Baby led weaning

[ilovejammiedogers]

DD just turned one we have done blw since she was 7 months old. Overall I thought it has gone fairly well. However having a chat with a few friends have made me question myself. They all spoon fed their DC. They commented on how much mess DD makes and asked am I sure she is actually getting enough food in her as it does go everywhere. She does make a mess but i have always felt she does eat a lot of her food. However they pointed out she still drinks a lot of milk (bf still afew times a day) and maybe it's because she doesn't eat enough. So now I am starting to question myself.
Just wondered what others thought of blw? Would you start spoon feeding her?

We did blw and the general advice is that you don’t worry about how much they’re eating. Food is for play until they’re 1, keep offering milk and it will gradually decrease as food intake increases. I assume you started at 6 months in which case it’s only been a month. We didn’t start doing 3 properly meals until my son was nearly 10 months, he’s 2 now and has a great appetite and eats everything, I’m not crediting that to blw but just saying to show a slow start didn’t make any difference in the long run.

I think sometimes with spoon feeding there is a bigger focus on ‘filling your child up’ part of me wonders whether this is a left over hang up from when maternity leave was much shorter and so there was bigger pressure to wean off of breastfeeding earlier.

Just keep doing what you’re doing, trust your instincts and go at your child’s pace. They all eat food in the end!

I certainly wouldn't start spoon feeding now and my slightly more traditionally weaned DS wouldn't let me spoon feed him now. Occasionally one spoon, or he'll grab it and sometimes it goes in. He's just starting to push the spoon around the bowl now too so trying to do it all himself. He's one next week.

He's dropped his day feeds massively down to usually a couple. Night feeds, not so much, but maybe getting there

If Baby led weaning feels right for you, then I'd continue. Milk is still their main source of nutrition at 7 months, so it's fine for them not to be cutting down. It's still early days. I don't think it's weaning method that makes the difference either. I've done BLW with both my sons, one was a gannet and ate loads straightaway but my youngest at just over one is now much more into food. If your baby is gaining weight ok and you're happy, carry on.

People aren't reading the OP properly, her LO is 1 year old now and she started weaning at 7 months

This is the typical pattern for BLW, more breast milk and lots of mess. Don’t doubt yourself op, you sound like you are doing fine.
In evolutionary terms your baby is doing much more of what human beings have evolved doing over millennia, where baby rice and spoons didn’t feature. It worked for a long time.

Traditionally weaned babies make BIG messes when they're learning to feed themselves too in my experience - it's just later in life!

My DS is also around 1, BLW since 6 months. I know he eats plenty; he eats what he wants and leaves/throws what he doesn't, and is surprisingly efficient at demolishing pasta and fruit. He still comes to the breast a lot, but boobs give more than nutrition.

I'd rather the mess than the faff of separate food, spoonfeeding, etc (DN is traditionally weaned and watching it, I honestly can't see the appeal, but her parents aren't keen on mess, so maybe they think the same watching DS eat!) Food is and should be an experience that uses all of the senses.

Do not listen to your friends/ in the nicest possible way, they are idiots.
My child is about 18 months older than yours and that is exactly how we did it. The mess declines quite rapidly after about 18 months, and the breast milk will be helping their immune system and brain development.
Sounds like you have this totally, keep going as you are

My little boy is now 13 months and I did mainly finger foods. At nursery they say he eats EVERYTHING so he’s good with food now. I stopped breastfeeding when he was turning one, very gradually but replaced with formula and now cows milk. He didn’t eat loads when I stopped bfing him though. I think me stopping kind of made him eat more in the end. I was happy to stop as his feeds were replaced with other milk. He now just has milk as a drink and eats 3 meals a day and snacks.

I would just go with the flow...just keep offering foods.

I wouldn't start spoonfeeding her, though if you like you can give her cutlery to have a go herself (most 1 year olds I've known did well with a spoon, forks were tricker)

DS was the same at her age. Ate ok when I was at work but breastfed loads when I was home. He's 2 now, and is one of the better eaters of the DC I know and loves helping me to cook.

Whenever anyone commented that I used Baby LED Weaning I would say “feeding. I’m just feeding my child”.

Both DCs were given finger foods between or as some of their meals. They also used utensils quite early on.
Apparently it’s good for coordination. I hat I found (as I also used my hands when they did) food tastes way different when eaten at it hands. It tastes nicer, richer in texture. Obviously not mashed potato, but broccoli, carrots, chips, chicken pieces. I still eat a bit more with my hands than my DH would like.

Don’t worry about your friends. Perhaps she would still drink that much milk with spoon eating. They hav compared their children to yours and found a fault. Bastards!