Pediatrician Explains Baby-Led Weaning: Benefits, Risks, and Getting Started

Doctors Kurt and Sarah Bjorkman, a board certified pediatrician and OB/GYN, use this week's episode to share their journey with baby-led weaning their own baby in addition to some of the medical evidence about potential benefits and risks of BLW. At the end of this episode they also start to dive into some key considerations when getting started with the process yourself.

This is part 2 of a 3 part series on starting solids so be sure to check out:

0:00 - Intro
1:37 - What is Baby-Led Weaning?
2:58 - Benefits of Baby-Led Weaning
5:41 - Potential Risks
7:21 - Getting Started
9:11 - Basic Safety Tips
10:20 - Meal Time!
11:11 - Allergens
12:40 - What to Feed Baby

Intro Music: A WAY FOR ME - Nicolai Heidlas by Chem Ocampo

Keywords: pregnancy update, the doctors bjorkman, pregnancy vlog, obgyn, pediatrician, new baby, baby basics, breastfeeding, bottle feeding, exclusively breastfed baby, breast pumping, newborn, new mom, new dad, how much to feed baby, starting solids, baby-led weaning, baby-led introduction to solids, baby food, baby purees, first foods

[kaysharogers]

BLW has encouraged me to have more fruits, vegetables and textures at the table. My own diet has definitely improved as a result :)

[perlakarinacisternas]

I make the food for my baby. Ive done it with my 3 children. We start with purées until they have teeth, which is when I introduce solid foods. They're not picky eaters, never been. Its actually easier for me because I just Cook once a week for my 9 month old baby and freeze the food so I have 2 meals for each day. Ive already introduced meat, chicken, pork, fish and egg. My baby eats everything (including fruits and vegetables) and she loves her purées, she gets excited every time she sees her plate. So, no blw for us, the traditional method has worked perfectly 👌

[kristinak]

BLW had another advantage for us. Made us also improve our diet, including more fruits and veggies, watching that salt content skipping on take out or ordered food and cooking almost entirely at home. Definitely not the lazy moms way 😆

[BioBioLove]

I found BLW being the exact opposite to lazy mum weaning 😂 You have to modify the meals you make for yourself (to exclude salt/sugar/honey), you have to cut stuff up, and clean the ginormous mess multiple times a day. Lazy mum weaning for me is buying a puree from the market and stuff the baby not allowing them to touch anything and making a mess. Don’t get me wrong BLW is the best thing for our family, but lazy it is not IMO.

[cla]

Great starter info, but would you guys ever consider having a pediatric dietitian as a guest? I would love to see the comparison from someone used to sharing feeding tips from a more focused approach

[lareinadelcrystal]

Thannk you for the INFORMATION You guys provide better EXPLANATION THAN MY OWN pediatrician for my baby AS A FIRST TIME MOM IS SCARY STARTING ON MY OWN

[micahholman]

I’m a little nervous about doing full BLW, so I think I’ll do kind of a combination of purées and solids at first to ease my mind :)

[julia]

I literally was doing a deep dive on BLW yesterday, and looked on your channel hopeful for some info. You guys read my mind; so excited for this!

[haliejones]

I have 3 children and am currently pregnant with my 4th. I did baby led weaning when my 3rd was ready a little after 6 months and at 18 months she has been my best eater so far. My other 2 children had iron issues and hers was a 13.9 at her 12 month check

[emilyopie]

Can you talk about sippy cups as well? What types are preferred to start out with, and how they transition over time? I feel like there are so many options out there and am overwhelmed on where to start. Also could you talk about what liquids to give in the sippy cups, how much, and when is best to give them?

[ashleynoles]

I just have to say I am incredibly thankful for this channel! I have a 3 month old now and I have watched and learned so much throughout my pregnancy and now as a mom for the second time. It has been so encouraging watching the two of you as physicians learn as you have become new parents as well. Thank you so much for the honesty in your experiences! My oldest is 8 and I was told we wouldn’t be able to have another child due to my endometriosis and pcos diagnosis- but here I am with my second little one. Fingers crossed for your fertility journey! Sending all the good vibes and baby dust your way!

[allisonfalzon]

I just "fed" my babies healthy food when they were little. Never put a label on it. Whether it was purées or solid food, it was just called eating. Why do we have to have names for everything these days?? My sons turned out to be wonderful eaters, always have been. Will do the same for my daughter.

[katiegibbs]

Everytime I need a to know something you guys make a video at the exact time

[chrismc]

This video just saved me. Just in time for my LO starting solids next month. The information i got from you today somehow eased my stress about starting solids whether puree or blw. Im scared of the concept of blw with regards to choking. I guess i’ll just start with it when i see my baby is a confident eater. But the idea you told us that starting solids is just to practice the eating habits and feeding milk is still the priority until baby gradually progresses into purely eating solids, is very relieving to know

[aspeckofstardust]

Our pediatrician didn’t entertain it for a second, I told her we started blw and she just said it’s not recommended due to choking risk. Looking for a new pediatrician 🙃

[catherinecase]

I was on the fence about investing in the Starting Solids bundle, and I think this pushed me over the edge. Thanks! Looking forward to the rest of this series 😊

[elizabethc]

feels like you guys did sort of understate the findings from LEAP--it's more than a soft suggestion that early exposure to allergens are safe, it's a strong recommendation to introduce peanut as early as possible

[irynad]

As a mom of 2 I can say each baby requires personal approach. My son wanted to eat purées only till the age of 18 months while my daughter refused purées as old as 8 months old and now she is enjoying baby led weaning

[N.M.N.]

That's the problem with store bought purees is they have so many mixed ingredients.

[rashelkeeley]

When I first heard of BLW I though people were saying ‘baby linguini’ and I was so confused 😂