Weaning dd (dc2) and feel like Im getting it all wrong - again! help!

[haudyerwheesht]

DD is 6 months. She was weaned initially at 5.5 months with purees and baby rice, she isnt that keen tbh! She only has one 'meal' at about 230pm. She has milk feeds at approx 7,11,330, 7 and dreamfeed at 10pm. She is a reluctant bottle feeder and feeding takes ages. (Bf partially for 3 months but then she refused that totally)

The last couple of days Ive tried her with finger foods, she is still not keen and even though everything goes in her mouth, finger foods do not.

Ds is 4 now and only stopped being such a fussy eater very recently, I feel guilty about this and I want to ensure I do everything I can to stop dd going down the same route and also I dont want to get stressed about it!

So, I want to go to mainly BLW, can someone tell me what to do / what not to do / what to expect and when etc etc etc???

Dd has reflux if thats relevant and gags and is sick quite regularly.

Ive got to go make dinner now but will be back later.

Thanks

Hi I'm doing BLW with DD2 after following the puree route with DD1 and I am loving it but it is a bit of a leap of faith (don't think I was laid back enough to have done it 1st time round)

It's perfectly normal for babies not to eat that much at first with BLW, the main nutrition comes from milk anyway. When you are eating, just give your DD some food on the table / high chair try and let her play. If some goes in...great, if not she's still getting to experiment with textures etc so that's good too!

The actual food preparation is easier with BLW (no more evenings spent with a blender) but it is hard to let go of the mindset that babies should be eating certain amount at each meal. Is you can get hold of copy of Gill Rapley's book it is worth a read, really helpful in letting you know what to expect (try the library).

I also find it useful to read the posts on MN as I don't know anyone in RL doing BLW so it's good to see others going through the same.

I did BLW with DC2 as well. DC1 took ages to move from puree to lumps and finger food (weaned at 5.5, didn't take lumps readily til after 12 months old) DC2 took to BLW straight off, we skipped puree's completely!

As CQ says, they don't take much at first, its more manipulation and getting used to textures and stuff. I'd just bide your time and see how she goes, she'll still be getting everything she needs from the milk anyway

Sorry for not replying earlier. Things been hectic!

She had a slice of mango today, didnt actually swallow much but seemed to enjoy sucking it, she kept biting (with one tooth!!) / sucking big chunks off it though - well about the size of a pea, is it ok to leave her to get on with it?

Any other inspiration for first finger food?

Oh and we've discovered she may well be alergic to carrot because she had it and then around her mouth went very blotchy. We'll avoid that for a while.

PS Thanks for replies.

Fruit and veg are good to start with, although at 6 months they can have anything. Baby corn is really good because it is already the right shape and is quite easy to chew. Broccoli and cauliflower come with a built in handle. Roast veg or potato / sweet potato wedges are good. As far as fruit goes, most soft fruits seem to be popular with DD.

Bread sticks, toast, muffins etc are easy to eat, but look carefully at the salt content, it can be quite high. DD loves naan bread which I'm pleased about (starting her early on the curries!) You can get 'adult' salt free rice cakes which are cheaper than the baby ones.

If you have got any weaning books from 1st time round, have a look through the older age group chapters for inspiration for salt free meals you can all enjoy.

Have fun!

The fact she has reflux makes a huge difference in weaning IMO. if she's in discomfort from feeding (sounds likely given BF refusal and slow bottle feeding) she's naturally cautious. So be careful and go slowly with her.

DS has reflux and took until 9 months to get onto three meals after many false starts. I had to be careful and avoid foods that could trigger reflux/heartburn - citrus fruits/tomatoes and dairy in his case. Also no pre made baby foods.

I gave finger foods like rice cakes with avocado, banana (although no keen), he loved apples (a whole one with skin peeled which he'd knaw on), cooked carrots, baby sweetcorn, chips (still a fav), burgers made from chicken whizzed in a blender with herbs, breadcrums and apples, lamb burgers from mince... He also like eggy bread.

Try not to worry and relax. As she gets older she'll eat more. Have meals with her and don't watch her eat. I found if I concentrated on my food or ocassionally got up, DS would eat a bit more. Probably felt less under pressure!

Thanks for the advice, she seems to like toast and mango so far!

I have just moved to BLW with my DD (6.5mo) and she loves toast and mango too. I think she would just eat mango and big rice cakes if I let her. I am loving BLW as I feel much more relaxed about how much she is eating as lots ends up on the floor, so I don't really know how much has gone in. She also seems to like cauliflower, broccoli, cheese and steamed potato. She loves to gnaw at a pear - I cut wedges out to make a ridge and peel it. I would definitely get the book. The thing I am finding hardest is how long meals take, shovelling in a puree was quicker, but so messy as DD grabbed the spoon each time. I hope it is working well for you. I have to keep on reminding myself that DD is very little and will change lots over the next few months, so will change her eating habits too.