Help! Weaning confidence crisis!

[Mrscog]

Hi, can anyone reassure me that I?m doing ok on this weaning lark?! I?ve managed to confuse myself! Basically I always thought I?d BLW at 26 weeks, I read the book, have friends doing it and was ?sold? on the whole approach. But then for some reason around 23 weeks, I started feeling the ?need? to give DS bits of food, then at 24 weeks he grabbed my cake off me and took a bite! However, I suddenly didn?t have the confidence to let him do it ? I?m terrified of him choking, and so I started spoon feeding.
I haven?t given the traditional purees though ? I?ve just mashed up normal food in to smaller pieces and spooned that. So for example, over the past 2 weeks (that?s all the time I?ve been doing it for ? he?s 27 weeks today) he?s had and wolfed down: cauliflower cheese, coronation chicken, cheesy leeks, shepherds pie, mashed potato, mashed sweet potato, various other soft veg, ready brek with some fruit stirred in for breakfast. I gave him some strips of toast, one of which he grabbed and ate almost in one go ? I seriously thought I was going to have a heart attack ? the piece of bread was so massive. He did swallow it without gagging but then screamed the house down ? I think he was shocked by the feeling of such a large thing going down.

He?s eating quite a lot at each meal, and opens his mouth for the spoon ? I?ve never forced it in and if he doesn?t open I assume he?s finished.
I can?t help feeling though that I?m doing it all wrong, I was reading the BLW forum and people were just so passionate, and I?m a bit sad that I?m not partaking, and also a bit worried that I?m ?forcing mush in? (to quote one poster), even though my DS really wants it, and gets cross when I?m not quick enough.

This is the most pfb panic I?ve had so far so be gentle ? but I?m doing this right aren?t I? I was talking to my Mum and she thinks I?m crazy and completely over worrying! Also, DS is now quite lazy and clearly enjoys being fed ? he tried grabbing the spoon for the first week, but now just sits there with his arms out ? should I be introducing more finger food options?

I'm you sound like you're doing fine and all is completely normal - stop worrying

I recommend annabel karmel books for recipes and tips very simple and easy to follow.

Sounds like you are doing brilliantly!
Offer finger foods but don't worry if he doesn't go for it straight away, he'll get it in his own time

Thank you - It's just so daunting after BF on demand for 6 months! I think I will perserve with the finger foods - I think I just expected him to 'get it' but whenever I put food on his tray he just ignores it which after reading lots of threads about BLW I wasn't expecting.

I will persevere! And tell my Mum she was right and that I'm just panicing over nothing!

MrsCog I am no voice of wisdom (DS is nearly 27 weeks and also a pfb) but I wanted to say that I can empathise entirely with your worry. I have been lurking on weaning boards and starting paniced threads about it for some time now. You are right, compared to 'wait for hungry signs, stick on boob, wait til finished; repeat as needed' the whole solid food thing seems so confusing.

However, it does sound like you are both doing great; love the sound of him gulping down toast and so on. Hope it gets easier for you and you can enjoy it all a bit more, until the next pfb panic begins .

Well, I've been persevering, but only with spoon feeding lumpy food really - he did have a stick of cheese the other day, but watching him gag for 5 minutes while he broke it down and ate it was really unenjoyable!

Part of the problem is that he doesn't really 'get' finger foods in that even though he can pick stuff up from his tray he doesn't, and so I have to hand them to him, which feels like it defeats the point! I really don't know whether I shoudl keep offering finger foods or whether I should wait another week or so - but then when I've handed him things he grabs it and eats it which is the sign of readiness.

Ahhh confusion and worry - and I didn't think I'd find this bit hard!!!!

Just relax about it all Mrscog (easy to say with hindsight, I know). Some things just don't go as planned. I felt exactly like you do. He's still really young and really doesn't need to be eating very much at all. Just see those first couple of months as practice feeding.

In the end, BLW didn't work out for us and DS still prefers being spoonfed mush at 18m (what a pain!). He picks at finger food, eats a whole range of food, never refuses, has learned how to chew, swallow etc....and I never force fed him either .

They all learn to eat in the end of course whatever the method. If you find it less stressful to spoon feed then spoon feed. Just be easy on yourself!