The baby is usually offered the same foods that the family is eating for dinner that are age suitable, so there is no need to make up separate meals. The finger foods are placed in front of the baby, and the baby is allowed to pick them up and play and experiment, lick, taste, and eventually chew and swallow all at their own pace.
The baby decides when to start and stop eating, and what he/she would like to try from what is offered. There is no pressure from the parents for the baby to eat a certain amount, so there is no danger of overfeeding - a baby will stop eating when they have had enough.
Babies are usually able to start BLW around the age of 6 months - coinciding with when they develop the motor skills to be able to pick up smaller items in their fists, take them to their mouths and lick or suck them.
To begin with, the baby will not ingest a lot of food, but that is okay, because until the age of 9 to 12 months the nutrients they need are all provided by their breastmilk or formula. No single solid food would provide all the nutrients a baby needs better than their breastmilk or formula, so parents don't need to feel pressure to make sure they know exactly how much their baby is eating. The baby's digestive system before the age of 9 months is still developing, and breastmilk or formula is more easily digested by the baby.
Of course all babies develop at different rates, and some babies will be ready to begin BLW slightly before 6 months. If a baby is ready to start BLW he/she will display the following signs:
- Sitting with little or no support
- Reaching out and grabbing objects and taking them to their mouth quickly and accurately
- Gnawing on toys
- Making chewing movements
- Taking food from their parents' plates and putting it into their mouth
