A Brief History of Baby Led Weaning 

Learn about the birth of baby led weaning.

August 29, 2022

Baby led weaning bib by Bibbrella

A relatively new but wildly popular approach to feeding, baby led weaning (BLW) has gained traction in the past decade as an alternative approach to traditional weaning. But how did BLW get its start? And what has prompted its popularity? Though baby led weaning has humble origins, there’s no doubt that its influence on parents, babies, and pediatricians has been major. 

Who Came Up With Baby Led Weaning?

Gill Rapley, an English woman, is generally credited as the pioneer of baby led weaning. Three kids and a graduate degree later, she realized that weaning was a whole lot easier once she handed some of the control over to her children. Rather than fussing with her kids over food choices, she decided to follow their cues to know when they should start solids. 

Rapley gradually came to realize that her children were naturally taking an interest in solid foods around six months of age. After her experience with her own children as well as her clients, she noticed that this wasn’t just a positive approach for the little ones but parents, too! She began to publicly discuss this alternative weaning approach in 2001, when she published a book on the topic. 

When Did Baby Led Weaning Become Popular?

Though Rapley began discussing her approach as early as 2001, it wasn’t until an official change in feeding recommendations between 2002-2003 that BLW really began to take off. It was around 2002 that official organizations began to recommend six months of age as the minimum for starting solids. As pediatricians began to take note, people began turning to baby led weaning. 

While studies and pediatrician endorsements have helped BLW become a widely-known approach, much of its popularity is owed to parents themselves who have experienced the ease and joy of letting their babes take the lead when it comes to weaning It’s no surprise that BLW-inspired products–like bibs that offer more coverage–followed soon after! 

Why Are Parents Opting for Baby Led Weaning?  

So, what’s so great about baby led weaning that traditional weaning doesn’t offer? As Rapley herself has mentioned, baby led weaning offers children a chance to make decisions about food for themselves. At a developmental stage as critical as weaning, it allows babies to make important decisions independently and a chance for parents to enjoy their child’s budding growth. Added bonuses: Proponents of BLW note that it often minimizes struggles over food choices and eating habits. 

Thinking about embarking on the BLW journey? Grab Bibbrella’s full-length bib to keep messes contained and the fun at large. Using a full-coverage bib is the ideal way to let your lil’ one let loose while eating and still provide protection from mealtime storms.