BLW with baby who has development delay

[elliejjtiny]

DS4 is 6.5 months and has development delay. He can't sit in a bumbo and his head is still quite wobbly. He's just started smiling and he can just about hold things. If I sit him on my lap while we are eating dinner he will try to grab my food although he doesn't try and eat it. He smeared broccoli on DS1's sleeve once, much to DS1's disgust .

I really want to do BLW with him but I'm not sure how. Do I sit him on my lap at the table and give him some veggie bits? Or is there a better way? I used to put the older DC in the bumbo to do BLW but DS4 goes all wobbly and slumps after a couple of seconds. We have a tumbleform chair that is supposed to be for feeding and playing in but it hasn't got a table and it's quite reclined too so not sure if he could do BLW in it.

I have a developmentally delayed DS who is 2.5 now . He didn't sit unaided until he was 1 . I did BLW by propping him in the ikea highchair which I bought the blow up insert for, that held him quite snugly then I used a rolled up towel at the top to stop his head flopping around . No idea if this was "right" but it worked and the HV was quite happy with the arrangement . He also came on a lot with his co ordination by trying to shove the food in his mouth . We had no choking issues and within a couple of weeks he was trying bits of most things .

Btw my DS could never manage a bumbo by the time he had the control to sit on it his (slightly ) chunky things got stuck !

The stokke highchair is good. Has cushion at young age, and adjusts over time so at 3/4/5/6 years they can use with feet supported etc. we use with 2 and 4 year olds now.

However for the next few months I would say sit him on your lap. It's easier to help him and just let him try with some banana/ brocoli / toast etc. he can always eat bits off your plate so you don't all feel pressured for him o eat everything. Maybe spoon feed also at some meals ie porridge for breakfast you feed, then give him some banana after he can try himself

Don't take my word for it, but I thought one of the reasons for waiting until they could sit unaided was so that they could lean forward at will to use gravity to help get anything out. For that reason, I'd be very wary of giving finger foods (BLW or not) with a baby who couldn't yet sit reasonably securely - I'd want expert (dietician?) advice.

Thanks everyone. I've seen the ikea highchair with the blow up insert and thought it might be good for DS4. I've also got an appointment with the paed and dietician on Friday so I'll ask them then. I asked my mum as well but of course she told me that BLW was a load of rubbish and that I should be spoon feeding him wallpaper paste baby rice and readybrek . I lied a bit and said that all HV's are recommending BLW these days . I don't know why I bothered asking her TBH.