BLW - opinions and advice

[jetjets]

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[MaeWest]

We're about 2 months in, and I would say that for me BLW is more about giving the baby a little bit of my own meal, rather than cooking completely separate things just for them. This is within reason of course, wouldn't really work if you just ate McDonalds all the time . Also the aim is for the baby to experience different types of food, which they will eat when they are ready. For example, at lunchtime today DS and his dad had homemade beefburgers, with salad and sweet potato chips. I had omelette as I don't eat meat. DS prop had half a adult burger which he ate some of, a couple of bits of sweet potato, the inside of half a cherry tomato and a bit of cucumber. Not a huge quantity of foor really. Also, I don't buy all organic, because we can't really afford it, but I know that this is more important for some people.

[MaeWest]

'huge quantity of food' that should read. Also, with BLW you're not thinking in terms of filling them up with a certain quantity of food (e.g. 3 cubes of puree). I have found that by the time food is being flung in earnest, DS is bored and has finished. I put a little out on his tray at a time, and put more out if he seems keen to keep going, reducing waste (also you can recycle bits of food that go on the floor by putting a plastic mat underneath the highchair, or 'blowing the germs' off if you don't have a mat, but obviously I didn't recommend that second bit)

[lulumama]

ok, you don;t have to buy organic....i only buy organic carrots, potatos, bananas and the odd other thing from Lidl

the expense - well, at the start, you are giving a bit of this and that, so you are not cooking a seperate meal, some chunks of apple, peach or pear, or some steamed sticks of carrot , courgette or some roasted sweet potato, or boiled broccoli or cauliflower is not going to radically increase your shopping budget.

or fingers of toast , cheese, hummous etc...

you have to accept some wastage, but that is the same if you give puree, jars or BLW

[lulumama]

eg, if you have toast for brekky, offer a couple of soldiers of toast, if you have fruit offer fruit, there is a recipe on the BLW blog for porridge pancakes, which is easy and cheap

[PinkTulips]

i make the same amount now as before ds was weaned and just give him a bit of our dinner. i only put a mouthful at a time on his highchair and wait til he's finished that to give more. when he starts throwing it on the floor usually means he's full so themeal ends.

we're on a very tight budget and i find it far cheaper than buying loads of extra food to make up purrees for him

[MaeWest]

Would also say that weaning has really made me look at my own diet, I'm eating a lot more fruit, and trying to eat something decent in the middle of the day. Realised I was getting bored of endless cheese sarnies.

[WriggleJiggle]

I only ever put one or two pieces of food on her chair at once. As soon as she starts leaning over the high chair to feed it to the dog then I take it as a sign that she's finished. Any that accidentally goes on the floor gets a quick wipe and then offered again (it can't be any worse than her eating carpet fluff and stuff while she's playing can it?)

Unless it is cereal which I know she'll polish off, she only gets bits from my plate. If she is hungry I might have to grab an extra piece of fruit or bread for myself because she's eaten all my dinner, but if she's not hungry, I just end up with a couple of extra mouthfuls.

I think the trick is not to over estimate how much they are going to eat. If I do get the quantities terribly wrong and she's still hungry she gets something from the cupboard to fill her up - a few rice cakes or similar.

[GingGangGooley]

Also get a floor mat or keep the floor clean (if you don't have animals) and then you can pick up food ad give it back!

Think about how much more food you use boiling it and pureeing it down to make even a small amount, takes way more veg than if you just give it to them

Have a look at my site there's loads of ideas on stuff you can both eat so like the others say you can just share! I love BLW as I have a 7 year old son too and we can all eat the same... loads easier!

[GingGangGooley]

also meant to say you don't have to buy organic just because you are blw... i don't lol

hth x

[jetjets]

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[AitchYouBerk]

what kind of foods do you eat, jj? i think it took about a month of bits and bobs of veggies and meat before dd was competent enough just to get her hands stuck into a moussakka.

[jetjets]

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[AitchYouBerk]

aaah, me and dh have those days too... have you ever seen those steam-fresh bags of veggies in the freezer section? that's what dd gets sometimes. they're handy, blw friendly and cooked in 3 minutes. a lifesaver.

[AitchYouBerk]

rice can be a pain in the arse, though. i've been known to mix it with greek yoghurt to make it easier to grab.

[GingGangGooley]

yes jetjets there are a lot of stereotypes aren't there! lol! I had a homebirth but I didn't breast feed (well tried for a few days)

We used to give dd the veg from whatever meal we were eating to start then adding more bits. Made us eat better more often!

Lol Aitch rice is not my forte! stodgy yuk but i suppose easier for blw... i cheat now and have uncle bens boil in the bag! lol! "perfect everytime" pmsl!