As a working mom, I’ve come to realize that navigating motherhood often feels like juggling a hundred different things at once. From managing a career to taking care of my little one, and, of course, trying to figure out the best way to feed him, it can sometimes be overwhelming. But one of the most exciting milestones in my son’s early years was starting baby-led weaning (BLW), a method of introducing solid foods that lets babies feed themselves. Not only did it offer me the chance to bond with my son during mealtime, but it also made me feel more empowered as a mom.
I want to share my experience with BLW, along with practical tips for other working moms who may be considering it. I’ll walk you through the first foods I introduced, the struggles I faced, and how I learned to manage it all while balancing work and self-care.
What is Baby-Led Weaning?
For those unfamiliar with the term, baby-led weaning is a method of introducing solid foods that allows babies to feed themselves, skipping the traditional pureed foods. Instead of spoon-feeding, you offer baby-sized pieces of food that they can pick up and explore on their own. It encourages independence and fine motor skills, and many parents, including myself, find it to be a more natural way to transition to solids.
The idea is that your baby learns to eat in their own time, at their own pace. This was a huge shift for me from the usual bottle-feed and puree routine, but it felt like a better fit for our family. I loved that my son could explore different textures and flavors from the start.
Starting Baby-Led Weaning: The First Foods
The first foods I introduced to my son were soft, easy-to-grab options like steamed sweet potato sticks, avocado slices, and banana chunks. I started BLW at about six months, which is when most babies are ready for solids. I remember being so excited yet nervous—was he going to choke? Was he going to eat enough? But the truth is, babies at this age are still learning, so it’s more about the experience than the actual quantity of food they eat.
I quickly learned to trust my instincts, even when my son initially just played with the food or squashed it in his hands. It wasn’t about making him eat everything right away; it was about letting him explore and enjoy mealtime in his own way.
Time Management: Fitting It All In
As a working mom, time is always a challenge. I quickly realized that baby-led weaning required a bit more effort than I had anticipated. Unlike purees, which you can prepare in advance, BLW often involves fresh food that needs to be cut into appropriate pieces for my son. Between my job, household responsibilities, and keeping up with my son’s schedule, finding time to prep meals was tough.
One tip that really helped me was meal prepping on the weekends. I would spend an hour or two cutting up fruits and vegetables, steaming or roasting them, and storing them in the fridge or freezer. That way, I could quickly grab pre-cut pieces of food to serve during the week. For example, I’d prepare a batch of sweet potatoes or carrots, store them in airtight containers, and serve them at mealtime throughout the week.
Another time-saving trick was to make dinner for the whole family that could be baby-friendly, too. I’d cook meals that were easy for my son to pick up, like roasted vegetables, pasta with a mild sauce, or scrambled eggs. This saved me from having to cook separate meals and allowed me to feed everyone at once, keeping the whole process more efficient.
Overcoming Guilt: You’re Doing Your Best
There’s a lot of pressure on moms to do everything “right,” and for a while, I felt guilty about the whole process of BLW. At first, I worried that I wasn’t giving my son enough variety or that I wasn’t doing it perfectly. I’d hear other moms rave about how their babies were eating everything in sight and wonder if I was behind. But I quickly realized that BLW isn’t a race. It’s about the journey, not the destination.
Every baby is different. Some babies may love food immediately, while others take their time. My son, for example, wasn’t as enthusiastic about solids at first. He mostly played with his food or made a mess, and that was okay. The key was to keep offering food in a low-pressure way, and gradually, he started to enjoy eating more.
I also had to let go of the idea that every meal had to be perfect. Some days, he’d barely eat anything, while other days he’d devour a full plate. I learned to embrace the mess and the unpredictability that comes with BLW, and to let go of the guilt that I wasn’t doing it “perfectly.”
Self-Care: Don’t Forget About You
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned as a working mom is that self-care isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. I was so focused on making sure my son was getting the right foods and staying healthy that I often neglected my own needs. But I quickly realized that if I didn’t take care of myself, I wouldn’t be able to take care of him as well as I wanted to.
So, I made a conscious effort to carve out time for self-care. Even if it was just 15 minutes to drink a hot cup of coffee in peace or read a few pages of a book, I found that these small moments made a huge difference in my overall well-being. I also leaned on my partner, family, and friends for support when I needed a break.
It’s so easy to get caught up in the hustle of motherhood, but I’ve learned that I can’t pour from an empty cup. When I take time for myself, I feel more energized and better equipped to handle the challenges that come with being a mom and a working professional.
Maintaining a Healthy Work-Life Balance
Balancing work and family is no easy feat, and I still struggle with it. There are days when I feel like I’m dropping the ball at work, and other days when I feel like I’m not fully present at home. But one of the things I’ve learned is that work-life balance is more of a dynamic process than a static goal.
I try to be intentional with my time, prioritizing my son and my family when I’m at home, and focusing on work when I’m at the office. I also set boundaries—no checking emails while I’m at the dinner table, for example. It’s all about finding those little ways to keep work and home life separate.
When it comes to feeding my son, I often use mealtime as a time to connect with him. We sit down together and enjoy our meals as a family, and I find that it helps me feel more grounded. Even if it’s just a few minutes a day, those moments of connection make all the difference.
Empowering Conclusion: You Are Doing Your Best
To all the working moms out there—whether you’re just starting baby-led weaning or trying to balance it all—know that you are doing your best. There will be challenges, messes, and moments of doubt, but you are learning and growing alongside your child. It’s okay to not have it all figured out, and it’s okay to take things one step at a time.
Remember, you are not alone. We are all navigating this journey together, and the fact that you are showing up every day for your baby, your family, and yourself is something to be proud of. So take a deep breath, celebrate the small victories, and trust that you are giving your child the best gift—a mother who is doing her very best.
You’ve got this, mama.
I’m Zara Michell
