to ask for your best bit of BLW advice?

[moxon]

Yip, pretty much that. There are too many websites on the topic and too little time. The latter of which is heavily invested in MN anyway, so I thought I might as well see what's on offer from the wise.

I found Felicity Bertin's BLW book really insightful and helpful.

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/0719806984/ref=redir_mdp_mobile

Wrote a nice long update but my phone ate it.
In short: all going well and playful - we have benefitted from all the advice and suggestions!
For others: we quite liked this video for choking advice as it gives a real sense of ease, calm and methodical approach to when and how to help in case it is needed. m.youtube.com/watch?v=v5lx0AxqUlI

But I always found dogs caused problems! You can't give them the food back off the mat on the floor if the dog's been walking all over it or eating the dropped food whilst baby is screaming as they want it back. How ever many times you ask MIL to shut the dog out.
And what's the obsession with how to feed then yogurt? Or cheese and water AKA fromage frais. Full of chemicals and sweeteners.

A stick of Cheddar cheese cut from a block is easier for them to get anything off because it dissolves in the mouth rather than all the children's rubbery cheeses. Don't worry about strengths, this is the age where they will eat strong cheese, curry, chilli's without batting an eyelid. Sadly mine didn't keep eating these things
Pears have a better texture than apples for the early days. Leave skins on so the whole thing doesn't turn slippy, or just peel odd bits of skin.
White sliced bread is full of nasties, even for us, so some people say, and some studies suggest leaving grains until after 1. That's really research and decide for yourself though. I just tried to vary the carbs they had more.
Relax, sit back, let child do what they want. Try not to attach emotions to food. I tried really hard not to make food good/bad, treats, rewards, something Mummy worries about or mealtimes a battle ground. And YY I think about the food they have eaten in a period of time not each meal. I'm not going to be controlling about their food and they won't control me with what they will eat.

One of these crinkle cutter gadget thing is really useful to cut fruit or veg that's hard to get a grip on like tomato or plums.

If you break of a finger-sized length of banana you can poke your finger in the end and it will naturally split into three long segments. The advantage is they're the same texture as the banana, not slimy and impossible for little fingers to grab which they would be if you chopped into slices.

Peas are great fun and help teach the pincer grip which then helps them grab other foods.

Do a first aid course or at least watch the Red Cross video for choking babies.

A metal steamer is awesome as you can do a whole meal with one pan and the steamer.

Gagging and choking are not the same! Learn the differences.

The grandparents will likely panic or think you're nuts. Either calmly enlighten them or ignore them.

Have fun!

Never cook anything especially for them, give them some of what you're having, but cut into manageable shapes if necessary. That way if they don't eat it you don't get as stressed about waste of time, effort and food.

Turn sleeved bibs inside out so the plastic is on the outside. Easier to wipe clean and reuse.

If you can bear them, the roll-up Tommee Tippee scooped bibs are handy. The baby can pick up things they've dropped and have another go. It gets frustrating if they keep dropping things on the floor and losing them forever.

I used a cotton table cloth under an Antilop highchair. It was so easy to give it a shake outside and chuck it in the washing machine from time to time.

I gave DS a small, plastic eggcup for drinks at first. It was very light and easy to pick up and with just a small amount of water in DS found it very manageable before he moved onto a Doidy cup.

Remember: gagging is the reflex that PREVENTS choking.

See if your children's centre offers infant first aid courses. I did one that cost £3 for the day. I felt much more confident about the whole gagging/choking thing after doing it.