Baby Led Weaning Worried

[BigMomma164]

DS is 5 months and a bit. Hoping to start baby led weaning in a few weeks. What first foods should I offer? What portions? Ideas please. Over worried FTM. Thanks

Tiny portions, but expect a load of it to go on the floor. Try and feed them what you’re eating - just make sure it’s not too salty/sugary. You don’t need to be cooking stuff especially.

I started with purees for breakfast and dinner and things like toast and melty puffs for lunch. My logic was he has to use cultery as he gets older so he should get used to food being given from cutlery from the beginning. Obviously not the approach everyone will take though!

Food before 1 is just for fun so don't worry about how much he actually eats. He's still getting all his nutrition from milk

@TestingTestingWonTooFree So how many pieces of finger foods should I go with?
@TeddyBeans Did u feed baby the purees or let him do it himself? Ive already started letting him play with his spoons to get him comfortable with it

I started on veg first, just boil it a bit longer than youd do for yourself so it goes a bit mushy. Broccoli is a good one as it's got a built in handle. Avocado is good. Then gradually add bits of soft fruit (eg banana) then carbs like toast or pasta spirals etc. I used to do bits of meat in the slow cooker so it was nice and soft. I did some purees (although I never actually pureed it just chopped it up very finely so it had a bit more texture) and porridge and stuff though so they could actually get used to swallowing rather than just throwing it around

Porridge fingers are good

Also when you start introducing protein later, chopped up omelette is good

I fed him the purees but he fed himself lunch. Nothing stopping you from giving him purees to feed himself with a spoon though 😊

And pancakes. I made various types like buckwheat ones. And scones.

When they are older and eating a bit more, these are good littlegrazers.com/sweet-potato-lentil-and-cheddar-croquettes/ and there are lots of recipes for savoury flapjacks with cheese etc

And these www.mummypages.co.uk/recipes/cheese-and-broccoli-muffins-

Batch cooking and putting tiny portions of things in the freezer is handy as is keeping leftovers, babies dont mind weird combinations

Also when they are a bit bigger they like to dip things, I think mine liked dipping breadsticks in hummus and thick soups etc from 10 months or something

If your doing hardcore baby led weaning you tend to focus on actual food. Not purées. The baby feeds themselves to allow them to understand when they are full and to explore the textures and tastes themselves. The theory is that they are less fussy and willing to try more.

Basically you just give them what your eating.
So we had real porridge (not baby muck) and toast fingers for breakfast. I let them use their hands and they had a spoon,
Lunch steamed some veg and hummus, bread sticks, bits of sandwich etc
Dinner - bits of our veg and cut off strips of the meat or offered bits of lasagne etc for them to eat with hands
It’s surprising how much can be eaten with hands actually,
Both mine are 95% baby led weaned, it’s certainly a lot easier than faffing around with purées or feeding the baby. My oldest refused to be fed, the younger was more obliging, then the novelty wore off. Both are pretty good eaters but at 4 and 2 they have a long way to go.

Thanks everyone. Can't believe my lil man is going to be feeding himself soon! Where does the time go?!

Anything you give baby just make sure it’s long and thin, it has to be finger size. Try to give them veg over fruit so they don’t get too hooked on sugar / sweet stuff from the beginning. Egg muffins are good and easy to make

Give him whatever you eat but just a small portion served in a finger food friendly way. Eg
Breakfast- porridge cooked until thick enough to lick off fingers or spoon, toast fingers, sliced fruits
Lunch- simple sandwich or bread and cheese, cucumber sticks
Dinner- plain pasta shapes, spoonful of bolognese sauce and cheese finger or a bit of everything from roast dinner chopped into largish pieces.
He won’t eat much but this way he gets to try a range of food and flavours.

It should be easy. Look at what you’re eating and how you can make it baby friendly so biggish and finger shaped at first and put a little bit of everything on the high chair tray and let him get stuck in.

Hi OP, I started weaning DS about a month ago. We're going for a mixture of finger food and purées.

Finger foods that have worked well so far are: broccoli, carrot, parsnip, banana, avocado. I give 4-6 sticks. If steaming then I steam for a couple of minutes longer than I would for myself so it's extra soft.

Purées / soft foods that have worked well so far are: baby rice, banana, apple, pear, pea, Greek yogurt (actual Greek yogurt not "Greek style" which is full of sugar), mashed potato. I prep about 4 tablespoons worth, but a fair bit goes on the floor. I load the spoon and DS takes it from there.

I'm going to try some new carb sources this week. I have bought some Weetabix and might try some pasta.

HV told me 4 golden rules...

1. No added salt
2. No added sugar
3. No whole nuts
4. No honey until 1 year old

It's all trial and error so try not to worry. It's really lovely when you find something they like.

Good luck!

Another vote for feeding them whatever you eat, at the same time. They love to join in and copy and it’s so much easier. It starts good habits of eating together and having the same food. If they don’t eat anything it doesn’t matter.

Broccoli and carrots, mash with veggies, even bits of meat to suck on are great to start with. My third dc started on strawberries and a chicken leg!

I did this with all mine (3) I was a bit apprehensive with my first and so scared she would choke, I fed her babyfood and porridge with a spoon too. With my youngest I let her feed herself from day 1 as i felt more confident, I gave toast, cooked veg, rusks, cheese cubes, bread sticks, banana, little tiny bits of chocolate etc. As other posters have said, most of it ended up on the floor! I know now that theres no right or wrong way to wean your child only you know what's best for them 💕 its trial and error really. Maybe give a bit of puree that you've made one day, then try finger food the next day and see what you both prefer xx

PS, ignore the 'rusk' and 'chocolate' I am a bit of a slattern 🙈

Read the Baby led weaning book. River Cottage baby and toddler cook book has some good ideas too. Expect a lot of mess, splash mat under high chair, soup in hair, humous down nappy, etc. Initially baby won't eat much though. Relax and it will come easier. The best thing is for baby to sit at table with everyone else eating, no special focus on them. The social aspect is good for them and they'll copy you.

Please dont worry. It will be a great experience.
Give him toast, steamed veg, baked potatoes, soft fruits... most if it will go on the floor and he may eat some. Dont worry about the portion size. He'll eat until he is full or bored.
Somedays he will eat lots, other days hardly anything.
Just be ready incase he chokes on the finger food. Never leave him alone when he is eating. If he struggles with finger food, offer purees for a bit. My first was straight onto finger food, my second had to have everything pureed as he choked on everything!
Offer some water too at meal times - from an open cup.
Dont worry about getting him used to spoons, he'll bang it on the table, poke himself in the eye with it and one day will figure out where it goes.
Eat with him if you can. It's great for them to see you eat.

It's going to be great. There really is nothing to worry about.