for the video next week on best foods and dangerous ones 🙌 You’ve mentioned that it is recommended to still breastfeed till 9 months (after starting on solids) to get the nutrients. What if I try BLW around 4-5 months and decide to stop breastfeeding baby at 6 months.. would I need to switch her from milk to purées at 6 months and keep giving her different pieces of solid food? Or would I be able to not use purées at all? 🤔 That’s if everything goes well with BLW of course and baby likes real food at that age 😂

[@TheEesmee]

You would be giving formula instead of breastmilk in your case. Primary source of nutrition for infants up to 9-12 months would be breastmilk OR formula. So the solids will be supplementary regardless

[@k-tbee3967]

Everything I’ve ever seen about BLW says not before 6 months. Baby should also be sitting up on their own. Breastmilk or formula is their main source of nutrients until 1, so solid foods should not replace bottles/breastfeeding until 12 months. I’ve read that recent research says giving baby any type of food before 6 months is not good on their digestive system.

[@janinedear-barlow]

Milk is the main diet for the first year.

[@cherlyn8854]

What if after starting letting baby have a taste of food and baby rejects drinking milk in the initial stage?

[@charchar17]

We started with puree but the issue is that she likes to grab the spoon as I feed her. We end up with a huge mess (puree all over her face!) even after alternating between two spoons. She also gets frustrated with blw as she can’t quite grab and put into her mouth quick enough (even though she nursed 30min ago). Any thoughts on how I can help her?

[@sierratorres4695]

My baby was like yours. My best advice, embrace the mess. Feeding things like avocado or slippery foods, cover it in ground flaxseed, it’ll give them grip. They’ll be frustrated in the beginning until they begin to refine their motor skills. I would hold the food out and let them grab it and bring it to their own mouth if they were having troubles picking it in too. Hope that helps!

[@charchar17]

@@sierratorres4695 Thanks so much!!!

[@jocelynfrancescut1965]

BLW is very messy!! My girl grabs the spoon but I still kind of guide it in her mouth. It stops her from waving it around but she still gets to control the spoon going into her mouth

[@mrsindianmonroe]

Any tips for getting off the passie 😩 😭

[@MPG-ub5ke]

How much solids should a 7 mo typically eat daily?

[@kelseypleasant455]

My baby is 6 months and I’ve been introducing different foods and she does amazing, however, her poop is very hard and it hurts her while she is trying to push and she drink 5 oz a water a day sometimes I try to give her more but her poop doesn’t seem to soften. She went from being constipated for 2 days to now pooping every day it’s just hard and I can tell she is in pain. Do you have any suggestions on what I should do? And I started introducing the foods since 4 months but because of this issue I’ve been stopping and trying agian once her poop is softened but I never experienced this with my other 2 little ones so I’m worried

[@tiffanyms2881]

Same was happening with my 6 month old. I gave her watered down Prune juice and upped her water intake a bit

[@allizalli]

You mentioned chickpeas are a common allergen but that’s the first time I have heard that. Is that correct?

[@TheDoctorsBjorkman]

Chickpeas and other legumes like lentils can be a fairly common allergy- especially in populations where consumption of these is high (ie India, Mediterranean). In the US, it is not usually considered a top allergen, but one that is good to be aware of as a potential culprit if your baby has a reaction.

[@allizalli]

@@TheDoctorsBjorkman thanks so much! Great information.

[@mariocartel544]

I love how they come up with fancy names for things that have been done forever. My son wouldnt eat those baby jars so i just fed him real food when he was ready. My daughter was wrestling the traditional baby food spoon away from her face consistently and i was basically throwing mostly full expensive jars away because she wasnt eating them so i decided screw this and feed her mostly what i eat cut up into managable pieces. The way i figure, cavemen werent feeding jars of mush to their babies and were all here today so it cant be all that bad. Obviously feed them reasonable, healthy foods you cook in pieces they can manage and not processed junk but nobody should be eating a lot of processed junk anyways. My daughters doctor told me the food she eats doesnt matter as much before a year because she gets the bulk of nutrition from her milk so if she wont eat something or you dont feed her some certain jar she would be ok still as long as shes still drinking enough milk(formula or breastmilk).

[@odettesmith3322]

Hey do you have any videos on caring for a newborn? We expect our first in September and my husband expressed how his concerned that he doesn’t know how to change his bum or how to bath him ect. Have you done any videos like this for a first time parent? Many thanks, love you guys 🥰

[@mumbimaina6029]

I think they have..I recall seeing some

[@janinedear-barlow]

Yes. Look through their videos

[@janinedear-barlow]

The problem with shop puréed baby food is they release too much keratin and turn baby's noses orange.

[@meganunthank778]

Please talk about FPIES. There is not enough information on this, and I was not prepared when my son started reacting by vomiting a couple hours after eating.

[@krisb5792]

I love you guys, and I understand it's a human movement, but it stresses me out how you guys both look back and forth between the camera and each other in all of your videos 😭 not that my opinion or triggers matter anyways, you guys rock! I'm just nd

[@minamaeve4424]

What I don't understand is...on one side " baby should get her nutrition from milk" and on the other side worries that she might develop deficiencies when fed solids "the wrong way". How? What am I missing?

[@jocelynfrancescut1965]

The main nutrition deficiency is iron as their iron stores deplete around 6 months of age and breast milk does not contain iron. You should offer a high iron food each day. But their main source of nutrition is milk.

[@minamaeve4424]

@@jocelynfrancescut1965 so formula is a good option?

[@jocelynfrancescut1965]

@@minamaeve4424 yes formula has some iron so you don't have to worry about it quite as much, but when you switch to cows milk then you will need to keep an eye on iron intake

[@janinedear-barlow]

Baby should be having baby vitamin drops so won't get deficiencies.

[@minamaeve4424]

@@janinedear-barlow whaaat? I haven't heard that. Noone I know gives baby drops and the pediatrician didn't mention it either!

[@jeslynandjayce0509]

Helloo

[@eleanoranne3871]

I feel like you both prefer talking to a person with eye contact lol it probably is weird talking to a camera or not looking directly at who is talking.

[@nursyafiqa9134]

I started giving my 6mo baby purees like brocolli, avocado, banana, pumpkin. He only likes pumpkin and banana. He gaged and puked out avocado and brocolli. Not sure why. And i feel like he lost some weight from the pukings. So now im giving him traditional rice cereal for now and he has gotten chubbier.

[@janinedear-barlow]

Too much at one time.

[@cyndiipanda]

Idk I think it’s all crap 😂 if you can do blw, you probably don’t have anxiety to begin with. If you do blw, you are probably eating mostly at home and healthier hence the healthier eating habits these kids will show later. I wish I could do it but I do have bad anxiety and I couldn’t bring myself to with my son, I was way too nervous when he would gag.

[@mihaelaroman4718]

Same here, so nervous, I can’t take it. Unless I give her a big (and I mean BIG) piece of meat to suck the juice out of it, but otherwise, it is my worst nightware, and she also lost weight, so I am sticking with purees. I give her pieces to touch to get used with and take them to mouth, but then I take them away.

[@TheDoctorsBjorkman]

You’re so right to think that the “evidence” about potential benefits of BLW are not well proven and there are MANY confounding variables. We’re so glad you know where you are most comfortable as the parent, and at the end of the day, what matters most is that baby gets a well-balanced diet and the nutrition they need to grow and develop. If they can get extra variety to to tastes, textures, and foods along the way, that’s all bonus (and “maybe” offers a little benefit). Keep up the good work!

[@jocelynfrancescut1965]

Purees were invented in the 50's, before that all babies ate finger foods so not sure why you think it is "crap." Babies have a strong gag reflex that protects them from choking, and in addition children (and adults) at any age so eventually you need to introduce table foods. It is definitely anxiety provoking but educate yourself with some baby CPR so that you are more comfortable.

[@cyndiipanda]

@@jocelynfrancescut1965 crap meaning it’s just preference and neither way is wrong, right or better. As long as baby is getting nutrients then it’s good 👍🏼

[@TheBalancedMom]

@@jocelynfrancescut1965 maybe here in America they ate finger foods but in our country and many European countries, they ate "purees" (but they were pureed with a fork) way before the 1950's not finger foods. Totally understand her anxiety about the baby choking...nothing wrong in smooshing the food! You do you mama!

[@serenakhan6306]

I I this video

[@JustAnotherAnonymousPost]

Doctors? They can’t even spell safety @ 9:13 😆 I am moving on!

[@sconnielassie]

Typo? 🙄 geez.

[@karenkirwin2409]

Why on earth would you feed this way? It’s not nutritional and the choking hazard is ridiculous. How will they get the nutrition they need?

[@Ijuswantplaylistplz]

Ohhh good info but the sexism is strong here. “Lazy mom” “mom choses” 😒

[@ourrichlife5780]

lol this new term “BLW” is hilarious to me. People of color have been doing this since forever…like forever, but ok..cute name I guess 🥴

[@applehotful]

Can you share your degree certificates? How can I believe a random youtuber?

[@mommajo6887]

Great information, but you guys look at each other a lot and it is super distracting to watch. Try to focus on the audience and not each other. Also spell check your slides! Safety was spelled wrong. How do you not catch that?

[@merei111]

It's distracting watching you both sit and watch each other as the other talks.

[@JackAaron]

Relax, you guys are too nervous on camera.

[@SincerelyValerie143]

Thank you so much for this video! Helpful tips for my almost 5 month old 🫶🏼

[@Gianina451]

What vitamins do you recommend to supplement?