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Advantages of BLW and pick food

Posted by Elin Oresten on

Introducing finger foods to children is not just a practical way to serve meals; it opens the door to an exciting world of independence, exploration and food enjoyment.

Here you will learn why Baby Led Weaning (BLW) and finger foods can be so rewarding, both for children and parents, and how it can help create healthy habits and strengthen the child's chewing ability.

What is BLW?

BLW, or Baby Led Weaning, means that you allows the child to be introduced to solid foods through finger foods – finger-sized pieces that they can pick up and explore on their own, without purees or spoon feeding. The baby is allowed to follow their natural instinct to bring food to their mouth, and mealtimes become a time for self-exploration.


If you want to combine spoon feeding with independent eating, that's fine, even though it's not technically pure BLW. But regardless of the method, you can achieve several benefits.

1. Explore textures with finger foods

Finger foods give children the opportunity to explore a variety of textures and consistencies at their own pace. It can lead to a healthier relationship with food and greater enjoyment of food, although more research is needed in the area.


In addition, we know that children from around 12-18 months enter the so-called neophobic phase, where they become more picky and the appearance of the food plays a big role in their acceptance. If the child has already tried food in different formats, there may be a greater openness to continue tasting new things.

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2. Chewing skills and motor development

Letting children explore finger foods can also contribute to the development of chewing skills. By chewing on foods with different textures, your baby exercises their muscles and gets a natural stimulus for their oral motor skills. Waiting to introduce foods that require chewing can delay these skills, making finger foods an important building block in their development.

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3. Healthy eating habits and appetite control

Another advantage of BLW and finger foods is that it encourages the child to eat based on their own appetite, rather than parental signals. It can contribute to better appetite control and a reduced risk of overeating. Research suggests that BLW can be positive in reducing the risk of future obesity, as the child learns to listen to his own hunger and satiety from the start.

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4. It's easy!

A personal favorite about finger foods is how natural it feels and how it makes mealtimes easier. When everyone in the family can eat the same food, there is no need to stand around with multiple dishes and spoon-feed during meals. Instead, the whole family can enjoy the same meal and follow the child's journey as they discover the world of food. Sharing meals in this way can also strengthen the bond between children and parents, and provide a sense of togetherness around the dinner table.


For me, it has been a joy to accompany my daughter Bonnie on her food journey. It has not always been easy – but absolutely worth it. And I dare to hope that it is thanks to the food she picks that she now has a great joy in eating, even though we can never be completely sure what influenced it.

Elin Oresten Knatteplock

/Elin Oresten

Lic. nutritionist and founder of Knatteplock.

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Sources

📖Reduced risk of picky eating: XiaoXi Fu, Cathryn A. Conlon, Jillian J. Haszard, Kathryn L. Beck, Pamela R. von Hurst, Rachael W. Taylor, Anne-Louise M. Heath, Food fussiness and early feeding characteristics of infants following Baby-Led Weaning and traditional spoon-feeding in New Zealand: An internet survey, Appetite, Volume 130, 2018, pages 110-116

📖Mincreased risk of picky eating and development of motor skills: Campeau, M., Philippe, S., Martini, R. & Fontaine-Bisson, B. (2021) The baby-led weaning method: A focus on mealtime behaviours, food acceptance and fine motor skills. Nutrition Bulletin, 46, 476–485.

📖Development of motor skills: Simione M, Loret C, Le Révérend B, Richburg B, Del Valle M, Adler M, Moser M, Green JR. Differing structural properties of foods affect the development of mandibular control and muscle coordination in infants and young children. Physiol Behav. 2018 Mar 15;186:62-72. doi: 10.1016 j.physbeh.2018.01.009. Epub 2018 Jan 16. PMID: 29343459; PMCID: PMC6052439.

📖Appetite control: Townsend E, Pitchford NJ. Baby knows best? The impact of weaning style on food preferences and body mass index in early childhood in a case-controlled sample. BMJ Open. 2012 Feb 6;2(1):e000298. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2011-000298. PMID: 22315302; PMCID: PMC4400680.

📖Development of chewing ability and reduced risk of picky eating: Rapley, Gill. (2016). Are pureed foods justified for infants of 6 months? What does the evidence tell us? Journal of Health Visiting. 4. 289-295. 10.12968/johv.2016.4.6.289

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BENEFITS OF EATING THE SAME FOOD WITH THE WHOLE FAMILY

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Children love to imitate, by eating the same food it facilitates learning and makes mealtime a positive experience of togetherness. As a parent you don't have to feed but can sit next to and enjoy the food.

Picking food gives children the opportunity to explore a variety of textures and consistencies at their own pace. This can lead to a healthier relationship with food and a greater enjoyment of eating. By offering different textures and flavors, the child gets a broader taste palette, and there is a greater chance that the appetite will continue even during the naturally picky period that usually comes around two years. Research shows that children who are introduced to a more varied diet from the start eat more variety and more vegetables later in life.

  • Promotes exploration and independence at mealtime.
  • Develops early chewing skills.
  • Simplifies family meals and strengthens community.

Why pick-me-up?

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Promotes exploration and independence at the meal
Develops early chewing abilities
Simplifies family meal time and strengthens the community

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Encourage the joy of eating by letting your child explore flavors and textures on their own. Start the food adventure today - we are here for you and your child through messes, discoveries and challenges.
 
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Frequently asked questions about takeaway food

Finger food is a way of offering food where the baby/child eats themselves either with their hands or with a spoon.

Finger foods give children the opportunity to explore a variety of textures and consistencies at their own pace, from an early age. This can lead to a healthier relationship with food and greater enjoyment of eating.

Make sure your baby shows signs of being ready for solid foods. She should be able to sit up in a chair on her own, be able to bring objects to her mouth on her own, and show an interest in food. Maybe your baby is reaching for your food or looking at your plate with fascination, then there is probably interest!

Consider offering foods that are fairly soft but easy to grasp. For example, sweet potato sticks, slices of liver pâté, cooked broccoli or omelette/pancake strips. Sandwiches with butter and/or liver pâté are also perfect for practicing motor skills. Slippery foods that are difficult to grasp can be rolled in seeds or sandwich crumbs. For example, avocado or banana. But in general, it is good to offer the baby what the rest of the family eats as often as possible.

Small babies don't have a pincer grip so it's big pieces that matter at first. The pieces should be longer than the palm of their hand because small babies (6 months) often can't open their palm on request. It may feel scary but it's actually safer with bigger pieces than smaller pieces when it's a small baby! If they take too big bites they spit it out again.

Read more here.

Many people worry about how their children will be able to chew finger foods without teeth. The good news is that it goes very well. Young children process food with their tongue, palate and toothless jaws.

Children only get molars when they are a little older (over 1 year old) and waiting to introduce solid foods until then can have negative consequences for the child's eating development.

Children don't learn to chew by eating puree, they learn to chew by practicing chewing different textures in their mouths.

Read more here.