Baby-led or  Spoon-fed Weaning: Starting Solids

Mother spoon-feeding her baby as part of a combined babyfed and spoon-fed weaning approach.

Starting solids is one of the biggest milestones in your baby’s first year—but let’s be honest, it can also feel overwhelming. Social media is full of conflicting opinions: Should you spoon-feed purees? Go fully baby-led? What if your baby chokes? What if they don’t eat enough?

The truth? There’s no one-size-fits-all approach.

In fact, blending both baby-led and parent-led (spoon-feeding) weaning offers a gentle, flexible, and balanced way to introduce solids—one that honours your baby’s development and your instincts as a parent.

Let’s take the pressure off and look at the benefits of both styles, plus how you can confidently combine them to suit your family.

Baby-Led vs. Spoon-Fed: What’s the Difference?

Baby self-feeding with finger foods during a baby-fed and spoon-fed weaning routine.

Baby-led weaning (BLW) skips purées and goes straight to soft, manageable finger foods—think sticks of avocado, steamed broccoli, toast soldiers, or even a lamb chop to gnaw on. Babies feed themselves, explore textures, and decide what and how much to eat. It’s all about autonomy and exploration. Along the way, they’re also building important fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and oral muscle development—all of which support speech and chewing later on.

The catch? It can be tricky to know how much your baby’s actually consuming, and some may struggle to meet calorie needs early on—especially if they’re still figuring things out.

Spoon-feeding, or parent-led weaning, usually starts with smooth purées and gradually increases texture over time. It offers more control for parents, especially when it comes to ensuring nutritional variety, introducing iron-rich foods early, and watching for allergies. It’s also great for babies who may be slower to pick up self-feeding or have a stronger gag reflex.

Why Not Both?

You don’t have to choose one over the other. I encourage parents to combine both methods.

Use spoons for nutrition, calories, and iron-rich foods—and offer finger foods for exploration, practice, and fun. One approach meets your baby’s nourishment needs; the other nurtures their independence.

There’s no right or wrong. Just connection, curiosity, and confidence.

Common Questions About Starting Solids

Mother introducing solids to her baby in a high chair as part of a baby-fed and spoon-fed approach.

How Do I Know If My Baby Is Ready?

Most babies are ready between 5–6 months, but some show signs as early as 4 months. Look for:

  • Sitting upright in a high chair with good head and neck control
  • Reaching for food or the spoon
  • Opening their mouth when food approaches
  • Showing interest in what you’re eating
  • Losing the tongue-thrust reflex (not automatically pushing food out)

If your baby pushes food out with their tongue, that’s their way of saying, “Not quite ready yet!” Give it a week and try again.

Baby being spoon-fed in a high chair, learning to eat solids as part of a gentle weaning approach.

How Much Should I Feed Them?

Start small: just one tablespoon once a day is perfect. Don’t increase until your baby has had a bowel movement. Once they’re digesting well, you can add a second meal in week two, and a third as the weeks progress.

Let your baby guide you—but go gently. Their digestive system is learning to

Baby being spoon-fed while wearing a green bib, learning to regulate hunger during solids introduction.

Is My Baby Eating Too Much?

Babies are usually great at regulating hunger. If they’re turning away or clamping their lips, they’re likely full. If they seem insatiable, pause for 5 minutes—sometimes it takes a moment for their brain to register fullness. Use common sense, tune into your baby’s cues, and trust that you know them best.

Mother bottle-feeding her baby as part of a balanced routine alongside introducing solids

Solids Before or After Milk Feeds?

I suggest separating milk and solids completely, rather than feeding one right after the other. Try this rhythm:

  • Milk: within 30 minutes of waking
  • Solids: about an hour before nap time

By around 10 months, babies often drop to 3 milk feeds a day—morning, mid-afternoon, and bedtime—while continuing with three meals and optional snacks.

Baby trying soft finger foods like melon as part of a baby-led and spoon-fed solids introduction.

What Foods Should I Start With?

Skip the supermarket sachets and reach for real, whole foods:

  • Cooked vegetables: pumpkin, carrot, zucchini, cauliflower
  • Fruits: steamed apple or pear
  • Iron-rich foods: bone broth, lentils, meats, tofu, egg, fish
  • Healthy fats: avocado, nut butters (thinly spread), coconut cream, olive oil, full-fat dairy

Start simple, then introduce combinations gradually. The goal is variety and familiarity—include foods your family regularly eats.Fun fact: Babies are more likely to accept and enjoy foods they’ve been exposed to 21+ times before 12–18 months. Keep offering even if they reject it at first.

Baby learning to sip water during meals after starting solids.

Should I Offer Water?

Yes! Once solids begin, water can be offered with meals.

  • 6 months: ~20 mL per meal
  • 9 months: ~40 mL per meal
  • 12 months+: up to 200 mL per day

Keep it to sips—just enough to rinse and quench, without replacing milk or food.

Mother introducing allergy-safe foods to baby in a calm, supportive setting.

What About Allergy Foods?

Introduce common allergens—eggs, peanuts, cow’s milk, tree nuts, soy, sesame, wheat, shellfish—early and one at a time.

  • Start before 8 months, ideally
  • Only offer one allergen at a time
  • Watch for reactions (rash, swelling, vomiting, breathing issues)
  • If all goes well, offer the food twice a week to maintain tolerance

If your baby reacts, stop and speak to your doctor. If your family has a history of allergies, proceed with extra care.

Yes, It’s Going to Get Messy

Baby exploring spaghetti with hands and face during a messy mealtime—part of the baby-led and spoon-fed weaning journey.

Babies don’t just eat food—they squish it, smear it, study it, and sometimes wear it.

This mess is learning.

Let them explore with their hands, face, and mouth. Try not to wipe faces or tidy up until the end of the meal. Play is part of the process.

You Don’t Have to Pick a Side

Baby playfully feeding their mother with a spoon, reflecting the shared connection in a baby-led and spoon-fed approach.

Choosing a blend of baby-led and spoon-fed weaning lets you meet your baby’s needs while honouring your own parenting style. You’re not doing it “wrong” if you offer a mix of purées and finger food. You’re being responsive.

There’s beauty in flexibility—and confidence grows when we trust our instincts.

Want Help Simplifying the Process?

Check out my K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Solids) Program—a practical, low-stress guide to starting solids that shows you how to combine spoon-fed and baby-led approaches with confidence. Explore the guide here

If you’re feeling unsure about how to start—or continue—your solids journey, you’re not alone. Every baby is different, and sometimes a little personalised guidance can make all the difference. I offer gentle, realistic support tailored to your baby’s development, your feeding goals, and your family rhythm.
Book a one-on-one consultation with me here and let’s take the stress out of solids, together.