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Baby Led Weaning at 5 Months – Is it Possible?

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Baby led weaning at the age of 5 months, is it possible? This article aims to examine whether you can start baby led weaning when your baby is five months old, what the current guidance is regarding starting your baby led weaning journey and other things to consider such as risks to your baby’s health.

Felix on his highchair holding a carrot baton

What is baby led weaning?

Baby led weaning is a method of introducing solid foods to a baby that involves letting the baby feed themselves, rather than spoon-feeding them pureed food.

Your baby is given small, soft pieces of food that they can pick up and eat with their hands, which allows them to explore different textures and flavours and helps them develop their fine motor skills.

Baby led weaning is typically recommended for babies who are around six months old and able to sit upright and have good head control.

It is thought to have several benefits, including promoting the baby’s self-regulation of food intake, encouraging the development of a varied diet, and helping the baby learn to chew and swallow solid foods.

However, it is important to ensure that the food is appropriate for the baby’s age and development, and to follow guidelines for food safety, such as avoiding high-risk foods and ensuring that the baby is supervised while eating.

dexter sat on his highchair with lots of noodles coming out of his mouth

Can a 5 month old do baby led weaning?

Baby-led weaning is generally recommended for babies who are around six months old and have reached certain developmental milestones, such as being able to sit upright and having good head control. This is because babies at this age are typically more able to manipulate food with their hands and bring it to their mouths, which are important skills for self-feeding.

Babies who are younger than six months may not have the coordination and control needed to pick up and eat solid foods safely. It is important to follow guidelines for introducing solid foods, which generally recommend waiting until a baby is around six months old to begin introducing solid foods, even if the baby seems interested in food or is showing signs of readiness.

Before introducing solid foods, it is important to ensure that the baby is getting enough nutrients from breast milk or formula, as these are the primary sources of nutrition for infants under six months.

If you are considering starting solid foods for your 5-month-old baby, it is a good idea to discuss it with your healthcare provider to ensure that it is appropriate and to get guidance on how to do it safely.

Dex sat on his joie mimzy snacker high chair putting his hand to his mouth

Can I give my baby finger foods at 5 months?

It is generally recommended to wait until a baby is around 6 months old before introducing solid foods, including finger foods. Before this age, babies are not developmentally ready to eat solid foods and are still getting all the nutrients they need from breast milk or formula.

Introducing solid foods too early can increase the risk of choking and may also interfere with the baby’s intake of breast milk or formula, which are the primary sources of nutrition for infants under 6 months.

If you are considering introducing solid foods to your 5-month-old baby, it is important to discuss it with your healthcare provider to ensure that it is appropriate and to get guidance on how to do it safely. It is also important to follow guidelines for food safety, such as avoiding high-risk foods and ensuring that the baby is supervised while eating.

Dexter wearing a pink plastic bib, sat in his joie mimzy snacker highchair with food all over the tray

What foods can babies eat at 5 months?

It is generally recommended to wait until a baby is around 6 months old before introducing solid foods. Before this age, babies are not developmentally ready to eat solid foods and are still getting all the nutrients they need from breast milk or formula.

If you are considering introducing solid foods to your 5-month-old baby, it is important to discuss it with your healthcare provider to ensure that it is appropriate and to get guidance on how to do it safely.

If you have the go ahead from your healthcare provider to introduce solid foods at 5 months, it is generally recommended to start with single-ingredient, pureed foods that are smooth and easy for your baby to swallow, such as mashed vegetables, fruits, and grains.

As your baby gets older and becomes more adept at self-feeding, you can gradually introduce a wider variety of textures and flavours. It is important to offer a variety of foods and to avoid adding salt or sugar to the baby’s food.

Dexter chomping on some chicken in the britannia inn liverpool

Can you start BLW before 6 months?

It is generally recommended to start baby led weaning when a baby is around 6 months old, as this is when they are typically developmentally ready to eat solid foods and have the coordination and control needed to pick up and eat food safely.

Starting baby led weaning before a baby is developmentally ready can increase the risk of choking and may also interfere with the baby’s intake of breast milk or formula, which are the primary sources of nutrition for infants under 6 months. It is important to follow guidelines for introducing solid foods, which generally recommend waiting until a baby is around 6 months old to begin introducing solid foods, even if the baby seems interested in food or is showing signs that they’re ready for weaning.

If you are considering starting baby led weaning for your baby before 6 months, it is important to discuss it with your healthcare provider to ensure that it is appropriate and to get guidance on how to do it safely.

Felix lying on his back wearing a vest that says I am 5 months old

What are the risks if you start baby led weaning before 6 months?

Starting solid foods before a baby is developmentally ready can increase the risk of choking and may also interfere with the baby’s intake of breast milk or formula, which are the primary sources of nutrition for infants under six months. Babies who are younger than six months may not have the coordination and control needed to pick up and eat solid foods safely, and may not be able to swallow solid foods properly.

Introducing solid foods too early can also increase the risk of food allergies, as the baby’s immune system is not fully developed and may not be able to handle a wide variety of foods. Starting solid foods before 6 months may also disrupt the natural progression of the baby’s feeding skills, as they may not yet be ready to chew and swallow solid foods.

It is important to follow guidelines for introducing solid foods, which generally recommend waiting until a baby is around six months old to begin introducing solid foods, even if the baby seems interested in food or is showing signs of readiness. If you are considering starting solid foods for your baby before six months, it is important to discuss it with your healthcare provider to ensure that it is appropriate and to get guidance on how to do it safely.

Felix lying on grey carpet wearing a 6 months old vest

Should you start baby led weaning at 5 months?

Ideally, you should not start baby led weaning when your baby is 5 months old. It is important to wait until your baby is developmentally ready before you start your baby led weaning journey and for most babies the signs of readiness begin at around six months old.

If your baby is around the six month mark and displaying signs of readiness including:

  1. Able to sit up unaided
  2. No longer has tongue thrust reflex
  3. Able to pick up objects and move them towards their mouth

it may be time for your journey to begin.

If you feel your baby is developmentally ready but hasn’t yet reached the age of six months, speak to your healthcare provider who will be able to advise you on whether it is safe or not to start. Good luck!

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