Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Weaning

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

Flip

Original poster

BLW when out - am I being uptight?

21 replies

molejazz · 03/02/2011 01:30

So, 8mo DS is pretty good eater and I am having no problems with BLW at home.

When we go out though I feel anxious about how to feed him - mostly because of the mess! It's ok if we're having a picnic in a park or something (in southern hemisphere here) but yesterday I was at a cafe and it was a disaster: no highchair and a bad food choice from me, cue bacon and egg pie all over him, me, the floor. And then he knocked over a full cup of coffee.

Even at a playgroup this morning I didn't give him anything (so that's two missed lunches basically) because no one else does BLW there.

What do you all do?

OP posts:

ChunkyPickle · 03/02/2011 02:29

I leave BLW for home - if we're out I feed him from fork/chopsticks/my fingers.

We might be lucky in that he's taken to eating like a duck to water (not quite 6 months, and happily shovels it in), but so long as it's real food (like omlette, sticky rice, bread - so he can gum it, and suck in anything that starts escaping) rather than mush we have minimal dribble/food spat on the seat.

BBQWidow · 03/02/2011 02:34

Long time ago now, but I used to carry bread sticks in my bag for those out occasions.

Bear in mind that little poppets can make as much mess being fed from a spoon and getting a lucky fist into mushy stuff as the bacon and egg pie on the floor :)

Don't be too worried, just go with the flow, I'm sure you'll be carrying plenty of wipes with you, as well as a change of clothes for your child.

RJandA · 03/02/2011 09:54

I normally take something low-mess with me, like a little sandwich and a banana.

Or sometimes I try to give her a pot on a spoon, but that normally ends up messier than anything else

Original poster

molejazz · 04/02/2011 01:38

Thanks all, I will make sure I have something on me and not worry about the rest!

TBH I think the main problem I had the other day was that my Dad had bought me lunch.

OP posts:

malachysmum · 04/02/2011 16:50

I make a quick exit and also try and give him the least messiest thing only. muslins tied around neck help and wipes for the floor, although I agree it's not always easy..

Truckdriver · 04/02/2011 16:59

RJandA - I am impressed that you think banana is 'low-mess' my DD gets it EVERYWHERE when she has one, her favourite trick is squishing in it her hands and smearing it across highchair, face, trousers, top, my face etc, etc, etc...:)

But then I don't think she likes them too much!

RJandA · 04/02/2011 19:34

Haha, they are low mess now, but DD is 11 months! I had forgotten that at the beginning it was everywhere - and it stains really badly too!

Maybe not the banana then for a little one

ChippingInSmellyCheeseFreak · 04/02/2011 19:56

BLW is generally tougher when you are out, puree fed babies are more used to having you just spoon it in for them, whereas BLW'ers are used to being able to get their paws on everything!

However, lots of 'puree feds' want to get their mits on it too and can make just as much mess pushing you out of the way :)

IMO you do what works for you, for me that is minimising the mess when eating out, so a combo of something you can spoon in and some finger food works for me. Despite what the 'pureists' say - the odd spoon fed meal will not 'spoil' your attempts at BLW!!

LadyintheRadiator · 04/02/2011 20:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SeriousWispaHabit · 05/02/2011 18:31

As a second time BLW I have learnt from some very ill advised attempts at lunch out in the early days with DD1 when I was all keen and enthusiastic. I am now tired and do whatever makes my life easiest. Foods I take out for my 7 month old are:

cucumber sticks
leftover cooked veg from night before: carrots, green beans etc
sticks of edam or cheddar
breadsticks
strips of pitta bread
melon chunks

If you are in a cafe/restaurant you can often dip a breadstick or fill a bit of pitta bread with something you are having to make it a bit more interesting

BertieBotts · 05/02/2011 18:33

I just used to ask for a dustpan and brush afterwards - or plenty of napkins and pick as much up as I could. You learn very quickly their reach range as well for coffee etc

Syxx · 05/02/2011 18:36

I have a little tupperware box in my bag with fruit, bread sticks, chunks of cheese etc.

skiphopskidaddle · 05/02/2011 18:52

I used to sit DS2 on my lap with some pre-cooked veg and wakey wakey cakeys and pitta bread sticks. And pick stuff up afterwards with a napkin.

Aitch · 05/02/2011 18:55

whoever are these 'purists'?

i used to let the kids do what they did, and make a mess, but i would always do my best to pick stuff up and show willing to the staff. we ate a lot of messy pasta and sauce iirc, but italian places round here were very kid-friendly and in particular seemed to enjoy seeing little babies eating.

however, if you just don't like the mess outside and it makes you feel self-conscious then there's no point in having it spoil your meal (god knows, how often do we get taken out to lunch when we have kids? ) then deffo spoon away if he likes it. as for the playgroup, i wouldn't tbh, their kids will be eating chunks of things in a few weeks anyway, i'd just hand whatever you have over and hang the mess.

Tinkerisdead · 05/02/2011 19:03

I did BLW and I followed it all the time. But my biggest saver was a really cheap travel changing mat from the pound shop. It's more like a plastic sheet than a mat. Stuck it under the highchair so in the worst events I'd just fold it all up n sweep into a nappy bag.

I just used to feel less guilty when I was evidently minimising the damage. And I'd either take foods that were easily cleaned or order toast, pasta etc and fruit.

Flisspaps · 05/02/2011 19:05

If there's no highchair, I just leave DD in the buggy and hand bits to her. Always pick up as much as I can off the floor afterwards though so the staff aren't cleaning up her mess.

Couldn't care less if she ends up covered in food, a quick once-over with a baby wipe and all is well with the world. If some of the playgroup mums see BLW in action, they might decide to give it a go too

Panzee · 05/02/2011 19:16

Toast and philly was my staple for out and about.

Aitch · 05/02/2011 19:17

i never spooned anything into mine either, doctor, but that wasn't because i was a 'purist', just that it never came up... if we'd have needed to, i'm sure we would have.

Tinkerisdead · 07/02/2011 17:07

Aitch just to say that your blog was fantastic for me when I did BLW. I found it so useful. Not to blow smoke up your arse or anything, more that back then I lurked more so wouldn't have posted my thanks.

alltheleaves · 07/02/2011 22:18

Early days, but with our twins we've just kept an eye on what's dropped and made sure we picked it up afterwards. All kids of all ages make a mess so don't worry about yours being the first time the restaurant will have had to deal with it. With playgroups etc. I agree that hopefully it will encourage other parents to do it. I know my friends/family who have seen us handing the girls proper food and them tucking in (well one of them, the other isn't ready for solids yet) have been nothing but impressed by how advanced they look. I think my pregnant friend is really into the idea of blw as a result.

I think it made quite an impression when we went out to eat as we put babies in highchairs and just gave them things to eat. Neither of us had to to sit there spoon-feeding babies while our food got cold. I think you'll just make your friends jealous because I feel like our meals out with them are so laid back because we don't have to worry about having the mush, feeding them it etc.

Bumperrlicious · 08/02/2011 15:35

I think all weaning goes through a messy stage, just with blw you get to it sooner. I wasn't a purist, just like aitch never needed to spoonfeed, except yoghurt. I know you can blw yoghurt but I drew the line there till she became semi competent with a spoon.

Flip