Baby led weaning

[Nancyrose76]

I chose to do baby led weaning with my little girl and have found it ok - the normal mess etc...

But as she is getting older and having an appetite I find that it is soft food such as shepherds pie or fish pie that she will eat most of. Basically anything more pureed she enjoys. She will still try harder foods but she only has two bottom teeth (only just came through at 9months) so she just chews and spits those things out.

I have read that it doesn't really matter if they don't eat anything until after 12 months but does Boyne have any similar stories or advice?

Should I just continue giving her the food she likes (soft) which she feeds herself with a pre-loaded spoon?

[surreygirl1987]

I've found the same. Except my son feeds himself with his hands rather than a preloaded spoon. He loves anything moderately soft- toast, lentil pasta, curry, shepherds pie, omelette etc. But he struggles with harder stuff like carrot sticks, rubbery pasta, green beans etc. I'm just going to keep persevering but give him a combination so at least he'll eat enough every meal. For veg I actually give him veggie puree that I mix with rice and cream cheese and let him eat it by hand. Just want to make sure he's getting all his greens! Some of my friends are still only spoonfeeding their babies at almost a year though so I reckon we're doing okay. My son is 11 months, how old is your baby?

[Nancyrose76]

My daughter is 9 1/2 months. Thank for your reply, good to hear that I'm not alone and great tip about the veg purée. She will eat thick soups so I try and add some different vegetables in there.

I did recently read a post by a ent specialist who advised softer foods for babies for as long as they don't have their molars which is 3 years old! Especially raw vegetables and salad which she thinks they can't chew enough until then which makes a lot of sense.

X

[surreygirl1987]

Great! That makes sense to me! Even apples my boy struggled with unless they're soft. I think sometimes it hurts his teeth too when he's teething.

[irecitethegruffaloinmydreams]

She is so young, OP. Don't worry if she prefers soft food! Imagine how hard it is to eat with hardly any teeth. She has plenty of time to get the hang of crunchy food. Far more important that she gets a range of nutrients and tastes, with some variation in texture. Being able to chew hard food properly takes a long time. If you are giving her a mixture of soft food and things she can pick up and try herself, you are doing everything you need to do.

The 'food before one is just for fun' line is a bit of a bugbear of mine. It's intended to reassure parents that it doesn't matter if their babies don't eat masses, but if you take it literally it's a bit misleading. after 6 months they need extra iron and other nutrients and can't get everything they need from milk (bf or formula).

[kirstywursty012]

Honestly this first year is just about getting them to try foods and get used to different textures.

My bub is 8mo and typically has sliced crumpet with cream cheese and berries for brekkie (she tends to just suck the cheese off and throw them on the floor!)

Lunch is finger food smorgasbord of stuff that I’m eating myself - bits of chicken, cheese, bread, steamed veggies etc - she again doesn’t eat much unless she finds some really soft pieces.

Dinner - I just give feed her an Ella pouch. This is her favourite meal of the day as she gobbles the whole bag!

We’ve started decreasing her afternoon milks because she eats well st lunch and dinner but only by an oz per week.

One thing that you can try with the more solid food is popping bits in their mouth. I know this isn’t really “baby led” but I only give her some if she’s excitedly hopping in her chair at the food with her mouth wide open!

[Harrysmummy246]

Molars arrive well before 3! DS is just pushing his last one through at 2.3

Keep offering things cooked to a texture/ hardness DD can tolerate. Try things like well cooked pasta shapes, with sauces on. DS used to love casserole as the meat was easy to eat