in being the only person who thinks that baby-led weaning is against WHO guidelines?

[hiphopapotamus]

The HVs in our area actively promote BLW as how to wean your child. Our weaning talk consisted of a BLW video then a few dos and don'ts about what foods to give. Spoon feeding was actively discouraged due to "anecdotal evidence" (always the best kind) that some toddlers were rejecting lumpy foods.

Now, I have no issue with thinking it sensible to give babies different textures and finger foods from the start now weaning begins at 6 months. However, I asked at weaning talk when BLW fed babies actually started getting food down and the answer was "around 8 months onwards, but that's fine, they don't need anything but breastmilk until then".

Except they do. The World Health Organisation's publication on infant and young child feeding suggests "By the age of 6 months, a baby has usually at least doubled his or her birth weight, and is becoming more active. Exclusive breastfeeding is no longer sufficient to meet all energy and nutrient needs by itself, and complementary foods should be introduced to make up the difference."

So AIBU to expect the HVs to a) be aware of and b) encourage weaning methods that support the WHO recommendations?

Can only give my experience of weaning my 3 when they were ready (rather than at the stupid age recommended at the time by HCPs).

Gauged their readiness by letting them snarf stuff they managed to snatch off our plates.

First one (boy) was 5.5 months. Had grown a steady 1/2-3/4 pound a week since birth.
Second (girl) was 7.5 months. Had grown 2oz a week since birth.
Third (girl) was nearly 9 months. Had also grown 2 oz a week since birth.

All three were entirely breastfed until then, none had any ill-health or malnourishment or weight gain issues (nice, sensible HV). Granted, neither daughter had doubled her birth weight by 6 months, so they would not have fallen within WHO guidelines on introducing mixed feeding anyway

But why would anyone force feed their baby until it burst before BLW was 'introduced'?

The guidlines were different when DD was born (I am not saying it was right to wean at 3mths btw) and I still managed not to stuff her full of food she didnt want.

IME babies are very good at telling you when they dont want anymore. They tend to shut their mouths and turn their heads away. Carry on insisting and you are likely to get a faceful of baby puke!

You cannot get more clear than that can you .

I am not against BLW, advice, guidlines etc. I enjoy reading about new ideas in childcare and parenting. I do think there is far too much info being chucked about nowdays (old lady emoticon). I am glad that DS3 wasnt my first. Its a bit ironic, whilst I was pg I hardly saw a sole (saw mw and/or dr every four weeks with DD) but once you have them you cant move for people telling you what to do. Unfortunately they often tell you different things. If DS3 was my first I think I wouldve had a nervous breakdown!

Forgot to say first born would only feed himself by 7.5 months. Used a spoon and everything (proud mummy emoticon). Followed within the year by the decision that cutlery was for losers and that fingers were so much quicker. Still struggled with that till he was 10. (embarassed mummy emoticon) Awkward little sod.

Sorry hiphop, but as you can see from the majority of the above posts, you haven't really understood the concept of blw with regard to the WHO guidelines. Flamingo is spot on. YABU.

DS used to signal that he had had enough to eat by taking one last mouthful and then blowing the biggest raspberry with it possible. But he would also breastfeed until he literally couldn't swallow another mouthful and would spit it out down my front.

Should have worked on baby signing...

IMO all weaning is baby led as long as you can read your babies signals.

DS 'helped' with a spoon from 6mo- I would do a spoonful and then he would do one- he insisted on this. He reached for any food he could see and by 9/10mo he could feed himself.

DD1 couldn't eat at all till she was over 8mo- she couldn't be spoon fed as she didn't seem to know what to do and she wasn't able to hold food to finger feed. However she could still feed herself by 12mo.

DD2 was fed by me from 6mo but always given finger foods too. Loved anything that came her way and always wanted more. Refused to let me come near her with a spoon from 11mo so has fed herself since then.

All 3 eat well and a good variety of stuff.

Never understood why purees are somehow bad. Am I not right to believe that many animals, including humans, will chomp on solids to break them down and then re-feed them to offspring? If we use a blender instead of our mouths, so what?

THe HV's in our area got in trouble for telling women attending weaning sessions at a first time mums group to wean on purees from 17 weeks!They still give this advice though...this is why I have no faith in HV's, books, websites, etc and prefer to listen to my own instincts and the experiences of trusted friends.

In respect of the OP, my HV told me that they are paid to help implement government guidelines - so whatever is the official advice is, that is what they should say. I'm not saying this is a good thing!

I make my own food which is much lumpier than jar food.

I did buy jar food just in case but gave up after a while because it was far too 'easy' for DS.

Do you think they make it that smooth to avoid being sued if a baby chokes?

I have used purees as first foods but TBH my kids have all moved on very quickly.

I do know of children who have started nursery whilst still on mashed food though. Dont think that is a good idea (kids didnt have any SN btw).

'neenztwinz - BLW doesn't ban anything and that theory about chucking food on the floor isn't something I've ever read. Please do share your source'

My source: Gill Rapley's book. If your baby doesn't pick it up and eat it itself then it's not ready/shouldn't be eating it. When it is ready to eat a food then it will pick it up and eat it itself - that is the crux of blw.

blw does ban spoon-feeding,. Anyone doing blw 'with a bit of puree' is not doing blw.

But nothing wrong with that.

When I say it bans using a spoon, I mean it bans the parent using the spoon to put food into the child's mouth.

If I didn't spoon feed (or help by popping stuff in his mouth) my DS and let him do it all himself (which he is more than capable of) mealtimes would be a hideous affair in my house as he gets soooooo frustrated and annoyed that he can't get it in fast enough and gurns and whinges his way through every meal (he is 8.5 months and has been BLW since almost 6mo). We started helping him with spoon fed stuff recently as it was just getting too noisy. We like to think it's BLW lite.

But to the OP, I think your HVs could probably have worded it better, but I don't think they are actually saying anything that is against the WHO guidlines, and BLW certainly isn't.

my dd demanded blw, she led me and by 15 months could happlily eat chilli con carne and rice.... With fingers of course! Spoons are the work of the devil according to my dd, she is now 2.2 and now will use a fork but no spoon.