Top Tips to do Baby Led Weaning on the Holidays

The holiday season is a fun-filled time of food, family, and friends. But what if this time of year coincides with an important milestone in your baby’s life—the introduction of solid foods? 

If you’re thinking about doing baby-led weaning as your method of starting solids, then you’re in the right place. Be sure to check out the rest of the baby-led weaning blog for more information and tips. 

In this post, we’ll introduce the concept of baby-led weaning and offer top tips to make starting solids or continuing solids during the holiday season as seamless and enjoyable as possible.

What is baby-led weaning (BLW)

Baby-led weaning (BLW), also known as baby-led feeding, is a method of starting baby on solid foods in which finger foods (with modifications) and purees are introduced. The traditional parent-led spoon feeding is entirely skipped. 

The idea behind BLW is that babies are allowed to eat and explore their own food on their own time. There are many benefits to baby-led weaning including the freedom to sit down and enjoy your own meal alongside baby, decreased pickiness later in life, increased oral and motor development, and much more!

When should your baby start solids?

Most babies are ready to begin solids around 6 months of age. However, it is more important to look for the signs of readiness to start solids rather than starting immediately at 6 months.

Your baby should be showing all these signs of readiness before starting solids:

• Around 6 months of age
• Good head control
• Sitting up with minimal support
• Reaching and grabbing for toys
• Cognitive interest in food

Reasons to not start solids over the holidays

You may want to consider waiting to give your baby solids for the first time over the holidays. Holidays are one of the busiest times of the year and can be stressful for you and your baby. 

Starting solids is a huge milestone and personally, I wanted to be in the comforts of my own home to mark this moment. Your baby will likely feel the most safe in their own high chair, bib, and in a familiar, quiet place. As always, make sure your baby has a safe eating environment every time they eat solids.

A few reasons you may not want to start solids over the holidays include:

• Planning your baby’s first meal outside your own home is stressful
• Increased distractions (more people, more noise, new environment, unfamiliar feeding gear and location)
• Having to communicate to well-meaning family members your choice in feeding methods for your baby
• Your baby is at a higher risk for allergic reactions and you’d like to be close to your own healthcare facility in the event of an emergency

Reasons to start solids over the holidays

I get it, you’re excited to start solids and your baby is showing all signs of readiness. You may want to start solids over the holidays for these reasons:

• You will be on vacation for a couple weeks or more
• Your baby is familiar with the place and people you will be at for the holidays
• Your family is supportive of your starting solids method

If at all possible, I recommend starting solids while in your own home such as before or after you return from a holiday vacation. If this is not possible, simply take extra precautions to make sure your baby is in a safe feeding environment. Odds are everything will go just fine and your baby will enjoy a holiday meal with family and friends near!

How to prepare for baby-led weaning on the holidays

There will be some planning needed whether you’re starting baby-led weaning with a new baby, or have an older baby who has been eating solids for awhile. You may want to look at the recommended feeding schedules for babies starting solids so you know how many meals you’ll need to plan for. 

Best travel food to pack for babies

These foods will work whether you’re on a plane, in a hotel room, or in a restaurant. I’ve included packaged foods because they are a great option for convenience and staying mess-free. 

Packing some homemade food is a great way to expose your baby to a variety of textures, flavors, and allergens (to reduce the risk of developing allergies)! Always minimize the mess by avoiding sauces and purees like applesauce, yogurt, pasta sauce (unless it’s in a pouch).

Best baby-led weaning foods to pack when traveling

• Plain meat (chicken, ground meat, steak or pork strips)
• Boiled egg
• Canned beans
• Shredded cheese
• Freeze-dried fruit
• Cooked plain pasta
• Whole banana
• Cheerios
• Roasted veggies
• Toast with nut butters, butter, mascarpone, or ricotta cheese
• Fresh fruits
• Pancakes or waffles
• Egg muffins
• Muffins
• Tofu
• Canned or thawed from frozen peas
• Serenity Kids food pouches
• Unsweetened applesauce pouches

Travel-friendly baby feeding gear

Here are some must-have feeding items when traveling with your baby whether it’s a day trip or overnight.

• Bibs (washable long-sleeve ones work great)
• Baby wipes or washcloths
• Silicone suction mat
• Spill-proof straw water cup
• Silicone plate with lid
• Travel booster seat

Best sleep items for baby when traveling

Ask your family or friends, where you will be staying the night, if there is a crib or portable crib available. If not, pack your own. We love the Graco Pack N’ Play. Pack extra pajamas and warm socks in case it will be cooler where you stay. That’s really all you need for sleeping!

Safety tips for feeding baby on-the-go

There’s always a choking risk no matter where or what you’re feeding your baby. But there are things we can do to reduce the risk of choking. 

Choking is a silent event. Be sure you’re feeding your baby in a safe feeding environment that allows you to have your eyes on them at all times.

1. Don’t feed your baby in a car seat 

It’s always a good idea to pull over and take your baby out of the car seat to eat. Car seats are reclined and restrict movement, putting babies and kids at an increased risk for choking. Babies are also in rear-facing car seats, making it difficult for you to keep an eye on them, especially if you’re the driver!

2. Pull over to feed your baby

Not only is feeding your baby in a car seat dangerous, a moving car also increases the choking risk. All the bumps and turns cause babies to lose control of the food in their mouth, increasing the risk that food becomes lodged in their throat. 

3. Avoid feeding your baby in the stroller

Strollers tend to recline babies just like car seats. An upright position, a footrest if possible, and being allowed to freely move their trunk and arms are important for reducing choking risk. If you don’t have a highchair, sitting in a lap is the next best thing. 

4. Feed your baby in a portable high chair or sitting on someone else’s lap

Like we went over above, avoid feeding babies in a car seat or stroller and choose a portable high chair or someone’s lap. Since choking is silent event, having babies seated in someone else’s lap instead of your own will allow you to notice when they are choking right away.

Being prepared for a choking event is recommended and helps reduce stress. Here are some resources to help you be prepared:

• American Red Cross: Child and Baby CPR
• British Red Cross: First Aid for a Choking Baby

Top foods to serve a baby for holiday weaning

Okay, now you’ve traveled to your holiday destination and it’s time to feed baby! Most holiday foods can be modified and served to babies based on their age without too much extra work. The Solid Starts site is a great resource to learn how to safely serve any food to your baby.

Be mindful of added salt and sugar in holiday foods. But also know, a little salt and sugar for one meal won’t harm your baby in the long run. 

Pull your baby up to the family table and include them in holiday meals. Even if your baby is not starting solids, at 4 months and up it is very valuable for babies to see other people eating. Babies learn so much from role modeling. 

Here are some suitable foods to feed your baby-led weaning baby on the holidays:

• Turkey, ham, or other meats (I like shredding meats and mixing them into a softer food like mashed potatoes or squash)
• Mashed potatoes
• Sweet potatoes
• Squash
• Green beans
• Homemade pumpkin pie filling (I like to do 100% canned or fresh pumpkin, cream cheese, and pumpkin spice)
• Roasted vegetables
• Cranberry sauce 

Maintaining breast milk supply when traveling

Breast milk and/or formula will continue to be your baby’s main source of nutrition through the first year. Traveling while breastfeeding can be overwhelming but know it can provide a source of comfort for babies out of their normal routine. It will also help keep babies hydrated and provide increased immunity. 

If you’re flying, nurse during takeoff and landing to help decrease ear pain for your baby from the pressure changes. Feed on demand and look for baby’s early hunger cues to ensure they’re getting enough milk and hydration.

Try to stay on your regular nursing schedule to avoid any decreases in milk production. Make it easier on yourself, and wear clothing that allows easy access to your breasts. Keep your baby close to make frequent nursing sessions easier.

Best tips for holiday baby-led weaning

• You may want to wait to introduce solids at family gatherings and instead do it in the comfort of your own home
• Travel foods for baby don’t have to be packaged
• Minimize the mess by avoiding sauces and purees when traveling
• Bring baby wipes, wash clothes, and extra clothes for baby
• Don’t feed baby in a car seat, stroller, or moving car
• Most holiday foods can be safely modified for babies
• Maintaining a healthy breastfeeding relationship is possible when traveling and weaning on the holidays

Looking for more recommended baby-led weaning supplies? I have it all laid out for you in this baby-led weaning supply guide. Follow our baby-led weaning journey on instagram @mydietitian.friend!