Early BLW'er at 20 weeks - what can I feed him?

[Reesie]

I did BLW with both DD1 and DD2 - both went straight onto whatever we were eating. They started at about 25 weeks.

DS is now 20 weeks and is exclusively BF. He is already huge and weighs about 26lbs and wears 12-18 month clothes. I'm not in a rush to wean him onto solids unless he is ready.

Over the last few days has been sitting comfortably on the floor unaided and everything goes into his mouth. I have tried putting some brocalli and carrots from our roast dinner onto his highchair tray and he very efficiantly put them straight to his mouth and started chewing. He obviously ate quite a bit as I found them undigested in his nappy.

So - I'll carry on giving him bits but as he is so young - should I just give him plain veggies or since he appears very ready to eat - should I just give him whatever we are eating?

I would wait a few weeks personally, unless there is a pressing need to give him solids now. BLW isn't recommended before 6 months.

I'd wait a few more weeks. He's clearly thriving on milk, and being big isn't a sign of readiness. Most babies will put anything and everything into their mouths at that age anyway.

I woukdn't bother. He might be ready but so what? He doesn't NEED broccoli.

You are right - he is thriving on BM. He doesn't need any extra nutrition. It's just that all the signs are there - sitting unaided (on the floor, not just in highchair), picking food up on his own, chewing and swallowing. He also seems to be delighted in doing so. I would be happy to wait until well after the 6th month mark if he didn't look ready. It's just that the whole thing about BLW is letting them do it at their own time and he just looks and acts so ready...?

If he were my baby I wouldn't be ready!

It is indeed, but you do need to consider things like gut maturity as well as the visible signs, which is why I'd think about hanging on for a few more weeks

I always thought that you were ok to give them just fruit and veg if you thought they were ready, before 6 months? You shouldn't give them wheat, meat etc before then though due to possible allergic reactions/harder to digest - although there is currently research going on to try to fathom this theory out, as there is such a rise in allergies and asthma, that they are wondering whether we need to give babies these foods before 6 months!

I personally would do what feels instinctively right to you - but sensibly so - so maybe only fruit and veg until he's 6 months old, if that feels right.

Babies can certainly handle digesting that perfectly well.