Top 10 Mistakes New BLW Parents Make
Top 10 Mistakes New BLW Parents Make – And How to Avoid Them
Discover the most common baby-led weaning blunders new parents commit and learn how to sidestep each one with confidence.
Starting BLW is exciting, but rookie errors can sabotage the experience. This Top 10 Mistakes New BLW Parents Make guide unpacks the issues we see in clinics, Facebook groups, and even Mistakes new blw parents make Reddit threads—then offers practical fixes. If your baby is exactly six months old, pay extra attention to the “size & texture” sections; they address the Mistakes new blw parents make 6 months category head-on. Bookmark or print for easy reference.
1. Offering foods too early (4–5 months).
Error: Beginning solids when baby still slumps or lacks tongue control—usually due to social pressure or outdated advice. Fix: Wait until the six readiness signs align: upright sitting, head control, lost tongue-thrust, palmar grasp, interest in food, and six months corrected age. Revisit our BLW 101 safety guide for a readiness checklist.
2. Cutting food to the wrong size.
New parents often give grape-sized chunks at six months, leading to gagging or refusal. Follow Baby led weaning food size 6 months: finger-length, thumb-width strips of soft food. For details, see our cutting techniques guide.
3. Ignoring iron-rich foods.
Egg yolk, salmon or lentil patties rarely appear on day one, yet iron needs skyrocket after six months. Rotate these heroes daily and pair with vitamin-C sides. Consult the Baby-led weaning food Chart in our First Foods Checklist for iron ideas.
4. Serving raw hard veggies.
Raw carrot sticks are common on “BLW plates” across Instagram, but they fail the smash test. Steam, roast or grate hard veg until you can flatten them between two fingers.
5. Over-reacting to normal gagging.
Gagging looks scary; choking is silent. Learn the difference, stay calm, and continue mealtime. Panic removal of food teaches fear rather than safety.
6. One-and-done allergy testing.
Families sometimes give peanut once, then drop it for weeks. Research suggests repeated exposure is key. Introduce an allergen, wait four days, then keep offering several times a week. (Review the 4-day rule chart in our Week-1 meal plan.)
7. Skipping spoon practice.
BLW ≠ “no spoons ever.” Introduce pre-loaded yogurt or oatmeal spoons to refine fine-motor skills and guarantee iron-fortified grains reach the mouth.
8. Distracting baby with screens.
Television or phone scrolling can delay hunger cues and disrupt hand-eye coordination. Create a calm, tech-free feeding zone for the first 30 minutes of mealtime.
9. Inconsistent seating posture.
High chairs without footrests break the 90-90-90 rule, reducing stability. Add a DIY footrest (clipboard + rubber bands) to keep hips, knees and ankles at right angles.
10. Giving up after three tries.
Research shows babies need up to 12 tastes to accept a new flavour. If broccoli is rejected on day one, re-offer weekly instead of quitting.
Reddit myths vs reality.
Scrolling “Mistakes new blw parents make reddit” can help, but double-check advice against paediatric guidelines. Many posts underestimate Mistakes new blw parents make 6 months, especially portion size and iron intake. Stick to evidence-based sources and peer-reviewed charts.
Quick-fix checklist (downloadable).
- Readiness signs posted on fridge.
- Finger-length strip rule for month six.
- Daily iron hero + vitamin-C sidekick.
- 4-day allergen schedule.
- Calm, screen-free eating zone.
Get a printable version inside our Top 10 Mistakes New BLW Parents Make PDF. Pair it with our First Foods Checklist to plan sound meals.