Time at a Table

Baby-led weaning.

For many of you, this term may be a new concept. It was recently for me and my mother, who had six children between 1997 and 2012.

“Baby-led weaning puts babies in charge of mealtime. That can mean skipping spoon-feeding pureed foods and jumping right into enjoying solids with the rest of the family,” explains a Cleveland Clinic article.

This mainstream feeding practice enables and encourages little ones to explore and develop their palate at the 6-month mark. According to the professionals, there are specific signs that the baby must reach and achieve before this can be considered. However, it is essential always to consult a trusted pediatrician when it comes to implementing anything related to a baby’s health and well-being.

Nevertheless, after learning about this practice, my husband and I became very interested in the baby-led weaning (BLW) feeding approach. So, when my baby reached the 6-month milestone, I picked up a book that was supposed to help me learn all about it. I felt empowered, like I could tackle it with ease!

But there was something inside me that kept me from giving my toothless baby bites of chopped sirloin and crackers. Instead, he got the best veggie purées I had to offer, just like my grandparents did back in the day.

Although I didn’t succeed at this practice earlier in my son’s life, now, at 10 months (and after talking to my pediatrician), he is eating like a pro with a few of these BLW tactics later applied. In fact, he loves nothing more than sitting beside me in his high chair and having a full meal.

He always sits, looks, listens, and babbles along.

This learning process further instilled in me that food brings us all together, regardless of our age.

Whether it's football games, birthday parties, or holidays, as humans, we love to eat and are always curious about what will be served during these events.

But what this adventure in parenting has also taught me is that there is something more important than these significant, scheduled events - that is, the time spent around the table as a family.

Unfortunately, the days of eating together as a distraction-free family are waning, and this is impacting our culture.

“Only 38 percent of younger Americans without a college education were raised in homes that shared meals every day. In contrast, more than six in ten (61 percent) younger Americans with a post-graduate education say their family ate together regularly,” reported a survey from the Survey Center on American Life.

For many, dinnertime in 2025 is spent on the go, chasing sports schedules, scrolling through social media, or watching television. My family isn’t excluded from this! Often, at the end of a long day, a cozy supper on the couch, catching up on our shows, is much more relaxing than talking.

In 2021, the American College of Pediatricians reported the extensive benefits of having family meals together. A few of the many include:

Teens having frequent family dinners are more likely to report having excellent relationships with their family.
More family talk occurs during mealtime than during any other activity, including playing with toys and storybook reading.
Toddlers demonstrate less fussy eating behaviors and eat more nutrient-dense food during family meals.
Children ages nine to 14 who have more regular dinners with their families have more healthful dietary patterns.
Teens who have frequent family dinners are more likely to obtain better grades in school.
Children expand their vocabularies as they hear new words used in conversations.
Teens with more frequent family meals had fewer emotional and behavioral problems.
Family meals benefit all children, including those with disabilities, by helping them improve their social skills.
Twice as likely to have an excellent relationship with father.
Twice as likely to have an excellent relationship with sibling(s).

But with stats like these, I was convinced.

These few minutes around the table as a family do make a difference – they are foundational.

As believers, we can also use this opportunity to share the Bible’s truths while breaking bread with the greatest gifts we’ve ever been given.

May we all choose to spend daily quality time with our families over good food.

Bon appétit!

Train up a child in the way he should go,
Even when he is old he will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6).

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