I Wish I’d Known About Baby Led Weaning When Our Kids Were Little

When Amy and I were raising our kids, I wish we’d known more about what people now call baby led weaning. We fed our children the best way we knew how at the time, but looking back, I can see how much sense this newer approach makes. Over the past few years, I’ve noticed more and more young parents—especially moms—talking about it, sharing their experiences, and rethinking what it means to start a baby on real food.

What Baby Led Weaning Really Means

At its core, baby led weaning is simple: you skip the purees and let your baby feed themselves small, soft pieces of real food from the very beginning. It’s about trusting a child’s natural curiosity and letting them learn to chew, grasp, and explore food on their own terms.

Parents who follow this approach often describe how their babies become more confident eaters—more willing to try new foods and better at recognizing when they’re full. It’s also less about control and more about shared experience: families sitting down together to eat the same real food, rather than preparing something separate for the baby.

Why Parents Are Moving This Direction

A lot of young families today are rethinking the role of food altogether. They see the rising rates of childhood allergies, obesity, and picky eating, and they want to take a more natural path. For many, baby led weaning isn’t just about convenience—it’s about connection.

It’s about slowing down and paying attention to what we feed our kids. Parents are realizing that food doesn’t have to come from a box or a pouch to be safe or nutritious. It can come from a farm. From a kitchen. From hands that care about how animals are raised and how soil is treated.

That shift in thinking is the same one that led us to start Tyner Pond Farm.

The Nutrient Density Difference

During the first years of life, a baby’s brain and body grow faster than they ever will again. That rapid growth demands nutrient-dense food—real protein, healthy fats, and bioavailable minerals.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, iron and zinc are two of the most important nutrients for babies starting solids, and meats are among the best natural sources of both. That’s why pasture-raised meats are becoming a key part of baby led weaning. Ground chicken, beef, or liver from animals raised on grass and rotated on pasture provide clean, natural sources of iron, zinc, and B vitamins—nutrients essential for brain development, immune strength, and steady growth.

Our ground pasture-raised chicken is especially good for starting out. It’s mild-tasting, easy to cook soft, and comes from birds that live outside on grass, eating insects and fresh forage. No antibiotics, no confinement, and no additives—just honest food from a healthy system.

Long-Term Benefits Parents Are Seeing

Families who start baby led weaning often notice the difference over time. Their children develop broader palates and a more relaxed relationship with food. They tend to eat what the rest of the family eats, which makes shared meals easier and more natural.

Some parents report fewer struggles with picky eating, while others say their children stay satisfied longer after meals. It’s not magic—it’s biology. Real food teaches the body how to process nutrients properly and recognize satiety. It sets the stage for a lifetime of balanced eating habits.

In the long run, baby led weaning is about more than feeding babies—it’s about shaping a food culture that values real nourishment. And that’s something we deeply believe in at Tyner Pond Farm.

A Local Way to Begin

If you’re just starting down this path, we’d be glad to help. We deliver our pasture-raised chicken, grassfed beef, and local pork free to homes all over Central Indiana—including Zionsville, Fishers, Carmel, Noblesville, and Greenfield. You can order online anytime, and we’ll bring it straight from the farm to your doorstep.

Feeding your family real food doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. It just takes a decision to start.

FAQs

Q: Why are so many parents choosing baby led weaning?
A: Parents are looking for more natural ways to introduce food—methods that encourage independence, reduce picky eating, and rely on real, unprocessed foods instead of commercial baby products.

Q: What are the long-term benefits?
A: Studies suggest baby led weaning helps develop better self-regulation, improves oral motor skills, and fosters a more positive attitude toward food later in life.

Q: How can I safely serve chicken to my baby?
A: Cook ground or finely shredded chicken until fully done, and offer it soft enough for your baby to mash with their gums. Avoid salt or seasoning early on.

Q: Is pasture-raised meat really better for babies?
A: Pasture-raised meats typically contain more omega-3 fats, vitamins, and minerals, without exposure to antibiotics or industrial feed additives. That’s especially important for developing brains and immune systems.

Q: Does Tyner Pond Farm deliver near me?
A: Yes, we deliver free to homes throughout Central Indiana—Zionsville, Fishers, Carmel, Noblesville, Greenfield, and beyond.