Developmentally Appropriate Approach to Baby-Led Weaning

As a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) and a mother, I embarked on an exciting journey to introduce my child to solid foods. Guided by my professional knowledge and personal experience, I chose a path that focuses on cultivating early oral motor skills while taking influence from core principals of baby-led weaning. My approach involved starting with purees before moving on to the more traditional baby-led weaning finger foods, emphasizing a gradual progression through different textures.

**Setting the Stage: The Puree Phase**

When introducing my little one to solid foods, I opted for the puree phase as the starting point. Developmentally, my son at 4 months was not able to start finger foods - he was not sitting unassisted and he still primarily used a sucking pattern. Purees provide an ideal transition from liquid to solid foods, allowing babies to experience new flavors while practicing their sucking and swallowing skills. During this stage, I prepared a variety of purees, ranging from single-ingredient options to creative blends of proteins, fruits, vegetables, and grains while progressively thickening the puree. The goal was to expose my child to diverse tastes while gradually stimulating his oral muscles. During this phases, I encouraged self-feeding as much as possible (see the messy photos above) in order to take theories from more traditional baby-led weaning which means giving my son as much control over his experience with food. I speak more about sensory components of baby-led weaning in my book on the subject which I've linked below.

**Building Oral Motor Strength and Control**

Purees serve as an excellent platform to build oral motor strength and control. The sucking and swallowing motions required for purees help develop the necessary muscles for chewing and swallowing more complex textures in the future. As a SLP, I understood the significance of this phase in setting the foundation for clear speech and efficient chewing patterns. Infants primarily use a sucking pattern for the first 6-7 months of life by sucking on the breast or bottle and then with acceptance of smooth purees via spoon feeding. With most children, we tend to start spoon feeding after a child has mastered some independent sitting skills. When a child accepts purees on a spoon, they are using a sucking pattern or in therapy terms a “midline” tongue pattern which means the tongue is in the middle of the mouth. A typical sucking pattern involves the infant using their tongue to draw the puree into their mouth in a controlled and coordinated manner. The baby may create a rhythmic sucking motion as they manipulate the puree against the roof of their mouth, aiding in the initial breakdown of the food and the initiation of the swallowing reflex. I've included a link to the b

lender that I used to make purees.

**Introducing Purees to Encourage Oral Motor Development**

Although I liked to encourage self-feeding with my son, the times when I demonstrated use of the spoon or wanted to work on oral motor skills it was important to consider positioning. When venturing into the world of introducing purees, it's crucial to consider the right techniques for promoting early oral motor skills. When you're offering purees by spoon or using a long slender teething toy, the goal remains the same: encouraging the development of essential oral movements. Presenting the purees in the midline(center) and patiently waiting for lip closure on the spoon ensures that the baby engages in a controlled sucking pattern.

It's important to avoid the instinct to scrape off the puree on the top lip or gum, as this process allows the infant to practice drawing the food into their mouth independently.

As your little one progresses, guiding them to the lateral molar gum surfaces(sides of the mouth) helps initiate chewing and encourages tongue movement, both of which are fundamental for refining their oral motor skills.

Remember, these early experiences lay the groundwork for comfortable and confident eating habits in the future.

**Transitioning to Dissolvable Hard Solids and Soft Cubes**

As my son grew(around the 5 month mark), I introduced dissolvable hard solids and soft cubes. Mostly we used the Gerber Teethers, and puffs. This phase allowed my little one to practice chewing motions and develop the jaw muscles necessary for managing more textured foods. I observed how my child used their tongue to explore the new textures and gradually learned to manipulate the food inside their mouth.

In this phase, babies will engage in a learning process where they practice moving these dissolvable solids to the sides of their mouth using their gums. This action, known as "munching," involves up and down biting movements with an open mouth, followed by sucking with a closed mouth. It's important to note that some gagging during this phase is normal, as babies are still mastering their oral motor skills. However, excessive gagging to the point of vomiting might indicate hypersensitivity. Over the course of several months, babies will continue using this sucking and munching pattern as they gradually learn to manipulate the solids laterally (to the side) in preparation for open-mouth biting and further exploration.

**Advancing Through the Textures**

With the foundational skills in place, it was time to progress to more advanced oral motor skills. At about 6 months of age, I gradually introduced a variety of textures, including soft mechanical, soft table foods, hard mechanical, and tough chewy foods. My son had begun sitting up without assistance at this time and this is an important milestone indicating readiness for a move towards solids. I closely monitored my sons progress, ensuring that he was comfortable with each stage before moving forward. It's important to take your child's lead during this journey and rely on your comfortability.

First, we started with a combination of introducing soft mechanical foods which includes soft cubed/slices foods as well as soft mixed textures. We started with soft finger foods such as avocado cubes, cooked sweet potato wedges, sliced banana, and poached fruit. The mixed textures included chopped, ground and mashed foods for example my son enjoyed the meals I made for my husband and I with less seasoning and put in the food processor. I've linked the processor that I used below.

When my son started to demonstrate a rudimentary chew pattern, I moved on to more solid options like hard mechanical and tough/chewy foods. I discuss how to recognize the beginning of chewing in another post here.

Around the age of 8 to 9 months, many infants begin to demonstrate a rudimentary chew pattern as they explore new textures and flavors. This marks an exciting phase in their development, showcasing their growing oral motor skills and readiness for a more varied diet.

Around the 8-9 month mark, a remarkable phase unfolds as your child's oral motor skills continue to develop. As they become more adept with dissolvable solids, we gradually introduce soft solids that can be gently mashed with the tongue. This is often a time when many children are taking their first steps into the world of crawling. As this stage progresses, your child is entering what we call the "vertical chewing phase." In this phase, you'll notice increased tongue movement, as well as the lateral transfer of solids to their gums and emerging teeth. The process involves a sequence of open-mouth biting, occasional shifts of the jaw, and then followed by sucking. It's important to note that during this exciting period, new chewers often alternate between chewing and sucking as they steadily enhance their skills over the course of several months.

At this point we moved on to "chunkier" foods (less time in the processor) as well as a more traditional baby-led weaning mealtime where we gave our son finger foods like grilled chicken, salmon, broccoli florets, roasted carrots, etc. It's important to inform you that sometimes kids aren't quiet ready to begin this stage and to closely monitor them. I personally still presented the foods on the plate to my son for the sensory experience but didn't expect him to eat it. This is why I often also included mixed texture/processor meals during this stage to continue exposing him to a variety of developmentally appropriate textures that encourage development of his chewing that would eventually be conducive to finger foods.

**Cultivating Lifelong Healthy Eating Habits**

I felt that my approach to gradually working towards baby-led weaning while incorporating the same ideals of self-feeding and mealtime empowers babies to explore foods at their own pace, further enhancing their oral motor skills and sensory experiences. My child’s ability to self-feed and control his intake improved significantly over the months, ultimately promoting independence and a positive relationship with food.

My journey of introducing purees and progressing through various textures was not just about developing oral motor skills; it was also about fostering a lifelong love for healthy eating. By exposing my child to a wide array of tastes and textures, I laid the groundwork for them to become adventurous eaters who appreciate a diverse range of foods.

Introducing solid foods is a pivotal milestone in a child's development, and it can be approached in a way that nurtures essential oral motor skills. Starting with purees and gradually advancing through textures provides a well-rounded experience that prepares children for a lifetime of confident and enjoyable eating. As both a SLP and a mother, I am delighted to witness my child's progress and share my insights with fellow parents who are embarking on this exciting journey. Remember, each child is unique, so it's essential to tailor the approach to your child's needs and pace, while celebrating every milestone achieved along the way.

I discuss the major take aways from baby-led weaning that laid the foundation for my own personal journey in this book.