How do I make it to 6 months?

[PutOnThePan]

DS2 will be 21 weeks on Thursday and is exclusively BF.

I want to BLW as I hated weaning DS1 (couldn't handle the faff of prepping food and then the rejection of said lovingly prepared food!) - but he is literally drooling when he sees people eating in front of him.

He can't sit up unaided yet - droops forward - but is reaching for food and putting things in his mouth.

How do I wait until he is ready? It is too soon to start isn't it?

I've scanned the Gill Rapley book and am going to buy it but any more inf and resources would also be gratefully received until I get it.

No point asking HV as she said BLW is modern fad!

Sorry, realsied this is really a multi question thread - hope thats OK.

And I'm too lazy to review messages so that should be realised.

At the risk of being shot down in flames, if he's reaching out for food, I'd give him a bit to have a go at.

He's unlikely to actually ingest very much, but if he's at a stage in his development where he can pick food up at have a go at eating it, he's ready to have a go.

That's the main principle of BLW - they do it at their own pace. He's well past 17 weeks, which is the absolute cut off point.

Just make sure it's a suitable shape for him to grab hold of, a soft texture if he does manage to break a bit off, and gluten free until he's 6 months.

Give it a few more weeks before starting in earnest. You could give him a few things he has no chance of actually eating like raw carrot sticks - just so he gets a taste and doesn't feel left out.

Thye don't necessarily need to be sitting independantly, but if can sit supported in a high chair then that's a good start. They should be able to get the food to their mouths independantly though. Be prepared for the gagging in the early days, it's a bit scary, but trust their instincts.

As for other resources, none better than Aitch's BLW website

Baby Led Weaning is a modern fad in name only. People have been weaning thei babies this way for centuries!!

Oh, and if you do give it a go, make sure he's completely upright and not reclined in any way, as this can be a choking hazard

Thanks for the link - I'll give that a good look tomorrow. He's stirring now for feeding.

I know I'm not ready to start yet - don't want the nappies to change and don't want to be stressed!

Tried him in the Safety 1st booster earlier and he can't quite hold himself up for very long and it is only a 3 point harness - we don't have a high chair.

Think I'll just eat when he sleeps!

I don't know much about weaning yet as DS is only 15 weeks but I totally agree that baby led weaning is a modern fad in name only! I only read what it is a few days ago and couldn't believe such a simple and obvious thing, ie feeding your baby NORMAL food that the whole family eats, was having such a big fan fare around it!!

But actually muslimah28 for those that wean with purees, baby lead weaning seems completely mad. I am, however a huge fan of it!!

yes i can see that some people just dont get it, but my point is that its not really a big deal- after all, what can people have done centuries ago? and wht do people in developing countries do? baby led weaning though they wouldn't call it that!

I went to a parenting class on weaning yesterday that the local HV team arranged - they said that "new research suggests" start weaning from 17 weeks and BEFORE 6 months. The nutritionist was encouraging mums with babies over 17 weeks to start weaning sooner rather than later. So I don't think your son's too old as he seems to be showing all the right signs.

The "research" on weaning changes so often I'd go with what feels natural and BLW sounds very natural to me.

my DD was eating toast and chunks of cheese at 24 weeks and she cant sit up unaided yet (shes now 26 weeks) I just make sure she is sitting upright in her chair and she manages fine.

Buncho - the research on weaning doesn't change 'so often' at all. IIRC it was about 8 years ago that they changed the recommendation to waiting til 6 months.

The documents by ESPGHAN etc still recommend exclusive breastfeeding until 6 months, and then starting weaning before 7 months. Nothing in recent research disagrees with the DoH and WHO recommendations to wait until 6 months.

I agree with everything Lionstar said fwiw.

I just don't see the big problem, guidelines change all the time, you watch next year it will be back to 4 months again or something completely different. My two DD's were both weaned about 14 weeks on baby rice initially and then veg and fruit purees and it worked really well. They have both been fab sleepers and are now 6 and 8 and are thriving, both the tallest girls in their classes. My DS is now 9 weeks and I will be doing the same with him around the 4 month point with out any hesitation.
I won't be putting rusks in his bottles like our mums did to us back in the 70's but then again I have turned out ok, so I really do think go with your own instinct. Hope that helps, Dawn x

"guidelines change all the time" ... we've already established that this is total tosh.

For every anecdote about an early weaned baby thriving now, I can throw one out one about early weaned babies with bowel complications. These stories mean nothing on their own.