MD, the term weaning means introducing anything other than bm. We misuse it by using it to describe stopping bfing totally. I read the Essence article and it was really interesting and logical. The basics are that once babies are ready for solids (at around 6 months usually) they are ready for finger foods. The reason purees were introduced as a first food was becauase for many years babies were being introduced to solids too early (ie 6 wks, 3 mths etc depending on how long ago you're talking) and babies weren't ready for solids and therefore weren't ready for finger foods. The article talks about the psyiology of why babies are actually less likely to choke on finger foods when they are ready to eat, than when being spoon fed purees.

It made so much sense and I wish I had of read it before starting solids with the boys. But interestingly, it says that parents tend to discover this for themselves as they have subsequent children and get less bothered with pureeing - I know this was true for me. Thomas wasn't on purees for very long at all.