Why Baby-Led Weaning Is About More Than What’s on the Plate
It might look like a mess on the tray, but what you’re really building is trust, connection, and a lifelong relationship with food.
This one’s a little different — it’s not a checklist or how-to. It’s a zoomed-out look at what really matters most in your BLW journey.
Prefer to listen?
You’ve made it even part way through baby-led weaning?
That’s something to be proud of.
Not because it’s been perfect.
But because you showed up.
You stayed curious.
You let your baby explore.
And even when it felt messy or scary or uncertain — you kept going.
That matters. Because what you're doing here isn't just feeding your baby.
You're laying the foundation for how your child will relate to food...
...how they’ll learn to trust their body...
...how they’ll experience shared meals, nourishment, and even joy.
BLW builds more than skills — it builds trust.
Every time you let your baby decide when they’re done eating...
Every time you offer a variety of textures and let them explore...
You’re doing more than supporting motor skills or oral coordination.
You’re sending a message:
I trust you.
I trust that you know your body.
I trust that you’re capable.
I trust that you don’t need me to micromanage every bite to be safe, nourished, and whole.
That kind of trust? It’s rare. And it’s powerful.
What if the “win” isn’t what you think it is?
I once worked with a mom whose baby ate just a bite or two at every meal.
At first, she panicked.
“She’s not eating enough!”
But then she paused and reframed.
“She’s telling me she’s full — and when I respect that, I’m showing her that her voice matters.”
Exactly. That’s body autonomy. That’s trust.
And it starts right here.
Breaking cycles, rewriting stories
Another mom shared how she grew up with a lot of pressure around food:
“Clean your plate. Don’t waste. Just one more bite.”
She chose baby-led weaning as her way of breaking that cycle.
Of starting fresh — for both of them.
Of rewriting the feeding story with compassion and curiosity instead of control.
Sometimes we think the goal is to get food in.
But the real win is what’s happening between you.
Even if you can’t always see it.
The progress you can’t always post
It’s easy to fixate on what ends up in the bib or on the tray.
But here’s the thing:
• The baby who gagged on broccoli last week explores it calmly today
• The one who threw everything now pauses and pokes
• The parent who felt terrified now feels curious
That’s real growth. Even if it’s not flashy.
I had a client who once scrolled social and thought:
“What am I doing wrong?”
But when we looked back at just one week?
→ Less stress
→ More sitting
→ More connection
Her baby went from batting toast away to gently mouthing it.
You don’t need checklists or Instagram to prove it’s working.
Just notice the small shifts. The quiet wins. The messy, beautiful unfolding of confidence — for both of you.
Feeding can be healing — for you, too
So many of us carry feeding stories of our own.
One of my closest friends chose baby-led weaning after recovering from an eating disorder.
“I want my child to grow up grounded in trust and joy around food — not pressure.”
I get it. As someone who’s spent most of her adult life navigating food and body image, I understand what it means to want better.
That’s why I believe in this method. Not just as a doula or feeding guide — but as a woman who knows this work can be healing.
You’re not just feeding a baby — you’re building a relationship
Yes, there’s gear. Bibs. High chairs. Steaming and cleaning.
But underneath all of that?
You’re building something bigger:
• Food is safe
• Food is shared
• Food is something we do together
One dad I worked with didn’t expect to love it. But dinner became his favorite time of day.
Months later, he and his daughter still eat breakfast together — every single morning.
That’s the rhythm you’re setting. Not just for this season, but for how your child relates to food for years to come.
One more story to leave you smiling…
A mom I supported reached out a few months in. She was at a restaurant — no baby gear, no prepped food.
She simply sat her baby in the high chair and offered avocado and toast from her own plate.
“For the first time, I didn’t feel like I had to perform feeding. I just got to enjoy it.”
That’s what this is really about.
Not just the high chairs and spoons. Not just the milestones and mess.
But building something lasting. Familiar. Joyful. Real.
Here’s what I want you to carry with you:
• Celebrate the connection. Look past the plate.
• See the trust, the presence, the shared experience
• Zoom out — this isn’t about one bite, it’s about the story you’re writing over time
• Release the pressure — BLW doesn’t have to be perfect to be powerful
• Keep going — every messy meal counts
You’re not just feeding a baby. You’re raising a human. You’re building a relationship. You’re doing enough.
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