The Ultimate Guide to Feeding Your Baby: Purees, Baby-Led Weaning & More!
Introducing solids is an exciting milestone—but with so much advice out there, how do you decide what’s best for your baby? Should you start with spoon-fed purees, go straight to finger foods with baby-led weaning (BLW), or try a mix of both? Let’s break it all down so you can make the best choice for your little one.
Spoon feeding purees
When is Your Baby Ready for Solids?
Before deciding how to feed, let’s make sure your baby is ready! Signs of readiness include:
✅ Sitting up with good head control
✅ Showing interest in food (watching you eat, reaching for food)
✅ Loss of the tongue-thrust reflex (not automatically pushing food out)
✅ Bringing objects to their mouth
If your baby is showing these signs (usually around 6 months), it’s time to start solids!
Feeding Approaches: What Are Your Options?
Option 1: Traditional Spoon-Fed Purees
This method involves offering smooth, mashed, or blended foods from a spoon and gradually increasing texture over time.
✔️ Pros:
Easier to control portions and textures
Can be helpful for babies with medical concerns (e.g., prematurity, developmental delays)
Less mess (sometimes!)
❌ Cons:
Can take longer for babies to develop self-feeding skills
Parents may need to transition from purees to table foods over time
💡 Best for: Parents who prefer a more controlled approach or want to introduce solids gradually.
Baby is in charge of what goes in her mouth
Option 2: Baby-Led Weaning (BLW)
BLW skips spoon-feeding and lets babies self-feed soft, graspable finger foods right from the start.
✔️ Pros:
Encourages independence and self-regulation
Helps babies develop oral-motor and fine motor skills
Babies learn to eat a variety of textures early on
❌ Cons:
More mess (hello, food-covered floors!)
Requires careful food prep to avoid choking hazards
Some parents worry about how much baby is actually eating
💡 Best for: Families who want to promote self-feeding and are comfortable with a messier process.
Option 3: A Combination Approach
Many families find success combining purees and finger foods. You might start with spoon-fed purees while also offering soft finger foods alongside.
✔️ Pros:
Provides the benefits of both methods
Allows flexibility based on baby’s comfort level
Helps parents ease into self-feeding gradually
❌ Cons:
Can still be messy (but that’s part of the fun!)
Requires parents to be patient with baby’s learning process
💡 Best for: Parents who want the best of both worlds!
How to Choose What’s Best for Your Baby
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to feeding. Ask yourself:
🔹 Does my baby seem interested in self-feeding?
🔹 Do I prefer a structured feeding approach, or am I okay with mess?
🔹 Does my baby have any medical conditions that require extra support?
No matter what you choose, responsive feeding is key! Follow your baby’s cues, avoid pressuring them to eat, and make mealtimes a fun, stress-free experience.
Whether you choose purees, BLW, or a mix of both, the goal is the same: helping your baby explore food and build a healthy relationship with eating! The takeaway is to be RESPONSIVE TO YOUR BABY’S CUES.
Need more support? I offer workshops and consultations to help parents navigate this exciting stage! Reach out anytime—I’d love to help!
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👉 Want 1:1 Coaching in Person (Houston) or Virtually? Book an appointment on our website with Little Eaters & Talkers. Our team would love to help you and your family.
