Baby led advice needed please

[IcouldstillbeJoseph]

DD2 is 26+ weeks. I did 'traditional' weaning for DS at 22 weeks and he took to it v well. DD is proving quite different.

I have tried some purée (fruit & veg) over past few days and she actively hates it. I don't mean a bit of grimacing at an unusual sensation, I mean crying and very unhappy.

So I'm trying to stop being so uptight baby led weaning. Trouble is, she can't really sit up too well in the highchair and she certainly isn't dexterous enough to pick anything and put it to her mouth. Should I just abandon it for a while? Or just give a few bits everyday in the hope something might occur? Trying not to be jealous of those scooping up mouthfuls already...

She's EBF and only really interested in that. I was hoping that weaning might help the night waking which is now occurring before midnight again - out of hunger I suppose.

Wise words anyone?

Also would appreciate baby led cook books that are any good?

Maybe she's just not ready yet, if she doesn't sit up too well, isn't dextrous enough and seems to hate it, I think I'd be inclined to abandon it for a while like you say.
Certainly don't get caught up in comparing what someone else's baby is doing, recipe for disaster that is. There will always be someone telling you their 2 month old was eating coq-au-vin unaided whilst simultaneously learning how to use a potty.

The baby led weaning cookbook by gill rapley has good recipes in it, my DH has been pleasantly surprised.

Another vote for gill rapley book. My daddy cooks is also good.
Try babyledweaning.com for advice and recipes.

I would say that babies develop on a daily basis at this age and you will see vast changes in just a week or two. No point upsetting her with puree and she'll come to no harm if you continue solely with milk for another couple of weeks. The clue is in the name; baby led!

My friends little boy was like this and she just waited a bit longer. Breastmilk has the right nutrients for a baby to continue to thrive up to 12 months, probably beyond.

Some babies are ready for solid food at 5 months and some aren't ready until 8 months - include her at meal times, sit on lap whilst eating or in high chair and she'll soon catch on

Remember, food is for fun until you're one - so if your baby hates it and doesn't sit up properly etc etc then just leave it for a week or two. It's babbled weaning so be led by your baby!

I'm a great fan of blw, it has been really good or us.

Obviously that should read baby led weaning!

Good luck with this, I agree sounds like you might be able to leave it for a week or so. What helped me with ds1 was not thinking about it in terms if meals for baby as such, but just handing him a bit of my food to play with while I ate my lunch. If she will sit supported just letting her watch you eat with a cucumber stick or similar to fiddle with can be a good start. It's not really about getting calories in (I found this hard to relax about).

Another good book is the River Cottage baby & toddler book - good simple sensible recipes with ideas for making them suitable for both finger food & spoon feeding. Am having a bit of a run of their recipes at the moment and the whole family enjoys them.

Thank you all.
I have read Rapley's guidelines and 'get it' now. I feel strangely liberated by the thought of not pureeing and spooning anything!

There's some good Facebook groups on BLW, full of other parents going through the same as you

Good luck, feel free to comeback and ask anything else. I LOVED BLW, one of the laziest best parenting decision we made!