The doddl journey
The Complete Baby Led Weaning Guide | From First Tastes to Full Independence
The doddl journey
The Complete Baby Led Weaning Guide | From First Tastes to Full Independence
Little hands. Big development. Every mealtime.
Baby led weaning - the essentials
Baby led weaning (BLW) is all about letting your little one take the lead when it comes to solid foods. Instead of spoon-fed purees, you offer soft finger foods they can pick up, squish, and explore all by themselves — at their own pace, in their own way.
It's a wonderfully hands-on approach that research shows can help babies develop a healthy relationship with food, a more adventurous palate, and real confidence at mealtimes. Messy? Yes. Worth trying? Absolutely.
Most babies are ready to give BLW a go at around 6 months — but it's less about the date on the calendar and more about watching your baby for these three signs together:
They can sit upright with just a little support
They're eyeing up your dinner and reaching for it (yes, even your toast)
They've lost the tongue-thrust reflex that automatically pushes food back out
When you're seeing all three, that's usually your green light. And if you're ever not quite sure, your health visitor is always a lovely first port of call.
The short answer is Yes — when you approach it the right way.
One thing that surprises many parents is gagging. It can look a little alarming, but it's actually completely normal and even protective — it's your baby's clever way of learning to manage food in their mouth. Gagging and choking are very different things, and understanding that difference can make the whole experience feel a lot calmer for everyone at the table (you may wish to explore courses designed to give practical steps for when a baby is choking, if this gives you reassurance during your baby's mealtime - St Johns ambulance routinely run these, amongst others).
With the right textures for their age, close supervision, and the right tools, BLW is safe and backed by NHS guidance. And of course, speaking of the right tools — doddl's ergonomic cutlery is specially designed for little hands from 6 months, supporting your baby's natural grip development so self-feeding feels easier, less frustrating, and hopefully a little more fun.
0-6 Months
Before the first spoon
6-12 Months
Where mealtimes begin
Pre-weaning: Before the first spoon
Preparing for mealtimes
At doddl we've spent over 10 years studying how children's fine motor-skills develop so when you think your baby is ready to start eating, explore Stage 1. In the meantime, you can help your baby get ready to self-feed right now.
- Offer different objects to grasp — different textures and shapes give your baby's developing hands new information.
- Let your baby reach for objects — resist the urge to place things directly in their hands. The reaching is part of the learning.
- Let your baby watch you eat. Commit to one meal a day — breakfast, lunch, dinner, whatever fits — where your baby is at the table with you. It doesn't matter if you're eating cereal. It doesn't matter if it's five minutes. Put them where they can see you eat, and let that be enough.
- Weaning starts around 6 months. Before the equipment, before the food, before anything else — this is the single most useful thing to know; Weaning at the start is about exploration, not nutrition. In the first weeks, your baby's milk feeds are still doing the heavy lifting nutritionally. Take the pressure off. It will make the whole thing more enjoyable for both of you. And when you're ready - we'll be here.
Free guide
The Complete
Baby Led Weaning
Guide doddl
Baby Led Weaning
Guide doddl
Getting ready for Stage 1
Not weaning yet? We'll send you a free development series built around exactly where your baby is right now - stage by stage, at your pace.
- Stage-by-stage advice from occupational therapists
- First foods checklist & BLW recipes
- What to expect at every milestone
Stage 1: First foods, first wins
Where mealtimes begin
The spoon goes in - and usually everywhere else. That's exactly how it's supposed to go. At 6-12 months, your baby is working with a palmar grasp - gripping with the whole fist. doddl's baby cutlery is shaped around this exact grip, with a shorter handle and angled bowl that make self-feeding easier from the very first try. Your baby is ready for Stage 1 doddl if they are:
- Sitting in a highchair with a little support - upright enough to swallow safely
- Reaching and grasping objects consistently
- Has a growing appetite
- Has started weaning
Stage 1 Best-sellers
doddl baby cutlery set & case
£12.95
doddl 2-in-1 suction bowl
£16.95
Best value
doddl baby & toddler cutlery + travel case
£24.95
doddl develops your baby's palmar grasp
At 6-12 months, your baby is gripping with their whole palm - fingers wrapped around the handle. doddl's baby spoon and fork are specifically shaped for this grip: wider handle, shorter length, expertly placed soft touch areas. This reduces the wrist rotation that makes standard cutlery impossible at this stage and helps develop the more advanced pincer grip.
Ready for Stage 2?
When your baby has developed some hand-eye co-ordination, they're able to consistently move food from the bowl to their mouth and are eating more substantial meals, you'll need the best cutlery for toddlers. Time for stage 2.
Go to Stage 2Trusted by professionals
Recommended by occupational therapists
doddl isn't just popular with parents - it's the cutlery occupational therapists reach for first. Designed with OT input, tested in clinical settings, trusted in over 500 nurseries.
★★★★★
I've been absolutely loving using the doddl cutlery set with my family. It's really helped my daughter to hone her skills around self-feeding with a spoon and fork.
Charlotte Stirling-Reed
The Baby & Child Nutritionist
Learn more about Charlotte's work here
★★★★★
My son loved eating at the family table with his doddl cutlery — he was participating in our family mealtimes before he was walking!
Stacey Zimmels
Paediatric Feeding & Swallowing Specialist
Learn more about Stacey's work here
