/is it just me, or does Annabel Karmel not understand the concept of exclusive milk-feeds until 6 months?

[TartyMcFarty]

Gah! I'm going round in circles trying to decide how best to introduce my DD to solids at the same time as going back to work P/T. BLW definitely sits easiest with me, but I know that it doesn't particularly with my mum (childcare!)

Anyway, for this reason I've read bot Gill Rapley's BLW book and Annabel Karmel's Weaning - now I'm really and

On the same page, AK says 'Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months ... is suggested for a variety of reasons.' Then 'From 17 weeks onwards, many babies can tolerate first tastes and it's important to introduce solid foods by 24 weeks.'

What? Since when has exclusive milk-feeding involved purees? Or have I got this wrong and am I storing up problems with weaning? DD is 22 weeks and hasn't had any solids yet.

What I'm really getting at, is where does AK get off, setting herself up as a higher authority on weaning than WHO?

Basically you only need purees for the 4-6 mo period after 6 months babies can chew 'solid' foods. Even if you choose to wean using purees not blw, you will be giving some finger foods pretty quickly and moving away from purees.

AK makes money out of mums feeding purees, its in her best interst for you to do this for 2 months instead of 2 weeks! You are much more likely to buy the books and kit

My dd has just started weaning - she is 6 months now. I am the same as you and like the idea of BLW but my mum will be caring for baby in September when I go back to work and she would find it stressful!

I am feeding some mashed up food but giving her chunks of food too and it seems to be going ok. Day 3 today and butternut squash has gone down best so far (and messiest!)

My older 2 were weaned earlier as the guidelines said then but there has been absoulutely no problem with waiting longer this time. Don't feel you need to start her earlier if she's happy.

it's not in annabel's interest to have people wean later is it? she needs people to buy her books asap, then another, then another, plus all the weaning merchandise she sells.

it's no good having people breastfeeding then giving them normal food at 6 months and the baby self feeding. who'd buy 101 best purees, or a baby mouli, or pasta stars, or baby ramekins?

When she's on chat shows etc. she does repeatedly say that some [with a strong implication of "most"] babies need solids before 6 months. Basically she disagrees with official guidelines. She also thinks BLW is dangerous because your baby might choke on a lychee (this was IIRC her specific criticism of BLW on some show or other. Who, in the name of all that is holy, would give a small baby a whole lychee?)

also, are you sure your mum won't cope with blw? show her the youtube videos of blw babies, helps it make sense if she's used to purees. but really, if she's had a few children herself she may well have gone straight to self feeding with the younger ones.

the lycee comments

Hadn't thought of the implications for AK's sales. Feel very naive and a bit disgusted TBH. I've been given the finger foods book and bought the baby and toddlaer meal planner. Found the latest book cheap with The Book People. Wish I hadn't been sucked in!

I'm trying to involve my mum in planning for weaning - will definitely have her read some of the stuff on here.

Annabel Karmel has lovely recipes even if you don't puree them!

In the AK book i was lent she suggested adding salt to taste!!! To be honest o just gave my little one our food (minus salt)mashed.

I do use some of her recipes but have never bothered to purée anything. DS was ebf until 26 weeks (now 32 weeks) and TBH doesn't really like to eat anything off a spoon (unless he's trying to use it himself)