Weaning DC2, I should probably have more of a clue but feel a bit clueless

[CBear6]

DS (now 2yo) was a doddle to wean. He was started at 15wks for various reasons and as soon as he spotted a spoon or a potential finger food his mouth would hang open followed by him chewing the air and getting excited. He dropped his milk feeds himself one by one and it just seemed so easy and enjoyable for us both.

DD (6mo) is the complete opposite. She wasn't ready at all at 4mo so we waited, she's now showing signs she's ready for at least the last month. Over the last couple of weeks I've tried her with various bits and she just doesn't seem to enjoy it at all. She won't open her mouth for a spoon, as soon as she sees a spoon (even one being used by someone else) she clamps her mouth shut so tightly that her lips disappear. She likes to hold a spoon herself and put it in her mouth herself though. She also likes to hold food and will happily chomp away on a chunk of banana or stalk of broccoli (or fecking Ginger Nut, thanks Dad).

Please reassure me others DCs were like this and tell me things about BLW. In worried about choking and I'm not sure what foods to use.

I did a mixture of puree and finger foods and started at 23 weeks. Try giving her soft finger foods to start with, such as pieces of boiled potato, steamed fruit, avocado, banana. As a snack, try giving her some carrot puffs in the beginning (Organix do some good ones), they are soft and melt in the mouth so ar every easy to eat.

Also, she might like porridge if it's not runny and she can eat it herself (I put lumps on the highchair tray and DS loved them). DS went through various phases, some days he only wanted to be spoonfed, some others he would't touch a spoon.

This site might help.

The only stuff to avoid:
Honey until 1yo
Whole grapes (cut them up as they're a choking risk)
Whole nuts (see above, although some say that chopped nuts are an issue re. Inhalation)
Salt where possible
Cows milk as a main drink until 12mo but fine in or on food

Thanks :)

You'd think I would be more confident this time having done it before but she seems to enjoy throwing us for a loop!

That's my DD. I gave up after 2 weeks of purees and went BLW. Best decision ever. She's really good with her fingers, rarely gags/chokes, and will happily self feeds anything I put in front of her. Best thing is I just give whatever I'm eating to her. No extra work needed.

And the website Flisspaps is all you need.

Browsing that website now Flisspaps (I used to have a cat named Fliss ... ) and there's loads of recipes! Hers me thinking she'll be weaned on luke-warm stalks of broccoli and toast soldiers but no, actual hot meals and ones I can make for all of us at that.

That's what she's been like TerrorNova, she just wants to do it herself. For all she hates the spoon, especially the rubbery bendable baby one, if I load up a hard spoon with cereal or puree she'll feed herself it. Loves broccoli, she gums the nubbly bits off and then throws the stalk. She also loves long strands of spaghetti, she thinks they're a puzzle of some sort because she studies them for ages. Choking is a concern for me but I'm sure we'll cope. It just such an opposite experience to DS who was a fiend for purée and spoon-feeding.

Cbear6 at the beginning, I do make special things for DD, since they can only hold large pieces that sticks out of their palms. (I do lots of burger patties because mince is easy to chew/swallow and the shape makes it easy to hold). Also depends on their teeth, a 6mo may only be able to eat soft food. But by 9mo, DD gained a fine pincer grip and can scoop sloppy food. At that point, she's eating exactly as us, roast chickens, chillies, crumbles. It's really amazing.

CBear6 That's why I liked it so much - it was just a case of making our normal food and giving DD that. It doesn't suit everyone, but it suited us down to the ground!