First Foods for Baby
Baby-Led Weaning: Supporting Independence from the Very First Bite
Introducing solids is one of the most exciting milestones in your baby’s first year. At Le Petit Elephant Nursery and Preschool, we believe this step should be as natural, joyful, and developmentally supportive as possible. That’s why we embrace baby-led weaning (BLW) as an important approach to a child’s very first foods.
What is Baby-Led Weaning?
Baby-led weaning is an approach to introducing solids where babies are encouraged to feed themselves from the start, rather than being spoon-fed purees. With BLW, parents and caregivers offer age-appropriate pieces of soft food—such as steamed vegetables, ripe fruit, or strips of tender meat—that babies can grasp, explore, and bring to their mouths at their own pace.
Instead of teaching babies to eat, BLW empowers them to discover food independently. This not only fosters autonomy but also lays the foundation for a positive lifelong relationship with food.
Why is it Important?
Supports Motor Development: Picking up foods helps babies strengthen their hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.
Encourages Self-Regulation: Babies learn to listen to their hunger and fullness cues, which promotes healthy eating habits long-term.
Exposes Babies to Textures and Flavors: By exploring real foods from the start, babies expand their palate and reduce picky eating later on.
Family Connection: Babies can eat alongside the family, joining in mealtime as a social and cultural experience.
How We Use BLW at Le Petit Elephant
At LPE, mealtimes are about more than just nutrition—they are moments of learning, discovery, and connection. Our teachers support BLW by:
Offering soft, safe, developmentally appropriate foods babies can pick up themselves.
Sitting with children during mealtimes to model healthy eating habits and ensure safety.
Creating a calm, unhurried environment where babies can explore food at their own pace.
Respecting each child’s unique readiness cues, understanding that no two children start solids in exactly the same way.
Above all, we honor the RIE-inspired principles of trust and respect: trusting babies to know their own bodies and respecting their choices as they explore this new stage of growth.
A Gentle Start to a Lifelong Journey
At Le Petit Elephant Nursery and Preschool, we see baby-led weaning not just as a feeding method, but as a meaningful first step toward independence, confidence, and joyful exploration. From their very first bite, we empower children to be curious learners—nourishing both body and spirit. Please find some useful articles link regarding Baby Led Weaning and first foods:
Egg Yolk (and why not rice cereal)