How can i be more relaxed about BLW?

[wibblyjelly]

So, first time of trying blw, and dh and I hated it! 6 month old ds has been on purees for about 2 weeks, and loves his food. We are up to 3 meals a day.

While out for dinner tonight, a family member suggested we try blw. Thought, may as well. However, I was on tender hooks the whole time, and when the bit of cucumber was in his mouth, it was horrible! The second I could see it again, I grabbed it back out. . I'm just so scared of him choking, which I know with blw their gag reflex is really good, but I still hated it. I don't want ds picking up on my panic, and making him think food is something to be worried about.
Maybe BLW isn't for us? I just want to do the best thing for ds.

Just carry on with what you are already doing!

blw isn't a better way at all, and your dc will be merrily sucking and chewing cucumber, carrot csticks, toast soldiers etc in his own time - probably by 8-9 months anyway.

I did BLW with DD and loved it, but if you don't want to do it, stick with your original approach!!!

We did it and I loved it but if your going to panic every time child puts something I. Mouth I agree it isn't worth it.

The best thing for your ds is whichever method you feel most comfortable with. Your ds will move on to solids one day and he might gag like most babies do at some point, but if you're not ready yet, that's fine.

Maybe you can ask your Hv about infant first aid classes so that you would know what to do in the (unlikely) event that he did choke on food, and be more confident about him eating finger foods. My dds were both weaned with blw and I had done an infant first aid course beforehand but I can still remember nerve wracking moments when they were eating.

Just do whatever you feel most comfortable with and you will have a happy ds!

Seconding butterflies - infant first aid helped me, DH (and DM!) feel more relaxed. The children's centres near me run shirt courses for a small fee (around £5 or less I think) that helped us feel we knew what to do if DS really choked.

*short courses. 2-3 hours or so.

I'm reading a book on BLW before I actually start (Baby Led Weaning by Tracy Murkett), which has put my mum's mind at rest re: choking. I also wanted to tell MIL to get a refund on the baby rice and be able to explain why DS wasn't eating puréed food. It seems that babies just explore the food for the first couple of months, rather than eating it, so that they develop their chewing and swallowing skills, lessening the chances of choking.

Agree with butterflies.
I spoon fed and gave finger foods at the same time. Dd prefers to feed herself but wouldn't manage to eat much that way. She has a bit of it on her tray and some mashed up. That's the way that worked for us.
Don't feel you have to just do one way or another, just do what makes you happiest.
Anyway, cucumber isn't as easy to eat as you think, dd (1) still has trouble with it.

YY to first aid. Babies can gag/choke on purée too so it could happen either way. Traditional weaning should involve some 'finger' foods too so it's good to know what to do if a child does choke.

Don't hook food out of your DS's mouth though - you can actually push it in further and cause a problem where there is none. Gagging is noisy and dealt with pretty well by babies, choking is quiet (the airway is blocked so no sound can come out) and that's what you need to look out for.

If BLW doesn't work for you, don't do it. It's not 'better' - it just suits some more than others (like my family)

Just do what you feel happy with. None of it is baby led - the mother chooses both ways. Just do a mix - moderation in all things.

Thanks all. Am going to stick with the purees, and then make them less smooth as we go on. Hopefully then I'll feel a bit more relaxed once he's used to that.

Sounds like a good plan! There's no right or wrong way to wean so just do what you find most comfortable. If you're panicking throughout every meal, your DS will pick up on that.

Another vote for the first aid course here, as well. However you wean, the choking risk is always there but knowing how to deal with it gives you confidence. (And I agree with Fliss that hooking food out of his mouth really isn't a good idea.)

Thanks for all the advice. I feel so much happier today knowing that we aren't going to do it for a while DS did have a rusk mixed with milk earlier which was a bit lumpy, so I'm sure we will get there.

Try some food that is not as firm as a cucumber-e.g ripe banana or avocado.I'm a panicker,DS was gagging and I was going bonkers.DS is still well and alive at 10 mo.Last week I gave him a handful of whole blueberries and watched him "just in case".He took them one after one,took a bite and spat out the ones he didn't like.

I think it's fine to use purees if you want to but I would suggest not leaving it very late to introduce finger foods either. if you aren't happy to introduce finger food at 6 months that's fine, but try again at 7 or 8 months with nice soft food.