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Baby-Led Feeding

What Is Baby-Led Feeding?

Baby-led feeding is when you give your baby the opportunity to feed themselves soft, safe foods instead of spoon-feeding them purees. It helps your baby explore food with their hands, eyes, mouth, and nose. This feeding method helps create more adventurous eaters from an early age.

Let your baby explore food and learn to feed themselves!

Why Try Baby-Led Feeding?

  • Helps your baby learn when they’re hungry or full.​
  • Builds confidence and independence.
  • Encourages healthy eating habits.
  • Promotes chewing, hand-eye coordination, and motor skills.
  • Baby eats with the family – no separate meals!

Is My Baby Ready?

Most babies are ready to start solids when they are
around 6 months old and:

  • Can sit up with little or no help.
  • Have good head control.
  • Show interest in food.
  • No longer push food out with tongue.
  • Reach for toys or food.

Babies born early may need extra time. Talk to your doctor.

If your baby is sick, teething, or upset, wait before starting solids.

Introducing solid foods to your baby does not mean you need to stop breastfeeding or bottle feeding. Your baby will not be taking in large amounts of food. Breastmilk and/or formula remain the main source of nutrition for the first year of life.

How To Get Started

father taking care of child

Create a safe mealtime:

  • Wash your and your baby’s hands before eating.
  • Have your baby sit upright in a highchair with their feet flat and knees bent.
  • Stay with your baby during meals.
  • Let your baby eat with you — they learn by watching!
  • No bouncers, car seats, or strollers for feeding.
  • No toys, screens, or other distractions.

What Foods Should I Offer First?

  • Start with soft foods you can mash between your fingers.
  • Offer foods as strips or wedges your baby can hold and gnaw, about the size of two adult fingers.
Child eating food

Start with just 1 new food at a time to watch for allergies.

Offer 3–4 foods per meal, but only 1 piece of each food at a time to avoid overwhelming your baby.

Qualified Food

Good First Foods:

PROTEIN Cooked Chicken Cooked Chicken Hard-Boiled Egg
Hard-Boiled Egg
 Tofu
Tofu
 Cooked Fish
Cooked Fish
WHOLE
GRAINS		 Toast Strips
Toast Strips
 Cooked Pasta
Cooked Pasta
 Baby Oatmeal
Baby Oatmeal
 Cereal
Cereal
FRUITS Avocado Slices
Avocado Slices
 Cooked Apple Slices
Cooked Apple Slices
 Banana Slice
Banana Slice
 Melon Slices
Melon Slices
VEGETABLES Cooked Carrot Slices
Cooked Carrot Slices
 Cooked Broccoli Stem
Cooked Broccoli Stem
 Cooked Sweet Potato Stick
Cooked Sweet Potato Stick
 Cooked Asparagus
Cooked Asparagus
DAIRY Yogurt
Yogurt
 Cottage Cheese
Cottage Cheese
 Shredded Cheese
Shredded Cheese
 Breastmilk
Breastmilk

Avoid These Foods:

  • Choking hazards: raw carrots, apples, whole nuts, whole grapes
  • Honey (can cause botulism in babies under 1 year)
  • Crispy, crunchy, or sticky foods (like raw carrots, chips, candy, or nuts)
  • Foods high in salt or sugar (use herbs instead!)

Watch for Gagging vs. Choking

gagging child

Gagging:

  • Normal part of learning.
  • Baby can make sounds, face may turn red.
  • Let your baby work it out. Don’t jump in unless needed.
choking

Choking:

  • Baby can’t make sound or breathe.
  • Face turns blue.
  • Call 911. Learn baby CPR to be prepared.
child eating food

What About Purees or Spoon-Fed Foods?

These are okay too!

Preload a spoon and hand it to your baby.

Use thick purees that cling to the spoon such as yogurt, oatmeal, and applesauce.

Your baby will learn to use a spoon with time (usually around 9–18 months).

Tips for Success

Tips
Tips for Success Hungry baby
  • 1Offer solids when your baby is happy—not too tired or hungry.
  • 2Don’t rush or “help” your baby eat.
  • 3Offer 3–4 foods per meal, including 1 iron-rich food (like red meat, chicken, fish, beans, or iron-fortified cereal).
  • 4Expect messes—use a mat under the highchair.
  • 5Keep trying the same foods even if your baby doesn’t eat them right away!

Allergenic Foods

Introduce these common allergens early
(one at a time):

peanut icon

Peanuts

Mix smooth peanut butter into oatmeal or yogurt

eggs icon

Eggs

Scrambled or cooked into strips

milk package

Milk

Yogurt, cheese, or cottage cheese

wheat bread

Wheat

Toast strips or mini pancakes

shellfish

Shellfish

Finely chopped into patties or mixed into soft foods like eggs or mashed potatoes

soy icon

Soy

Tofu strips

fish icon

Fish

Soft, flaky pieces

child taking food
  • Wait 3–5 days before offering a new allergenic food.
  • Keep offering known-safe foods during that time.
  • Repeat allergen exposures often to build tolerance.

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Side-Lying

Side-Lying Hold

  1. For the right breast, lie on your right side with your baby facing you.
  2. Pull your baby close. Your baby’s mouth should be level with your nipple.
  3. In this position, you can cradle your baby’s back with your left arm and support yourself with your right arm and/or pillows.
  4. Keep loose clothing and bedding away from your baby.
  5. Reverse for the left breast.

This hold is useful when:

  • You had a C-section
  • You want to rest while baby feeds
  • You are breastfeeding in the middle of the night
  • You and your baby are comfortable in this position
cross-cradle

Cross-Cradle Hold

  1. For the right breast, use your left arm to hold your baby’s head at your right breast and baby’s body toward your left side. A pillow across your lap can help support your left arm.
  2. Gently place your left hand behind your baby’s ears and neck, with your thumb and index finger behind each ear and your palm between baby’s shoulder blades. Turn your baby’s body toward yours so your tummies are touching.
  3. Hold your breast as if you are squeezing a sandwich. To protect your back, avoid leaning down to your baby. Instead, bring your baby to you.
  4. As your baby’s mouth opens, push gently with your left palm on baby’s head to help them latch on. Make sure you keep your fingers out of the way.
  5. Reverse for the left breast.

This hold is useful when:

  • Your baby is premature
  • Your baby has a weak suck
  • Your baby needs help to stay latched
  • Your baby needs extra head support
  • You and your baby are comfortable in this position
Football

Clutch or “Football” Hold

  1. For the right breast, hold your baby level, facing up, at your right side.
  2. Put your baby’s head near your right nipple and support their back and legs under your right arm.
  3. Hold the base of your baby’s head with your right palm. A pillow underneath your right arm can help support your baby’s weight.
  4. To protect your back, avoid leaning down to your baby. Bring baby to you instead.
  5. Reverse for the left breast.

This hold is useful when:

  • You had a C-section
  • You have large breasts
  • You have flat or inverted nipples
  • You have a strong milk let-down
  • You are breastfeeding twins
  • Your baby likes to feed in an upright position
  • Your baby has reflux
  • You and your baby are comfortable in this position
CRADLE hold

Cradle Hold

  1. For the right breast, cradle your baby with your right arm. Your baby will be on their left side across your lap, facing you at nipple level.
  2. Your baby’s head will rest on your right forearm with your baby’s back along your inner arm and palm.
  3. Turn your baby’s tummy toward your tummy. Your left hand is free to support your breast, if needed. Pillows can help support your arm and elbow.
  4. To protect your back, avoid leaning down to your baby. Instead, bring your baby to you.
  5. Reverse for the left breast.

This hold is useful when:

  • Your baby needs help latching on
  • You and your baby are comfortable in this position
laid-back

Laid-Back Hold

  1. Lean back on a pillow with your baby’s tummy touching yours and their head at breast level. Some moms find that sitting up nearly straight works well. Others prefer to lean back and lie almost flat.
  2. You can place your baby’s cheek near your breast, or you may want to use one hand to hold your breast near your baby. It’s up to you and what you think feels best.
  3. Your baby will naturally find your nipple, latch, and begin to suckle.

This hold is useful when:

  • Your baby is placed on your chest right after birth
  • You have a strong milk let-down
  • You have large breasts
  • You and your baby are comfortable in this position