BLW weaning question. Have I shot myself in the foot?

[Smuddy81]

Hi all,

We have been BLW with my DS for the past 5 months (he's 11mo) and he's been doing really great. Everyone is so impressed at how he copes with it all, especially those that couldnt fathom the whole idea at all!

When we first started I think I was a bit keen to get him going and handed him things quite a bit if he was slow at starting. I know this isnt really a good thing to do but I do believe that he wont just stuff in his mouth whatever I give him, he genuinely will chuck it accross the room or put it back down again if he doesnt want it. The trouble is, its become a bit of a habit if he's not really going for it at mealtimes to the point where sometimes he wont eat anything unless I do this. He's just started nursery and they are incredibly open minded about BLW and have been given the spiel about self feeding etc which to their credit they have followed to the letter, except when I pick him up they say he hasnt eaten anything and I know its probably because no one has handed anything to him. They have been offering him a sandwich when he's rejected pork and veg (for example) and I'm worried he will know that if he waits a while they'll just give him a sandwich no matter what! (he will always eat a sandwich!!)

So I guess my question is, have I completely messed up forever or can this be fixed! Help!

Thanks!

Shameless bump!

So he will only eat something if you hand it to him? Is that right?

What do the other babies do? Ate they given a spoon ? Would he use one himself? Or could they teach him?

Sometimes he manages just fine, but other days he just wants to throw everything on the floor without even a sniff. If I pass the food to him its sometimes as if he realises whats going on and he starts to eat.

All the other babies at nursery are spoon fed and although the staff are happy to do whatever, I'm not sure they're totally convinced by what they've seen!

I do offer him a spoon sometimes but he'd much rather flick the food off or throw the whole thing on the floor.

I think there's probably no easy option, just gotta hold off on the handing until he realises he has to do it himself all the time!

Maybe he isn't hungry. My experience with my babies is that if there isn't s spoon, they will cram the food I to their mouths because they are hungry.

Also in a busy nursery environment he may be too distracted to actually tackle food himself and as they operate under time constraints they may offer the sandwich option quite quickly just to get him fed.

Are you concerned about his weight? If so, it wouldn't hurt him to have some food off a spoon at this stage and perhaps learn to use one himself.

Could they 'help' him out with the food until he gets the idea? Handing it to him and encouraging him to pick it up himself?

BTW it will be fine - they all learn to eat by themselves in the end!

The Commander, I think I probably just need to chill! He's been at nursery last couple of days and I'm really looking forward to a relaxed mummy - son day tomorrow!

I guess I ultimately know that he knows how to eat if he's hungry enough and so perhaps I shall try more of a pointing the food out approach rather than handing it to him and he'll get the hang of it!

All they seem to do is eat at nursery with snacks between all the meals which is probably more than he's offered at home, so probably simply isnt hungry enough!

And breathe!

"He will always eat a sandwich"

So let him have sandwiches...?