6 month won’t eat finger food - wanted to do BLW?

[lostwithyou]

I started weaning my 6 month old 2 weeks ago. I did the 2 weeks of veg purées first and then wanted to start BLW until she was stable in the high chair as she still can’t sit up unaided. She is now more stable so decided to do some finger food for the past few days.
She just looks at it. Picks up something eventually, licks it and throws it on the floor. Doesn't bother trying anything else and wants out of the high chair.
She’s been like this for a couple of days now.
What do I do? I really didn’t want the faff of making purées and spoon feeding but is that the route I have to take?

No there’s really no need to work through first tastes or allergens in any kind of systematic way, this is espoused by certain people but theres no research that really supports it as an idea, it is just an idea. There’s really no need for the faff as you put it, you’re making work for yourself. You can just give them the curry. You don’t have to if you don’t want to, but the methodology you’re following isn’t necessary either.

Yeah no need for anything systematic unless that makes things easier for you although I would say its good to start with bitter vegetables as otherwise they might reject them if they get sweeter stuff first. I did green veg for the first week, then I just started mashing up whatever we were eating or making curry just for DS (as I don't like curry but wanted to expose him to strong tastes and spices) and gave allergens as and when I had them but I was keen to give nuts as soon as possible as his dad is allergy so really wanted to reduce his chances of being allergic too.

I think the point of systematic introduction of allergens is just so you know what has caused the reaction. And doing it in relatively small doses is considered safest. I have a nut allergy so maybe I’m more cautious than most.

My DD wasn’t interested for months. I persevered and didn’t offer any purées or anything and at some point it just clicked. She’s 13 months old now and despite having no teeth (!) she’ll try everything

I gave my DD a boiled broccoli today. She loved putting it in her mouth but she gagged so much, I took it away.

So I gave her an Ella’s puff instead which she enjoys.
I’m going to give her an avocado slice tomorrow.
Is there any other finger food that I can give her that mushes and dissolves in the mouth like an avacado ?

Brocolli is very bit-sy I find so I think that’s why she was gagging so much.
Shes had issues with tongue tie and feeding from the beginning so don’t want to stress about this too much either. She seems like she wants to do it and was enjoying it though.

She grabs the spoons from
me when I’m feeding her and prefers a spoon and shoves that into her mouth but isn’t interested in picking up any finger food unless I give it into her hand. She was enjoying the Brocolli so shame my fear took over 😫

Just don't over think it, and don't follow anything that is strict and exclusionary.

Give some pureed food, its the best way to get them to actually experience a wide range of flavours, which is essential for avoiding fussiness.

Give some finger foods.. great for their learning, control, development, understanding etc.

Mix and match, go with your gut, introduce new things, don't give up on things they don't like etc.

But don't go to any extreme. I've seen children who had very little solid food, who ended up with an awful time when trying to move away from mashed dishes to more solid food...

And equally I've seen plenty of very fussy "BLW" children, who basically lead themselves into only eating what they liked.. and then bad habits and fussy-ness got re-enforced because their diet was restricted to only what they chose and gave a good reaction to.

So just do both, as parents have done traditionally for countless years. No fad or fancy thing required.

Gagging on it, throwing it, squashing it into bits, or smashing it into her hair is all fine. Just feed her whatever you fancy and leave her to it. Sit with her and eat at the same time. You’re seriously overthinking it.

Success isn’t her chewing and swallowing it. You’re denying her the entire experience of brocolli (taste, touch, smell…) and the practice of handling different textures in favour of a processed piece of crap from a packet. There’s nothing wrong with these puffs or cracker things but not to the exclusion of other food because you’re freaking yourself out. She’s never tasted food in her life. Some things will make her gag out of pure reflex.

As long as you’ve prepared and served the food appropriately for her age and you’re aware of the difference between gagging and choking, then put the puffs away.

My experience with BLW is it ends up on the floor most of the time for several weeks or months. But they do actually eat a little and what they need.
I BLW both of mine. Offered finger foods from 6 months. Eldest took longer than youngest to get it - somewhere between 10-12 months he started consistently eating. I just kept offering.

The most important thing I found was to not make a big deal about it. Just offer the finger food and let them get on with it. My youngest took to it much quicker as I just let her to it and wasnt worry about how much she was eating etc.

Gagging is all part of it. I used to panic too because naturally when you've no experience it does sort seem like choking. It's not even close though.
A baby's gag reflex is a lot higher up than ours, and that is a protective factor to prevent choking. Gagging is also part of exploring new textures and flavours. Let her at it and over time the gagging lessens.
Main point is, gagging is normal and they all do it.
Soft carrot, sweet potato or butternut squash can be good to start with too.

Steamed carrot sticks are a good mushy starter food. It's also a skill for your baby to take food from a spoon, if they want to try putting the spoon in their mouth, let them!

You can also give them toast/pitta fingers to try gumming. They won't be able to eat then at first but they like the sensation of trying to chew them.

Even at 12 months, I am pleased when my LO tries stuff, even if it's spat out. They might nibble a celery sticks or teethe on a bit of raw carrot. Food that is rejected at the start of the month is happily eaten a week or two later. Just let them keep exploring :)

Do a mixture. They might show more interest if they’re had puree too