SJ, Baby Led Solids (or Infant Led Weaning as it is otherwise known) is becoming more common. There is a good discussion on it here: https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...o-i-start.html.

One of the things they say about it, is that mums tend to start following it instinctively with subsequent children. I found this to be true for me. Without having read about it yet, I almost totally skipped the pureed stage with DS2 and went straight to finger foods. He is, and always has been, a fantastic eater with both quantity and variety so it certainly didn't do him any harm!