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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be sick and tired of BLW

49 replies

ArtFine · 20/05/2014 21:04

It just creates such a huge mess, at every single meal time!

I have wiped the floor four times today and I just find myself constantly cleaning. Is it just my baby who makes such a mess? Sometimes I wish I had stuck to purÃ©es!

OP posts:

deakymom · 20/05/2014 22:11

totally agree its overhyped parents get in a tizzy because children are not eating enough so many discussions at the school gate about this

14 years ago my daughter began to feed herself at 15 months i was told it was terribly early for her to do that (i mean with a spoon finger food is earlier) this time just before my son turned one the HV came to do a check and asked why he was not using a spoon and fork himself yet i was a bit surprised and pointed out his age she said yes yes but he is behind ? so i tried him with a spoon and surprise surprise he couldn't do it i even tried to explain to her how he had food intolerances and had a restricted diet but she maintains my son is behind i dont see her anymore im pretty sure after three children i know nothing about them same as her

deakymom · 20/05/2014 22:14

feed breakfast (unless its toast or pancakes) finger food for lunch and a proper mess for tea do you have a table in the kitchen or somewhere wipeable for food? just use outside in good weather or the newspaper idea i like that one x

poocatcherchampion · 20/05/2014 22:17

just clean up once a day maximum . life is too short.

Bodicea · 20/05/2014 23:14

I try to give him some bland stuff in his hands like rice crackers. I know he will have to learn sometime. But for now his face is so reactive and sore I can't let his dinner get allover it. It is reassuring to know babies managed to survive before blw became the fashion.

NigellasGuest · 20/05/2014 23:31

who was the poster on MN who was so into the BLW thing?
is she still into it?

honestly its just finger food. And no big deal. And you can feed with a spoon to get it done quicker if you want. My DCs are teens now and BLW was not invented when they were in their high chairs - and it's not made the blindest bit of difference IMO.

kippersmum · 20/05/2014 23:33

Bodicea, many mums on here had children before BLW became the latest fad & simply did a mix of finger food & purees. There isn't a generation of teenagers & preteens out there refusing to eat! ;)

What you are doing sounds great, and in time the next fad will be along for people to worry about

NigellasGuest · 20/05/2014 23:36

what kippersmum said

Dollybird86 · 20/05/2014 23:46

The mess is never ending dd is almost 7 months and I feel as if it's me against the kitchen floor I literally sweep it 4 times a day and mop it right before I go to bed and I still find little sticky bits everywhere!

I feel your pain!

kippersmum · 20/05/2014 23:59

x post Nigellasguest, but we obviously share the same viewpoint! :)

EduardoBarcelona · 21/05/2014 00:21

I never did it. My children all eat stuff as teens. Hth

BlondieBrownie · 21/05/2014 00:44

I'm not doing it with my DS nor did I do it with DS1. I didn't like the sound of it so I didn't do it .

My children, my choice.

wobblyweebles · 21/05/2014 01:56

I feel that blw is part of a general government initiative to ensure babies remain hungry for milk at night as long as possible. Maybe that is just me.

I think you may be right.

TheBreastmilksOnMe · 21/05/2014 09:20

BLW was around first, it's how babies ate before the advent of purees and jars. Someone has just given it a name and attached guidelines to it in order to make it safe as we're so used to feeding babies purees. It's not nothing new or remarkable. It's just an alternative way. Feed your baby how you like.

Mim78 · 21/05/2014 09:29

I wasn't being wholly serious as I did lots of finger food with dd as well as purée.

But I don't think it's necessary to abandon purée and spoon feeding as it will obviously get food (by which I mean an appropriate amount not as much as possible) in them.

Not started weaning ds though and dd was before the phrase blw was coined. The name blw is irritating though!

DontputyourfingerinthejellyNel · 21/05/2014 09:30

I did it and yes it is messy but then it is also lots of fun and you can eat your dinner in peace. I second the wipe clean highchair advice. I used to put the ikea antilop (15 pounds) in the shower and attack it with a bathing brush and washing up liquid, rinse. A booster chair (plastic one) with a removable tray also helps. Ours hada removableinner tray too.

notaflamingclue · 21/05/2014 09:33

Indians IKEA chair and dogs = perfect combo!
Mind you, DD hates BLW. She just can't be arsed, so I spoon feed her mostly - although she gets plenty of finger food too. She's coming up for 15 months and only just taking the slightest interest in self-feeding.

SandorClegane · 21/05/2014 09:33

The bit where food goes all over the floor passes quite quickly or did with mine anyway but it is a pain in the arse while you're in it.

Minnieisthedevilmouse · 21/05/2014 09:41

This is actually quite funny. Blw isn't baby whispering you know. It's known by another term too as is purée, "dinner time".....

It's just food. Not anything more special. Stop imbuing it with magic!

DontputyourfingerinthejellyNel · 21/05/2014 10:25

Nobody is saying it is magic. It is not for everyone.
To put into perspective my DD was completely great with it, ate loads. Then at 2 she regressed and was diagnosed with ASD. I can't remember the last time she touched a vegetable now and she is very much a chicken dippers, fish fingers and alphabites kind of girl due to her condition. My DS started on purees but moved onto finger foods after a month or do and he would eat the table if you let him. He eats most foods and tries anything.

CruCru · 21/05/2014 10:38

The thing about BLW is, I always seem to have someone going on about how awesome it is. I put an "I hate BLW" comment on FB with a picture of mess and about four people commented to say that I MUST do BLW, it is the BEST way, they learn MUCH MORE QUICKLY, it is NATURAL.

There isn't a right or wrong way but having someone evangelise puts my back right up.

Bunnytheeggrobat · 21/05/2014 10:47

Glad some others are suffering with floor sweeping misery. My least favourite job. Some days am tempted to leave it as I know it will only be an other couple of hours before I'm down there again. . . .

Pointeshoes · 21/05/2014 10:48

Don't do it then.

rhubarb82 · 21/05/2014 10:58

Am doing BLW with my nearly 9 month old. I'm pretty relaxed about the mess so tend to just do a proper tidy up at the end of the day and pick up any really big bits as I see them! Also have a plastic sheet from Poundland under the chair which is easier to wipe clean. Most people I know are doing purees and it looks like that can be messy too - especially as they get more finger foods. Of course there is no right answer but know that you're not alone!

IsItMeOr · 21/05/2014 11:01

BLW suited us. But it is basically just a way of getting fuel into them - do what suits your family best.

The thing I liked about the BLW approach was the principle that they would eat it if they wanted to, and not to worry if they didn't eat loads at every meal. I found that a very calming mantra through teething and bugs.

DS is 5 now, and goes in phases of when he wants to try new things, and when he just wants old familiar favourites. But mealtimes (the eating part at least) are never a big fuss which, as we have other issues going on, is a blessing.

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