Baby-Led Weaning: Guidance From A Doctor

Written By: Tasneem Akbari Kutubuddin

June 24, 2021

Highlights

Baby-Led Weaning method has been popularized and long been used around the world. It allows self-feeding babies to use their natural abilities to explore taste, texture, color and smell.
When Dr. Rohini Rau’s daughter completed six months, she had already decided she was going to let her baby lead the way.
Rohini did her own research and looked out for ways to include Indian food as well as other world food into her diet.
She shares her experience on Baby-led weaning along with 100 days of meal plans she followed for her little one.

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Starting solids for an infant who has always known breast milk or formula fees is an overwhelming and emotional journey for parents, especially mothers. It is a very important milestone for the child, for now this six month old infant, who has been dependent on one type of food since its birth is now going to be exposed to what the world has to offer in terms of foods and taste and this can be the time when the child will also develop food choices and preferences which may last a lifetime.

But this journey is not an easy one for the caregiver because this means hours of experimentation, trial, and errors to find out not just what the child prefers but to also check for any food allergies or intolerance they may have towards certain foods. But we know that parenting doesn’t come with a guide because each child is unique and every parent is different so you may have to navigate your own way through the process. However many parents have been kind enough to have documented their baby weaning journeys and these become the testament for new mothers.

Weaning is the process of gradually introducing an infant to its adult diet while withdrawing the supply of its mother’s milk. Once the child can hold its neck, begins to sit upright with support, and shows readiness for other foods, you should know that they are ready to be weaned.

While most parents opt for formula food, or homemade purees and foods, and choose to feed their child, learning from experience what works and what doesn’t, here is another method to wean the baby. Baby Led Weaning is a process where you let your child take charge. It means skipping spoon-feeding purees and letting babies feed themselves finger foods right from the start at about age 6 months.

What is Baby-Led Weaning?

Baby-Led Weaning, a book written by Gill Rapley and Tracey Murkett, this method has been popularized and long been used around the world. Says an excerpt – “Though many believe that babies should be weaned by being spoon-fed purées, self-feeding allows babies to use their natural abilities to explore taste, texture, color and smell. It also encourages independence and confidence by allowing them to experiment with foods at their own pace”.

When Dr. Rohini Rau’s daughter completed six months, she had already decided she was going to let her baby lead the way. Rohini did her own research and looked out for ways to include Indian food as well as other world food into her diet. She shares her experience on Baby-led weaning along with 100 days of meal plans she followed for her little one.

Baby-led weaner — Dr. Rohini Rau is an Internal medicine specialist and mother to a nine-month-old baby girl. She is also an international sailor and has represented the country at the Olympics. Last year her team had secured 4th place in an international sailing competition after a sabbatical of 7 years. She is also a TED Fellow & TEDX speaker.

“I started BLW from day 1 after my baby turned 6 months old”, says Rohini. “It’s been an amazing journey watching her go from pears to pineapples to dosas, pancakes, pasta and millet khichdi. She started feeding herself with a preloaded spoon. Yes, it was messy! But it was so lovely to see how her eyes lit up with excitement to try new food”.

“If anyone is on the fence about starting Baby-Led Weaning, I would highly recommend it”, suggests Rohini. “It has definitely been one of the most rewarding experiences so far. This is a milestone I am definitely proud of, as my entire family has supported me even though they initially had their doubts. They have listened to me when I’ve told them not to entertain her at the table, not to get alarmed when she gagged, not to worry if she didn’t eat something and not to get angry if she made a huge mess. Also planning the meals every day! It is not easy! But I know it will pay”.

Watching her explore different kinds of food for the last 3 months was an amazing experience for her as a mother. BLW teaches to take cues from the baby, stay calm when she gags or throws food, watch her use a spoon and drink water from a cup. By 7 months, her baby was already eating Capsicum, raw tomato, Brinjal (Aubergine), Ladies finger (Okra), Millets. Rohini gradually added different spices like turmeric, coriander powder, cumin, asafetida, mustard, and fennel.

“It’s amazing how good the food tastes with just natural sugars (fruits) and no salt. We can definitely learn a few things from our babies. I don’t force her to try new things, or force her to eat more. She loves her independence of eating so much that she doesn’t like me trying to feed her!”

Here are some tips she shares on BLW

1. Make sure you have a gap of 30-40 minutes between feeding milk and solids. That way your baby is not too hungry while trying solids and is more likely to be happy and willing to try more challenging foods.

2. Invest in a spoon and start with preloaded spoons right from day 1 – you will be surprised at how fast they understand that they have to hold the spoon to scoop food into their mouth.

3. Offer them water/ milk in an open cup – EZPZ or a shot glass. My little one loves taking sips from my glass as she can see through. But with a little help she is able to hold the glass with her hands and bring it to her mouth.

4. Some days they definitely eat better than others – so don’t worry if there isn’t much going in on certain days. They make up for it on other days.

5. Make cleaning up fun! Use a bib; I take her to the sink to wash her face, hands – sometimes her entire body. Try not to clean in between and wait for them to finish their meal. You could bring a container of water just to wash the hands and face to prevent dropping food on the way to the bathroom.

6. Be adventurous! And trust that your baby knows how to eat it. Even if they bite off something too big – they will gag and be able to spit it out. If you think they need help – try making them look down so gravity can do the trick. DO NOT put your finger in their mouth and do a blind sweep as you might end up pushing the food even further.

7. Bigger is better – In the first few months – they find it easier to hold onto food that’s bigger ( e.g. half a tomato, finger size width/ length, pancakes or dosas as big as your palm, whole strawberries, quartered grapes (length wise), watermelon – large thin rectangular pieces ) just to mention a few.

8. Try spices – everything apart from salt and chilli. You will be surprised at just how good it tastes and your baby loves tasty food too.

9. Using a high chair helps – especially with a footrest. Try and restrict high chair use only for food and not to put them in for play or other reasons.

10. Try not to let people around you talk to the baby while they are eating. It is easy to distract them, and they might get used to looking at your reaction especially if you give them encouragement on eating.

Dr. Rohini Rau’s meal combinations through her 100 day BLW journey

When I was raising my kids, I had no idea about BLW. But today, through blogs and social media, mothers are willing to share their experience with other new moms and this is a beautiful bond we women can share with each other especially at the part of motherhood where most of us feel lost and alone. Rohini took help from other moms @solidstarts @weaning_tales_by_mommas for guidance, support and recipes on her BLW journey and now shares her experience with others. More power to her!

You may contact Dr. Rohini Rau for guidance and consultation at rohinirau@gmail.com

baby food baby-led weaning motherhood Parenting

Tasneem Akbari Kutubuddin

Tasneem Akbari Kutubuddin has done her masters in Journalism & Communication and has worked as a senior journalist, editor and columnist for leading publications like The Logical Indian, Deccan Chronicle, Worldwide Media Corporation, The Bridge and Provoke.
With Infano, she hopes to create more awareness about women’s health issues. Suffering with Fibromyalgia, a chronic pain condition, she has also been advocating for its awareness through media.

1 thought on “Baby-Led Weaning: Guidance From A Doctor”

zainab millwala

June 24, 2021 at 8:13 pm

Very detailed yet simplistic and easy to implement for first time mothers.
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Criminalising Marital Rape: Why Is India Against It?

Written By: Sonali

February 27, 2022 | 04:30 PM |

789

Highlights

Section 375 of the IPC
Government of India on marital rape
High Court petitioners’ views
Marriage Strike
The way forward

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Section 375 of the IPC, which prohibits rape, comes with an exception, which reads: “sexual intercourse or sexual acts by a man with his own wife, the wife not being under fifteen years of age, is not rape.”

India is one of the remaining 36 countries in the world that hasn’t criminalised marital rape yet ― and is still in favour of it.

Our society has built up this idea that sexual violence or rape only happens outside the home ― but what if the same is happening inside the four walls but not getting any recognition? Why is that a non-consensual rape within marriage is considered private, and there is no protocol or punishment for the same?

Centre’s statement to oppose criminalising marital rape clearly shows where we stand The High Court of Delhi is expected to rule within weeks or months on the petitions to criminalise marital rape in India.

Though we all know what the outcome would be. Even if there is a big change to come, a law to add, it will take years and decades for the cultural change to set in!

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Five minutes before marriage, non-consensual sex can be considered rape under Section 375 of IPC, but five minutes after marriage, it is legal and not against the law!

Before I write any further, let me tell you that India is one of the remaining 36 countries in the world that hasn’t criminalised marital rape yet ― and is still in favour of it.

Opposing several PILs to criminalise marital rape, the Government of India told Delhi HC, “Various other countries, mostly Western, have criminalised marital rape, but it does not necessarily mean India should also follow them blindly. This country has its own unique problems due to various factors like literacy, lack of financial empowerment of a majority of females, mindset of society, vast diversity, poverty, etc., and these should be considered carefully before criminalising marital rape.”

_{“Defining marital rape would call for a broad-based consensus in society. As to what constitutes marital rape and what would not constitute marital rape needs to be defined precisely before a view on its criminalisation is taken.”}
_Centre

The High Court petitioners are calling that patriarchal.

“After marriage, it’s the husband’s right over the body of the wife, and this concept that a woman can refuse sex within marriage is not widely accepted. In fact, it was not even accepted by the government. That’s why the exception continues today.”
_{Mariam Dhawale, General Secretary of the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA)}

“The medical evidence indicates injuries, marks or coloration etc. of the body, in particular on the back or chest or private parts, that can certainly provide ample corroboration. But this corroborative evidence may be rendered useless in case of allegations of marital rape. It will be difficult to determine as to when the consent was withdrawn by the married woman. The cost of the circumstantial and corroborative evidence will become futile in case of marital rape,” the Centre said.

It also added that “deletion of exception 2 of Section 375 would make marital rape a cognisable, non-bailable and non-compoundable offence. This would stop all the chances of a settlement between the husband and wife, which is possible under Section 498A of IPC.”

Centre’s statement to oppose criminalising marital rape clearly shows where we stand!

The sad part is that several women don’t even know that they have the right to say ‘no’ ― that they have rights over their ‘own’ body and that they can say ‘no’ to their husbands.

Marital rape is undoubtedly a very sensitive topic, but in a country like India, where sexual violence within families is considered ‘normal’ and goes unreported, it is more daunting for women.

_{According to the National Family Health Survey, ‘about 30% Indian women aged 18-49 reported having experienced spousal violence. In terms of sexual violence, the average Indian woman is 17 times more likely to face sexual violence from her husband than from anyone else, according to the survey of 724,115 women.’}

As if the Centre’s stand was not enough, a lot of men also carried out a ‘Marriage Strike’ campaign on social media platforms to lobby against the criminalisation of marital rape.

#RepublicDay2022 is actually#NoRepublicDay4Men in India due to #UnconstitutionalCrPC

Indian #Government and #Judicial System has forced the male for #MarriageStrike
— SIFF Spokesperson (@jaidutt1) January 25, 2022

शौख नहीं आम आदमियों का मुजबुरी है- #मैरिजस्ट्राइक जोरूरी है!
It is not a hobby for common people – #MarriageStrike is necessary!#MaritalRape PIL to term Husband #Rapist for sex with his own Wife going on.#BoyCottMarriage with #IndianWomen!@barandbench @LiveLawIndia @LawBeatInd pic.twitter.com/107IL05249
— SwarupSarkar (@swarup1972) January 21, 2022

“Their argument is based on the premise that men are entitled to sex in a marriage. The whole idea of a marriage strike comes from this: we will withhold marriage if we do not get access to sex. The idea of this transaction is deeply problematic. Violence against women and children is the real threat to the family institution,” says women’s rights activist Kavita Krishnan.

I strongly hope that men who are going on #MaritalStrike remain on strike for ever. They are not safe for any woman to be married to. Anyone who thinks consent has no place in a marriage, should never marry.
— Kavita Krishnan (@kavita_krishnan) January 20, 2022

The Centre has also contended that a court “cannot usurp the power of the legislature”, adding that removal of exception 2 of Section 375 IPC “would be akin to legislating a separate offence which can be done only by the legislature as per the doctrine of separation of powers prescribed in the Constitution of India.”

The very fact that the petition to criminalise marital rape is drawing so much attention and fury is proof of how much we need it. An institution like marriage cannot stand if there is no consent, no transparency and equality for both partners.

The High Court of Delhi is expected to rule within weeks or months on the petitions to criminalise marital rape in India. The HC has also asked the Parliament of India to step in.

Though we all know what the outcome would be. Even if there is a big change to come, a law to add, it will take years and decades for the cultural change to set in!

marital rape marriages rape culture sexual abuse sexual assault sexual harassment women empowerment women in india women power

Sonali

A 'non-9-5 desk job' ambivert geek who chooses her own audience, Sonali loves sharing stories and finding the corners where humanity still exists! She believes that every individual's story is unique and special. She loves writing about the untouched and unspoken segments of society. When not writing, you can find her listening to someone's stories or playing with dogs. Sonali values mental health and encourages people to speak their heart out!