Building Your Confidence with Baby Led Weaning: A Parent’s Guide

CONFIDENCE IS SOMETHING YOU BUILD AT EACH MEAL

If you’re anything like most parents, the thought of handing your baby a chunk of food for the first time probably makes your heart race. What if they choke? What if they don’t eat anything? What if people think you’re doing it all wrong?

Take a deep breath—you are not alone. Every parent who starts baby led weaning has those same fears, and it’s completely normal. The good news? Confidence is something you build over time, and with the right mindset and a few simple steps, you and your baby can actually enjoy the process together.

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Bread and other dough-like meals can be scary, adding a spread like egg salad or ricotta cheese helps the bread fall apart easier in baby's mouth. Take a bite to see for yourself!

Why Confidence Matters

Babies pick up on our energy. If we sit down at mealtime worried, tense, and hovering, they’ll feel that stress too. But when we show up calm and trusting, they feel safe to explore. Building confidence isn’t about pretending you’re fearless—it’s about learning enough to feel prepared and reminding yourself that you can do this.

Gagging vs. Choking: Knowing the Difference

One of the scariest parts of BLW is hearing your baby gag. It can sound intense, but gagging is a completely normal and protective reflex. It helps your baby push food forward and learn how to manage it safely.

Choking is when the airway is blocked and baby can’t make sound or breathe—much less common, but something every parent wants to be prepared for.

💡 Tip: For peace of mind, keep an infant choking device on hand. You can also take a quick infant CPR course (online or local). Just knowing you have the skills and the equipment to respond can instantly ease so much fear.

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Start Small & Set Yourself Up for Success

The first meals don’t have to be elaborate. Try soft, simple foods like:

• Ripe avocado slices

• Steamed carrot sticks

• Banana spears

• Soft scrambled egg strips

Keep the mood light. Sit with your baby, eat alongside them, and let them explore without pressure. Even if they only mush food between their fingers, that’s progress!

In the beginning weeks of Baby-Led Weaning, I would start the meal off with strips of food for baby to grasp. After a few gagging noises and pauses that felt like an hour, I would rip up all the food into tiny pieces. The important thing is, I still started the meal this way every time. Even if we broke the pieces up eventually, I was building confidence and so was my son!

Trust Your Baby’s Abilities

Your baby was built for this. Their gag reflex is actually farther forward in their mouth at this age (6-12 months) to protect them. They’re wired to self-regulate and learn through practice. You’re not forcing them to eat—you’re simply giving them the opportunity to try.

Look for readiness signs:

• Sitting up mostly unassisted (my pediatrician said at least 30 seconds unassisted)

• Reaching for food

• Showing interest when you eat

If those boxes are checked, your little one is ready to start their food adventure.

Handling Outside Opinions

You might get comments like:

• “Isn’t that dangerous?”

• “We didn’t do it that way and you turned out fine.”

My favorite response to any unwelcome comments is, "Our pediatrician supports this". It can feel discouraging, but remember—you’ve done your research, and you know what’s best for your family. A simple, confident response like “We’re comfortable with this approach, but thanks for caring” goes a long way.

Confidence Grows with Each Meal

The first bite is always the hardest—mostly for you, not your baby. With each meal, you’ll see them get better at chewing, grasping, and swallowing. And with each win (even the small ones), your confidence will grow too.

Celebrate those moments:

• The first time they bring food to their mouth

• The first time they actually swallow a bite

• The first time they giggle through a messy dinner

These are the little victories that add up to a confident eater—and a confident parent.

Final Encouragement

Remember this: you don’t have to be fearless, you just have to be willing. Building your confidence with baby led weaning is a journey, one that unfolds bite by bite, meal by meal. Trust yourself, trust your baby, and know that messy, wobbly beginnings are exactly how learning happens.

You’ve got this—and your baby does too.