Breastfeeding Article:

Introducing Solids - A Baby Led Approach

By Lorraine Cuadro

Lorraine Cuadro and her sons. Lorraine regularly writes articles for Mum Zone readers about various breastfeeding issues and aspects.

About five years ago when my son was six months old I introduced him to solids by giving him rice cereal. I remember stressing about how much he was eating, how many times a day he should eat and boy did I shovel it down until he had finished every last spoonful. I then spent the next few months boiling, pureeing and mashing most foods so that he could eat them.

About a year ago I found out about the baby led approach to introducing solids (Rapley, G. 2006) and I found that it takes away all the stress and worry of solid foods, making them about fun, play and flexibility.

When your baby is 6 months old, providing they can hold their head up and sit unaided you can simply boil some soft veggies like pumpkin or broccoli, cut them into strips so that baby is able to wrap their hand around them - and still have some of the veggies poking out the top to nibble on - put them in a plate and let your baby help themselves.

Essentially in the baby led approach your baby is simply eating the healthy bits of your family meal before you add the sugars, salts or strong spices. No more pureeing, no more food fights, no more cooking multiple meals…music to my ears!

By allowing your baby to decide what (of the selection you provide) and how much they are going to eat they are less likely to grow to hate certain foods, less likely to choke or gag as they control the pace, and they are more likely to enjoy your family's meals and meal time routines.

For the first month or so you may find that most of the food gets dropped on the floor or is spat out. And while it can be messy and may seem as though your baby isn't eating much, until your baby is 12 months old breast milk should still be their main source of nutrients.

Many babies seem to lose interest in breastfeeding once solids are introduced and usually it's because they are too busy exploring their world. To help breast milk remain you baby's main meal, offer breast milk before offering solid food. Wearing a long necklace to keep your baby at the breast can help and you can also try offering more feeds at night.

By allowing your baby to play with food, chomping on it, swishing it in their mouths and squeezing it in their fingers you are supporting your baby's oral development as well as their interest and enjoyment in the food you offer.

While this method is new to many mums, it's still important to remember the basic principals of solids; wait at least 3 days before introducing a new food and avoid offering any foods that you, your partner or someone in your family may be allergic to.

I really like the idea that food can be fun, easy and developmental. I find it refreshing to be able to let go and let baby decide what they need.

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