Is My Baby Eating Enough With Baby Led Weaning?

Baby Led Weaning is becoming an increasingly preferred way for parents to introduce solid foods to their babies once they reach 6 months of age. Still, many parents worry that using this method where the baby feeds themselves can mean that their baby is not eating enough. How can you tell if your baby is geeting enough food through baby led weaning? Watch the video eblow or keep reading to find out.

Are they gaining weight?

An excellent way to check if your baby is on track is to check their weight. Even if your baby is not due to be weighed, you can always get in touch with your health visitor to book in an extra weigh in. I’d always recommend asking your health visitor to weigh your baby rather than relying on scales that you have at home that may not be as accurate.

You health visitor will plot your baby’s weight in their “red book” (if you are in the UK). As long as your baby is following the line of the centile that they are currently on when plotted on the chart, your baby is probably getting enough food for what they need.

Are they weeing and pooping?

A great way to check that your baby is getting enough of what they need is simply by checking their nappies. If they are having plenty of wet nappies, plus regular soiled ones, they are on the right track.

Your baby’s poop will also tell a story that you might not be aware of. Remember when in Jurassic Park they checks the dinosaur’s poop to see what he had been eating? Same goes for your baby.

Every time that I have been baby led weaning and absolutely convinced that my baby had done nothing more than squash their food, wipe in in their hair and then throw it on the floor, their nappies would tell me otherwise. Every time they had in fact been swallowing bits of their food which I only knew about because I could see the evidence in their dirty nappies.

Are they still having plenty of milk?

Remember that “food before one is just for fun” and babies age 6-12 months will still get much of what they need from their milk.

I found that timing of milk compared to meal times was key. A baby that was too hungry was too fractious to practice the skills that baby led weaning required. A baby that was full to the eyeballs had no interest in food.

The best balance, in my experience, was a small feed to take the edge off their hunger shortly before their meal.

Are they sleeping well?

How is your baby’s sleep? Are they sleeping well? If so, they are probably getting enough food and milk because they are not hungry at night. If your baby’s sleep has regressed and they are suddenly wanting night feeds that they did not want before, they many not be getting enough caloreis during the day.

The main thing to remember

You are the baby’s parent and you know best. Trust your gut and if you have concerns, speak to your doctor or health visitor, that’s what they are there for. Don’t worry about “wasting their time”, as they will always be keen to help with any worries that you have.

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