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Original poster

Baby led weaning

28 replies

elliej83 · 09/05/2017 10:23

My little boy is 6.5 months old. I've had to go back to work so he's at nursery two days a week, with my mum one and me the other four.
We have been baby led weaning for 3 weeks now. He is still just very much playing and exploring food and not particularly eating.
The nursery called yesterday as they are concerned he isn't eating at nursery and he should be eating by now. They wanted to know if I wanted them to start him on purée. I had a bit of a wobble about my decision to do baby led.
When did most people see their babies start to eat more? Has anyone else had experience with nurseries. I'm feeling rubbish about going back to work at the moment so I think it culminated in me feeling like a bad mum!
(Sorry for the essay!)

OP posts:

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2014newme · 09/05/2017 10:25

What did you agree with them when he started?

ProudBadMum · 09/05/2017 10:25

I spoon feed as well as chuck stuff at her on the tray.

She still fucks about either way. She's 7 month. If she really likes something she will eat it.

2014newme · 09/05/2017 10:26

He seems a bit old for puree

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Ginger782 · 09/05/2017 10:26

Food before one is just for fun!
It doesn't matter that he's only playing with his food as long as he's still taking in adequate milk?
He is just getting used to flavours and textures at the moment.

LapinR0se · 09/05/2017 10:27

I would definitely offer purée and finger foods.

Desperad0 · 09/05/2017 10:27

It was about 10 months before it clicked for us. As long as he's having BM/formula still he'll be fine. Our nursery were a bit at first when we said stick him in a high chair and feed what the big kids have but they soon got over it. A
Also once he's got more of a handle on the spoon maybe he'll manage puddings better?

GraceGrape · 09/05/2017 10:32

I've done both ways. It really doesn't make any difference in the long run. If there is a specific reason you feel you only want to do BLW then speak to the nursery and ask them to serve finger foods (presumably they can give him what some if the older children are eating) and explain that you don't mind if he doesn't eat any. Then arrange a milk schedule with them. As nurseries have several babies to look after, it is usually easier for them to feed all the babies at one meal time and have fewer milk feeds to prepare, but most nurseries should be flexible about parent wishes for young babies. However, it won't harm him if he eats puree at nursery and you do finger foods etc at home.

Mustang27 · 09/05/2017 10:32

Tell your nursery not to be ridiculous!!! My wee boy didnt really give two hoots about food until well past one and I did blw. I did stress as there was so much waste and I did have a wobble at about the same age as your wee one and purée was a complete waste of time he just preferred milk. He would still live on milk some days 23 months but he eats so well now and not at all fussy. Not sure it's down to the blw or if he's just a chip off the old block and just likes food likes his mum lol.

Tell the nursery to respect your wishes and continue on I really don't believe ramming food into your child is healthy.

Friendlylightupbear · 09/05/2017 11:00

We did BLW because my DD flat out refused a spoon. She didn't eat a thing until she was 8 months, and even then it was tiny amounts! She still had a mostly milk diet until about 12 months! I found it very stressful, but I needn't have worried, because she's turned out being a fab little eater she started having a spoon after going to nursery at 12 months, so now we do a mix of spoon and finger food, and she's learning to feed herself with a spoon. She's 15 months now. Try not to worry too much as most of his needs are met by milk at this age.

2014newme · 09/05/2017 11:04

I don't think nursery offering to give him some puree and checking with the op first is "ramming food down his throat" 😂

I do love an over reaction

silkpyjamasallday · 09/05/2017 11:07

I think you need to get things in perspective, as long as he has milk he will be fine, other food he eats whether through BLW or purée is a bonus. If you want your dc to do BLW at nursery then you can ask but they may well not follow your wishes as it creates a lot more work for them as carers of multiple children all with different 'needs' in regard to food. Also don't let people make you feel bad for not doing exclusive BLW, it seems to start as many arguments as bf vs ff, giving purée isn't 'ramming' food into your child, if they don't want it they won't open their mouths for the spoon. It really isn't so far superior to purée feeding but the current trend seems to paint it that way.

mellysam · 09/05/2017 11:15

My twins are 8 months and still not particularly interested in food. Everyday I give them something, a bit of banana, yoghurt, but it's not a 'meal' specifically. They are still having their formula as their main food source and the solids are just for experience.

mellysam · 09/05/2017 11:18

Oh and at 6.5 months they were formula only, not interested in food at all.

nuttyknitter · 09/05/2017 11:22

As long as he's getting plenty of milk he really doesn't need to be 'eating'. Ask the nursery to present him with a selection of attractive finger foods and leave him to it!

Whatsername17 · 09/05/2017 12:04

Back before someone decided to coin the term 'baby led weaning', everyone did a combination of puree and finger foods and just got on with it. You can even give the baby the spoon. Don't over think it.

Whatsername17 · 09/05/2017 12:08

Totally agree that baby will not take puree if he doesn't want it. Just like a ff baby will turn their head from the bottle when they have had enough.

Mustang27 · 09/05/2017 12:23

If the nursery want to feed the baby purée as they are concerned about food intake how do you know they aren't ramming it into them. Trust me it happens. I don't think it was an overreaction and seriously I don't think blw is about being superior I just think it's about trying to get your wee ones used to real food. I gave my son plenty of soup, stews, mashed banana and natural yogurt oh and a bloody spoon so he could still do it himself.

mistermagpie · 09/05/2017 12:25

I'm surprised at the pp saying 6.5 months is a bit old for purée...

My DS wasn't remotely interested in food until about 8-9 months and only really started eating properly at about 11 months. He was still having some mashed up stuff (I never puréed as I don't have a blender) at that point. Nursery wise I would tell them to offer finger foods and a bit of mush for him on a spoon as well. Unless you are 'die in a ditch' about BLW you will probably end up doing a bit of both anyway as things like yoghurt are a pain to eat without a spoon.

Highlove · 09/05/2017 13:39

I told my nursery we were doing BLW. I strongly suspect they may have spoon-fed her from time-to-time but she was a bit older, 11 months+, so wouldn't have been puree though. I was mildly miffed they'd not done what I asked but couldn't really be arsed to worry about it. We never did it that way at home, she didn't come to expect it so it didn't seem worth overthinking and I let it go.

Unless you're really worried or very set on 'pure' BLW maybe just make sure they're offering plenty of finger food as well? But also don't worry - 6.5 months is little and I'm surprised they're worried he doesn't eat enough yet. He should only really have started on solids two weeks ago, according to the NHS!

Whatsername17 · 09/05/2017 14:31

Why would they ram food into a baby? The baby in question would cry, spit up or even choke. You offer the baby a spoon of food, the baby opens their mouth and swallows. Or, baby turns their head and you put the spoon down. It really isn't complicated.

Mustang27 · 09/05/2017 16:13

Not complicated at all but neither is blw and let him just get on with it i

ProudBadMum · 09/05/2017 16:21

If you all dropped the labelling of feeding a child it wouldn't be so confusing. Just feed them!

BLW is just shoving food on a tray. No need to name it

Whatsername17 · 09/05/2017 16:38

I agree, Proud.

katkitkat · 09/05/2017 16:50

6.5 months is really not to old for purée food weaning should only really start at 6 months so how is 2 weeks later too old?!

Anyway

The Nursery didn't do any harm asking, but they should respect what you have asked. If you don't want purée food to be given, just say so. Not eating much food at 6.5 months is really really not a cause for concern and I am surprised they would even call you about it.

I think a lot of people get hung up on BLW being done a very specific way (parents must not feed the child) when really it doesn't matter. It's the state and texture of the food that they are used to that is important rather than whether spoons and forks and parents help feed it.

mistermagpie · 09/05/2017 16:54

I agree that people get really hung up on 'true' BLW. I've got the book and it suggests things like porridge fingers for breakfast or babies eating yoghurt with their hands. But adults eat normal porridge and yoghurt with a spoon, so I wanted my children to learn how to do that too. It's perfectly acceptable to just give a baby a spoon, but the easiest way to teach them how to use it is to feed them with it a bit.

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