Baby Led Weaning at Nursery

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I am planning on weaning my baby onto solids following the 'baby led weaning' technique. That is where they go straight onto food they can feed themselves and you don't give them any pureed food. This technique has been advised to me by my local breast feeding councillor and i have recently read a good book on the subject.

I think it is a fairly new technique as the nursery my baby is due to go to have never heard of it and have said she would have to be spoon fed. This can become confusing for the child as you expect different things of them.

Does anyone have any experience of Baby Led weaning and nurseries folloing this method?

Many thanks

I wean babies dependant on parents wishes, which I would imagine most nurseries would do, did they give an explination as to why they want to spoon feed?, I can't see your wishes being a problem unless the nursery are expecting to provide a different menu, could you send food with your dc which might help a bit.

I did BLW with my DD. She went to nursery at 10 months so we were well established at it by the time she went there.
The nursery were fine - I explained that she fed herself, with her hands, and should be left to it. They gave her what they called "toddler food" - i.e. not purees. I also went along at lunch time for two of our settling in sessions so I could show them what she did.
To make their lives a bit easier, I sent her to nursery with a coverall plastic bib for each meal (which they just sent home in a bag - I washed it) and her bowl that had a suction pad on the bottom so she couldn't throw it on the floor.

TBH, I would challenge any nursery who refused to follow your lead on weaning. BLW is not difficult, just a bit different to what they are used to. And it's a more and more recognised method of weaning so they will have to deal with it at some point.

She will be 7 months when she attends nursery so will have only been doing BLW for 1 month before she goes.

I suspect because they hadn't heard of BLW before they just said they couldn't do it - they said it was because she might choke and that doing BLW would be against their policies...

I'm surprised that they hadn't heard of BLW, but if its a policy issue with them I doubt you will get very far most nurseries are very rigid with policys shame though, as more parents are going for this option and in my experience babies tend to be given bits and bobs at nursery to hold and chomp on anyway, strange one, is thier another nursery that would accomodate your needs?

I am going to lend them my copy of her book and have directed them to the BLW website. I got a beter reception today when I went in to drop some paper work off. Spoke to the deputy manager, who although had also not heard of it was really keen to know more as they like to know whats going on out there. Small steps I guess! I'll try the manager next!

TBH I suspect it's not policy - more the fact that the baby carer at the nursery hasn't heard of it and it sounded a bit scarey to her! If it's not policy, how strongly should I make my feelings made and really insist?

I've not heard of this. How does it work when most babies have no teeth until around 6 months and then only a few. Do they just swallow the food whole. To basically say we've all been doing it the wrong way i.e. puree shovelling, is a bit unfair.

Babies can and do choke on things like apple, grapes, carrots and lots of other things if they are not cooked or pureed and I for one as a childminder don't like to give certain foods to young babies.

Hi - have read up a bit on BLW since my post and it more or less just sounds like finger fooding - something everyone does anyway.

My DD did BLW from 6 months and started nursery at 13 months.

Her nursery never heard of the term BLW, but were open to it.. I offered to lend them the Rapley book but they didnt need it.

I would suggest that rather than all the jargon, tell them that you want your DD to self feed and dont want her to be spoon fed and that until she's bit older you are happy for her to use her hands to self feed.
Reassure them that although you dont want her to starve, that you are not too worried if she doesnt eat loads.

You might want to go through the weekly menus and write comments on what you think is suitable. Or/and provide a list of things that at 7 months are suitable for her to eat.

Provide long sleave bibs for them (the Ikea ones are pretty good).

How many days will she be going? And how many meals there?

To clarify, you dont want/need her to be offered the spoon until she is a bit older and more proficient in her co-ordination. To begin with hands are fine.

Also... what are your plans around milk?