Forget baby purees,ice cube trays and weaning spoons, and simply let your baby feed himself.

Baby-led Weaning explodes the myth that babies need to be spoon-fed and shows why self-feeding from the start of the weaning process is the healthiest way for your child to develop.

Baby-led weaning is a common sense, easy and enjoyable approach to feeding your child, and it:

• Helps to develop your baby's natural abilities, including hand-eye coordination and chewing
• Allows your baby to join in with family meals right from the start of the weaning process
• Encourages independence by allowing your baby to experiment with foods at his own pace
• Makes mealtimes more enjoyable and battles less likely

Baby-led Weaning is a pratical and authoritative guide to introducing solid food,enabling your child to grow up a happy and confident eater.

Gill Rapley is one of the UK's leading authorities on infant feeding. Tracey Murkett is a freelance writer.