Make Baby-Led Weaning Work with Daycare
How to Advocate, Adapt, and Trust the Process When You’re Not the One Feeding
Your baby doesn’t need perfect consistency — just loving support and a calm, confident parent who trusts their instincts.
Prefer to listen?
Let’s talk about daycare — or really anytime your baby is being cared for by someone other than you.
Because here’s the thing: starting solids already feels like a big deal. And then you add in daycare or a nanny, or even just grandma helping out, and suddenly you're asking yourself...
How do I keep this whole baby-led weaning thing going when I’m not the one doing the feeding?
Totally valid question. And one I hear a lot.
I get messages on Instagram and emails from moms like:
“I finally feel good about baby-led weaning... and now I’m going back to work.”
“What if daycare doesn’t do it right? Or won’t do it at all?”
So today, I’m walking you through how to make baby-led weaning work when someone else is helping with meals — whether that’s a daycare, a grandparent, a sitter, or a nanny.
Start with the Foundation: Communication
If you take one thing from this episode, let it be this:
👉🏻 Open, kind communication with your daycare provider is absolutely essential.
Don’t assume they know what baby-led weaning is. Even if they’ve heard the term, they might just think it means “no purées” or “give baby whatever you’re eating.” That can lead to a lot of confusion.
Have a respectful conversation like:
“Hey, we’re doing baby-led weaning at home, and I’d love to share what that looks like for us.”
Then offer a simple one-pager that includes:
What baby-led weaning is (and isn’t)
Readiness signs
Safe food ideas and serving sizes
Foods your baby has tried
Any preferences or helpful tips for your baby
Inside The BLW Academy Club, you’ll find a done-for-you caregiver handout you can print and share — it’s warm, friendly, and easy to understand.
One mom told me, “I used your language when I talked to daycare, and they were so much more open than I expected.”
That’s the power of calm, clear advocacy.
Adapting Doesn’t Mean Giving Up
Let’s be honest — sometimes daycare just won’t budge on the purée thing.
If that’s your reality, here’s what you can try:
👉🏻 Ask if they’ll let baby self-feed the purées.
That way, even if the texture is traditional, the feeding style is still baby-led.
This is exactly why I created my free guide, Purée the Baby-Led Weaning Way. It walks you through:
How to pre-load spoons
Letting baby dip and explore
Transitioning into finger foods with ease
📍Grab it at babyledweaningacademy.com/puree
And no — your baby will not get confused by a mix of purées and solids.
What can be confusing is inconsistent safety — like reclining during meals or switching between unsafe and safe food sizes. But offering different textures? That builds skills.
If you’re thinking, “I’m not comfortable with anyone else doing baby-led weaning yet,”
That’s okay.
You can:
Offer finger foods at home only
Let daycare stick to purées or bottles
Go slow until you feel ready
You are not behind.
You are not failing.
You are tuning in to your instincts — and that matters.
Tiny tip before we move on: check for hidden honey in daycare foods. Graham crackers, cereals, even some yogurts or sauces often contain honey — and that’s a no for babies under one.
You’re Allowed to Be Protective
Find the Middle Ground
Not everyone is going to be as comfortable with BLW as you are — and that’s okay.
Start small:
Send safe, familiar foods your baby has done well with
Try soft beginner options like steamed carrots or banana
Suggest pre-loaded spoons instead of full feeding
Build from there, one win at a time
One mom told me:
“I let daycare keep spoon-feeding yogurt, but asked if they could try finger foods at lunch — they actually thanked me for giving them options.”
That’s the sweet spot: flexibility with clarity.
Trust Your Baby
Your baby is capable. Resilient. Adaptable.
They don’t need every meal to be identical.
They don’t need every bite to be perfectly baby-led.
They need:
Opportunities
Exposure
A parent who believes in them
One of my foster babies self-fed joyfully at my house…
But at visits, her birth mom was nervous and spoon-fed. And guess what?
She still thrived.
Because babies adapt.
They learn quickly.
They rise to what’s given to them.
Quick Recap
✅ Share a simple one-pager with your caregiver
✅ Start the convo early and stay kind — you’re on the same team
✅ Be flexible and offer easier options if needed
✅ Focus on the long game — one meal at a time
✅ Trust your baby. They’re learning every single day.
If this episode made you exhale a little deeper, you’ll love what’s coming in The BLW Academy Club — your go-to support hub for baby-led weaning, daycare questions, meal ideas, and live Q&A.
📍Join the priority list at babyledweaningacademy.com/club
Founding member pricing and early access are coming soon.
You’ve got this, mama — and I’ve got you.
Even if someone else is helping with the meals... your baby is still in the lead. 🥣💛