Starting blw early

[Summertime10]

Hi everyone, just checking in to ask if any of you have started blw a little early? My son is 24 weeks this Saturday and can sit unassisted for around 1-2 minutes, has good hand eye co ordination and brings toys up to his mouth from his highchair tray with ease. Would I be unwise to start him with finger foods from around 24 weeks given he's showing signs of readiness? I understand NHS guidelines state around 6 months is OK to start, following no gluten before 6 months etc.
He's my first blw baby (dc 11 & 9 were traditionally weaned) and I feel a little clueless about it at the minute but want to respond to my baby's cues.
Thanks all

[AssassinatedBeauty]

The guidance says "around 6 months" not exactly 6 months and not before. Sitting unassisted isn't vital as long a they can sit without slumping sideways or forwards in a highchair, with appropriate support if necessary. So 24 weeks is not "early" according to the guidance, it is around 6 months.

[OhHolyJesus]

I stared at 5.5 months. Put some toast fingers on a plate - the thing about BLW is if their interested they will help themselves. Some babies I know didn't show an interest until 8 months but fed themselves happily when they discovered how.

[masktaster]

We "formally" started at 25 weeks, but DS was eating DP's bananas if he could get to them from about 23/ 24 weeks . He was a decent sitter, good hand/eye coordination, met all the other criteria for starting basically. We started with fairly basic finger foods (fruit and veg) and quickly progressed to proper meals - I think he's been more or less exclusively on what we're having since about 7.5 months. He loves his food and was definitely ready when we started him.

HV didn't bat an eye, but I live in an area where it seems lots of people still tend to traditional wean from 4 months.

You should be fine!

[Marcine]

24 weeks really isn't early

[ODog]

At 5.5m DD leaned across to DS’s high chair from her high chair, grabbed a fistful of pasta off his plate, shoved it in her mouth, chewed it and swallowed it.

I’d say she was ready...no?

Every baby is different. Go with their cues and your instincts.

[RatOnnaStick]

Ds2 nicked a breadstickoff my plate and happily ate it all in pizza hut when he was about 23 weeks so we just cracked on after that.

[Summertime10]

Thanks for your replies. Think I'll give it a go. I'm such a rule follower that I think I was a bit hung up about starting earlier than the 26 weeks-felt a bit naughty!