Baby-Led Weaning: How We Let Our Baby Try Everything (and Simplified Life Along the Way)

As a mom who didn’t plan for kids and knew nothing about babies, I had zero clue when solids started. All I remember are those tiny Gerber jars I fed my baby sister when she was a kid….24 years ago. Honestly, a lot has changed since then.

I had big plans to make my own baby food and be super healthy. Didn’t work out. When we first started, we went with pouch purées instead, and I was actually pleasantly surprised. There are so many healthy, organic options now that I didn’t have to make my own — which was a relief on the days I couldn’t even find time to shower. Some people worry about heavy metals in baby foods, but these are naturally occurring from soil and would be in homemade purées too. Convenience won this round, and that’s okay.

Then a friend casually mentioned “baby-led weaning.” I thought, oh great, crunchy, new-age terminology. But honestly, we don’t even really call it that in our house — for us, it’s just simply eating. Our baby tries foods, explores flavors, and feeds himself in a hands-on way. No jars, no puree prep, no stress — just eating.

What Baby-Led Weaning Really Is

At its core, baby-led weaning (BLW) is about letting your baby try foods, self-feed, and explore real flavors. You don’t need fancy purees or tiny spoons unless you want to; it’s just letting them eat safely alongside you.

The idea isn’t to skip purees altogether (though you can), but to let babies lead the way. And yes, it’s messy. Yes, your floors will look like a war zone. But the benefits make it worth it.

How We Started

We began with eggs—scrambled, hard-boiled, and tiny omelets. Eggs are soft, easy to grab, and protein-packed. We add in spinach and sometimes small sausage pieces. From there, we let him try modified versions of everything we eat:

• Chicken, shredded or in small pieces
• Bolognese with tiny bits of pasta
• Fruits like banana, pear, berries, watermelon
• Vegetables like steamed carrots, peas, and broccoli
• Guacamole (avocado is a BLW favorite!)

We let him eat fries, too—because fries are a childhood joy and the easiest way to occupy him quickly in a restaurant.

By 11 months, he has a surprisingly adventurous palate and will try almost everything we eat. And the best part? I didn’t have to cook him a separate “baby meal” for the most part.

Here’s a list of breakfast, lunch, dinner & snack ideas if you’re struggling with where to begin.

How to Do It Safely

Safety is key when letting your baby try foods:

1. Cut into safe shapes:
   • Fingers should be long enough to grab, but small enough to avoid choking
   • Soft foods can be cut into sticks, strips, or small cubes
   • Avoid round foods that can block the airway (whole grapes, cherry tomatoes)
2. Foods to avoid:
   • Honey (risk of botulism)
   • Whole nuts or chunks
   • Hard candies or sticky foods
   • Excess salt, sugar, or highly processed foods
3. Supervise meals:
   Always sit with your baby while they eat. It’s fine if they gag a little—it’s part of learning—but never leave them unattended.

Why Baby-Led Weaning Rocks

• Encourages independence: Baby decides how much to eat and explores texture, taste, and self-feeding skills. We try not to force him to finish.
• Reduces picky eating: Trying a variety of foods early helps develop a broad palate.
• Simplifies life: You don’t have to make dozens of purees or separate meals — your baby eats versions of what you eat.
• Builds motor skills: Picking up and manipulating food is great fine-motor practice.
• Mess is part of learning: Floors will get messy, hands will get sticky, and that’s perfectly okay. Check out this post for tips on containing the mess.

The beauty is, you don’t need to call it anything fancy. To us, it’s not “BLW” — it’s just letting our baby eat with us, explore real food, and enjoy mealtime.

My Top BLW Tips

• Start slow: Introduce one food at a time so you can watch for reactions.
• Go for soft, easy-to-grab foods first: Avocado, banana, cooked sweet potato, soft pasta.
• Don’t worry about mess: Trust me, you’ll get used to food on the walls, floors, and hair.
• Stay calm about gagging: It’s normal. Babies gag as they learn to chew and swallow.
• Include fun foods in moderation: Fries, soft cheese, or toast sticks—balance is key.

Bottom Line

Baby-led weaning doesn’t have to be scary, complicated, or “crunchy.” Really, we don’t even call it that — it’s just eating. Let your baby explore food, stay safe, and enjoy mealtime. You don’t need Pinterest-worthy purees; sometimes simply eating together is enough.