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Weaning

Find weaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Weaning forum. Use our child development calendar for more information.

Original poster

Health visitor support for BLW?

15 replies

peapod2010 · 25/08/2010 17:05

I have not started weaning my DD yet but am hoping to do BLW. Just had a talk from the health visitors about weaning, though, and she didn't mention it once until I asked a specific question. Even then her response was along the lines of "Oh one of my clients tried that once but it didn't work".

So, for those who have/are doing BLW did you get much support from health visitors? It's not that I anticipate needing it particularly, but it would be nice to think I could seek advice from them if needed. As it is I think I'll probably end up lying to them about how much she's eating!

OP posts:
TaurielTest · 25/08/2010 17:09

The Gill Rapley book is worth getting (she is a health visitor, fwiw!). I got no support from HV when doing BLW, just a bit of eye-rolling once.

ParanoidAtAllTimes · 25/08/2010 19:56

Unfortunately I've found hvs useless when it comes to baby led weaning. I 1) avoid them if at all possible and 2) lie when I see them. I haven't actually been to a clinic since ds was 6m (he's now 13m). I find the Gill Rapley book and mn much more useful for weaning advice.

LifeOfKate · 25/08/2010 20:09

Mine is supportive, I told her we were doing BLW and she said 'oh, I thought you would' (I think I know what she means by that Blush ) and then said she had done the same thing with her children many years ago although it didn't have a name then.
I think every HV is different though, mine doesn't really ask in great detail about weaning, just how it's going generally, so if yours is the same, you could probably just nod and say it was fine without going into detail about exactly how you're weaning. I have practised this a lot with another mum who I see sometimes and who I can't be bothered to get into about BLW as her way is the only way!
Also, I didn't really seek advice from the HV about weaning (not that she's not nice, because she is), I found the Gill Rapley book and mn much better resources.

AngelDog · 26/08/2010 08:30

Never spoke to mine about weaning. I never went to a talk either - but they never told me there was one so I don't know if they do them here. Confused

I tend to avoid the HVs as a rule, as almost all the advice I've heard from them is just wrong & contradicts the oficial guidelines they're supposed to be following. :(

Original poster
peapod2010 · 26/08/2010 08:33

Interesting responses! I already have the Gill Rapley book and think it will be my bible. The reason for confusion is that my sister is a HV and is very pro-BLW, but am now realising that she must be in the minority. Think I will be looking to her if I ned any help rather than local HVs.

OP posts:
Jojay · 26/08/2010 08:38

My HV was positive about me doing it, but hadn't known anyone do it so didn't have any useful advice.

She asked to be kept updated and I went to see her about once a month or so to tell her how it was going. She was very interested throughout and said that more and more people were talking about doing it.

So a good reaction form my HV, though she had no real experience of it.

You'll get lots of support on here and on the Baby Led Weaning site, and with your SIL on side too, you'll have all the support you'll need.

minxofmancunia · 26/08/2010 08:56

Not in the minority, the Hvs here are v pro blw and if you try to discuss more traditional weaning with them they just shove a leaflet at you and say "we do BLW now" and won't talk about "old school" weaning.

4 years ago i weaned dd doing a mixture of mush and finger foods (I find the phrase BLW a bot odious) and it worked great so when i suggested to the HV I'd be doing the same with ds now 11m I just got the party line about BLW ranted at me robot like. There are a number of reasons I didn't want to do "pure" BLW and I totally respect anyone who does but I chose my way as it worked for me with dd and the HV who was "advising" me was just spouting the party line and had no dcs of her own so no actual experience of weaning.

So if you want support for BLW move to South Manchester!!

ProfessorLaytonIsMyLoveSlave · 26/08/2010 09:03

Ours mentioned in passing as a possibility at the weaning talk but didn't know anything much about it. They weren't hostile to the idea, just had no experience.

babybouncer · 26/08/2010 09:31

I spoke to a couple of HV about BLW at weigh-ins and while one was really helpful (especially when I was worried because he started waking in the night for extra milk and she just said that was par for the course with BLW and iw would pass), the other didn't really seem to understand what it was. My actual HV left a message on my answerphone when DS was 7 months saying to give her a ring if I wanted any help or advice with weaning, but I didn't because a) I'd already started and b) I thought she was fairly useless anyway.

mnistooaddictive · 26/08/2010 09:46

I have BLWed twice and both times I was an oddity. The HV team never understood and one actaulyy said "do you use a fork then" when I explained that we didn't spoon feed. As the word is spreading (due in part to some people seeimg me do it) they have got more used to it but don't really know much about it. I tried giving them info sheets etc so they understood but TBH they were too busy to read them.

Neither of mine waked in the night for extra milk so it not the usual at all. I used to smile and nod when told how to introduce lumps etc. When asked how much she was eating I used to say I was BLw and usually got "Oh yes you are that one" I never let it bother me!

DastardlyandSmugly · 26/08/2010 10:10

Similar to Jojay she was positive but didn't have any advice as I was the first person she'd known to do it. FWIW DS took to it really quickly and it was easy. With DD less so so I mix-fed her.

I found Aitch's blog an invaluable help.

AngelDog · 26/08/2010 10:45

Yes, Aitch's blog is great, and there's a BLW forum too (I think the blog links to it) which is good for asking questions.

Habbibu · 26/08/2010 14:04

I didn't tell them, just did it. But dd was v big anyway, and continued to thrive, so no-one cared. Did tell her I was going to do it with ds, and she knows how well dd's done on it, so she was fine about it.

But NHS guidance is to offer finger foods alongside mashed stuff etc from the start, so HVs shouldn't be too bothered, surely, whether you choose to offer it almost or completely in finger food "format" or as a mix? There is no one right way - depends on the baby and the parent.

sazlocks · 30/08/2010 21:17

I went to the local weaning talk and the only mention of BLW was to describe what it was. The health professional giving the talk rolled her eyes and said its fine if you can sit on your hands and not worry about the baby choking all the time !
My DS2 is 7 months and we are doing BLW. He has taken to it really well. He is offered food a few times a day and his nappies have started changing in the last week. I have no idea how much he is eating but he is certainly trying lots of different tastes. I pretty much avoid the HVs and have also found the Gill Rapley book really useful and reassuring.

Carikube · 30/08/2010 21:21

I never actually broached the subject with my HV but one that I happened to run in to at clinic one time was very pro-BLW and even lent me a DVD about it that she had. TBH I avoid going to see the HVs where possible so don't really get in to these conversations very much Blush

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