11.03.2025: Article edited to correct some inaccuracies regarding the advantages and disadvantages of both Baby Led Weaning and Traditional Weaning. Until recently in Spain, it was understood that transitioning a baby onto solid food meant first offering purees, from around 6 months, until the baby was ‘ready’ for more solid foods, at around 12 months.
And actually, many parents in Spain used to (and some still do) introduce food even earlier than 6 months (by adding cereal into the bottles of milk). However, this cultural practice is a topic for a different day (and, if you want to hear our opinion, is something we go deeper into in our Starting Solids Workshop). But, to get back to how parents used to introduce food to babies in Spain - it was mostly purees until toddler-hood! And even then, the sight of a parent chasing a little one around the park with a spoonful of baby food was very common (and sometimes still is)! However, in the past 20 years, a new approach has emerged, gaining popularity worldwide; and more recently becoming popular in Spain too: the practice of Baby-Led Weaning (BLW).
Baby-Led Weaning (BLW) is an approach where no baby purees are given. Instead, babies are offered finger foods which are soft enough to be mashed with their gums but firm enough for them to hold without squishing. The baby picks up the food and decides how much to eat, and learns to self feed from the start.
Traditional (Puree) Weaning:
In traditional weaning, babies start with purees or mashed foods which are fed to them by their caregivers on a soft spoon. After starting with purees, they are gradually introduced to different textures.
So, what are the advantages and disadvantages of both? And what's a parent to do in Spain?
There are pros and cons of both Traditional and Baby-Led Weaning, and a few extra things to be aware of regarding these methods in Spain!
The Advantages of Traditional Weaning
Traditional weaning does have it's pluses! Amongst these are:
Diet Control: Parents can ensure their baby is getting the right balance of nutrients, such as iron, proteins, and vitamins, which are vital for growth.
Smooth transition through textures: By gradually introducing foods with varying consistencies, from purees to more solid textures, babies can adapt more gradually to eating different types of food.
Self Feeding Skills with a Spoon: The baby is slowly introduced to how to feed themselves using a spoon (and not just with their hands).
Variety: Parents can introduce a wide range of foods, helping the baby develop a taste for different textures and flavours.
Monitoring Intake: Parents can closely track how much the baby eats, which is helpful if there are any growth or weight concerns.
Widely accepted by the Spanish medical community: This method is recognised, understood, and accepted by health professionals in Spain, meaning fewer raised eyebrows in conversations with your paediatrician than you might encounter with BLW (although this is slowly changing!).
Disadvantages of Traditional Weaning There are some disadvantages (or at least things to be mindful of) with traditional weaning:
Time, Effort and Cost: Preparing purees can be labour-intensive for parents, and usually requires separate meal preparation. Otherwise, there is an increased cost associated with buying prepared purees.
Lack of Autonomy: The baby has less control over their eating and is getting a slower introduction to self feeding, which could delay hand to mouth coordination and affect development of feeding skills.
The Potential of Delayed Development and Food Refusal: If babies are not transitioned correctly through different textures and instead are kept on purees for too long, they may take more time to transition to other textures, develop chewing skills later, and have issues with picky eating later on.
Baby-Led Weaning:
Moving onto the topic of BLW - a more hands-off approach where babies are encouraged to feed themselves from the very beginning with finger foods - so, what are the pros and cons of this method?
Advantages of Baby-Led Weaning:
Promotes Autonomy and Motor Skills: BLW allows babies to eat at their own pace, helping develop skills like the pincer grip and hand-mouth coordination early on.
Healthy Eating Habits: By letting the baby regulate their appetite, they learn to stop eating when they’re full, potentially preventing overeating in the future.
Early Transition to Solids: Since babies are exposed to a variety of textures early on, they are more likely to adjust to solid foods quickly, making the milk to food transition smoother.
Reduced Risk of Picky Eating: BLW advocates suggest that exposing little ones to a wide variety of foods from the start reduces the chances of them becoming picky eaters later on.
Participation in Family Meals: BLW encourages the baby to join in family meals, promoting social interaction (providing everyone is interacting and not distracted by a screen...), and provides a great opportunity for the parents to model healthy eating behaviours.
Disadvantages of Baby-Led Weaning:
Longer Meal Times: In the early months (and maybe for longer, depending on the child), meal times will take longer because the baby is feeding themselves at their own pace, exploring and learning to chew and swallow food independently. And this takes time!
Nutrient and Calorie Intake Concerns: As it is the baby themselves who control how much they eat, there’s a risk they might not consume enough essential nutrients (like iron or protein - particularly important in the early stages of weaning) and parents can be worried about them getting enough calories. However, at the beginning it is important to know that the main aim is not about the quantity but instead the exploration of different tastes and textures (since, at the beginning, milk feeds will still be providing the bulk of the nutrients and calories).
Messier and More Food Waste: BLW tends to be messier than traditional feeding, and also involve more food waste. This can be challenging for parents who prefer a cleaner eating environment and don't like having to throw 'floor food' away!
Limitations with Certain Foods: Some foods, such as soups or purees, are difficult to offer with BLW, potentially limiting exposure to these more liquidy foods at the beginning.
Which Option Should I Choose?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question! Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages, and the decision ultimately depends on individual factors, such as the parents' preferences, the baby’s temperament, and family lifestyle.
What About Combining BLW and Traditional Weaning? This is certainly an option that many families find works well! For example, they may offer purees to ensure the baby gets enough nutrients, while gradually introducing small pieces of solid food to promote dexterity and independence. A hybrid approach allows parents and babies to benefit from both methods, and adjust feeding to suit the baby’s needs as necessary.
But whatever you decide to do, the key is to offer a healthy, balanced diet that supports your baby’s growth and development, while considering what works best with your family's lifestyle, and your baby’s specific needs.
In addition, all caregivers should be up to date on how to detect and react to a choking emergency when introducing solids (by either method). If you need to gain (or refresh) skills in this (and any other aspect of infant or child First Aid) - come along to one of our popular First Aid classes!
Good luck on your starting solids journey! It's an exciting milestone! And if you would like professional support and guidance on all things weaning in Spain, come along to our Starting Solids workshop! Links and references for further reading: https://www.clebastien.com/blog/alimentacion-tradicional-vs-blw/ https://www.academianutricionydietetica.org/alimentacion-infantil/baby-led-weaning-blw/ https://themilkybox.com/blogs/themilkyblog/ultimate-guide-to-baby-led-weaning
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