Purees or Baby Led Weaning?

Before you start weaning, you'll want to decide whether to do the traditional puree method or the more solid BLW. We'll help you choose the right way for you and your baby

Choosing which way to wean your baby has become a bit of a hot potato. You'll hear some parents who are fervent about the benefits of baby led weaning, while others find the only way to get their baby to eat is by offering purees. Like so many parenting decisions, it's not black and white – it's about what works best for your baby and for you. So here's what you need to know to make a confident choice...

What are the two different weaning methods?

  • Purees or spoon led weaning – you spoon feed your baby smooth purees, progressing to mashed/chopped textures over the next couple of months and introducing finger foods around 7-8 months
  • Baby led weaning (BLW) – the philosophy behind BLW is to let your baby take the lead (yes, the hint is in the name) and explore solid food at your baby's own pace - generally the food your family is eating. You also start straight away with soft solid food, and miss out purees

There is a third way...

The Mix Method - which is spoon-led weaning with the introduction of finger foods right from the beginning. While many mums describe this as a mix of purees and BLW, it isn't actually baby led weaning. True BLW has no specially prepared meals for your baby - your baby simply eats suitable foods from the meal you're eating.

Which weaning method do most mums use?

We asked 500 mums who told us...

  • 60% use spoon-led purees
  • 9% use just baby-led weaning
  • 31% use a mix of purees and finger foods straight away, and the evidence suggests that the Mix Method is becoming more and more popular

Advantages of doing purees/spoon led feeding...

  • It may be easier to introduce iron-rich foods (such as meat, green leafy vegetables) at 6 months, which can be difficult for 6 month babies to chew
  • If, and only if, your baby is ready to start weaning before 6 months, you could introduce some purees (your baby shouldn't start BLW until 6 months)
  • It's easier for parents who worry about gagging and choking
  • It's a little less messy than BLW, so more suited to feeding on the go
  • Read more: How do I make baby food?
  • Advantages of doing baby led weaning...
  • You don't need to make mountains of purees – you give your baby suitable bits of family meals
  • You need to wait until your baby is 6 months before starting BLW
  • It encourages shared and social eating - your baby joins in family meals from the beginning
  • It can avoid difficult transition from purees to lumps – babies get used to chewing from the start
  • Some research suggests BLW may reduce fussy eating and later obesity
  • Read more: What is baby led weaning?

Advantages of doing the Mix Method...

  • It can be easier to give your baby iron-rich foods from 6 months
  • It encourages your baby to use a spoon to self-feed, developing onto cutlery use
  • Your baby can discover new tastes and textures by playing with finger food while you're spoon feeding

Can the Mix Method really work?

According to two experts from both sides of the weaning debate, it seems the answer is yes - if it works for your baby

"While some parents feel they want to spoon feed their babies and others are strongly in favour of baby led weaning, many choose to combine both and find that it suits them very well. The key to any type of weaning is to go at your baby's pace, and give her the opportunity to explore lots of different tastes and textures. Combining purees and finger foods is, for many families, a good compromise."
Adele Stevenson, baby led weaning workshop leader

"The official advice is to give your baby well-mashed or puréed foods at the beginning of weaning, as well as finger food. The Department of Health, the European Union and the World Health Organisation all recommend this. Dietitians also tend to think it's important to give your baby a variety of textures, so sloppy foods as well as finger foods."
Dawn Kelly, Health Visitor

What mums say about purees or baby led weaning

"I've been doing a bit of both for a couple of weeks now. I did try just finger foods for a couple of days but he wasn't getting enough food and wanted more milk again. I know that isn't the way to do BLW but a bit of both purees and finger foods is working for us at the moment."
meadowbird

"Pippa started BLW at about 25 weeks and for the first month she wasn't really interested in the food but slowly started picking it up and playing with it. By the time she reached 8 months it suddenly clicked and she's never stopped eating. It's really worth sticking with it as long as your baby's having plenty of milk."
girlinleeds

"I've combined the two and had no problems. My son is happy to take food off me but if I give him the spoon he will try to feed himself. He also loves his finger foods! I think there can be a lot of pressure to do BLW but there is nothing wrong with purees and spoon feeding. You have to do what works for you and your LO."
Jodie-Lou

"We started with purees and now we have at least part of the meal as finger food. She has exactly what we have either mashed on a spoon or just for her to handle."
piggypops