BLW and childcare

[FrumiousBandersnatch]

Starting to think about weaning and keen on BLW. Haven't yet finalised the timing of my return to work but at the youngest DD could be would be 9 months. She would certainly be having lunch in childcare and possibly also tea.

Interested to know experiences of how childcare providers (inc. nurseries, childminders, even nannies) have responded to a BLW baby. Are they generally supportive and willing to cope with the mess etc?

As a nanny, BLW has not proved to be a problem.

In nursery it is not that much of an issue either, though I would suggest talking to the staff before hand, plus once your child is there to remind them not to give too much help.

My ds was at nursery from 11 months, and was BLW. I told his key worker when she did the home visit, and she was actually quite pleased. I think the fact they can feed themselves at nursery is handy for the staff as they don't need to sit and spoon feed. They will just be given the "toddler" meal instead of the "baby" mashed food.

I have had no problems at all (so far!) with ds and eating at nursery. Just pack plenty of spare clothes though as they do get quite messy!

Pretty much what ExBrighton said, except from 8 months.

They slipped up once and gave her honey, but not the end of the world.

My nursery claimed to be happy with BLW when we looked round. When DD started there part time around 8 months I checked again but despite reassuring me they spoon fed her. I found the discrepancy stressful (pfb) but DD took it all in her stride and at 15 months is still happily fully BLW outside of nursery. She can be quite determined at meal times and I got the impression a while back that nursery gave up trying to spoon feed her .

(The nursery is fantastic in other ways so I didn't push the point).

My BLW 9mo old is starting nursery on Monday. He has done settling in sessions where they gave him a toddler meal instead of a baby meal. His key worker said she's helped him with (i.e. spoon fed) rice. They spoon feed yoghurt and things like that, but as I do too, that's not an issue. He's come home and BLW meals with us, no problem.

The thing that made their brain explode was the fact he was still breastfed and me handing over a carton of formula and a sippy cup with the instruction that he might have none / some / all and might want it anytime between 11am and 3.30pm or not at all. They were used to 7oz in a bottle at 1pm type instructions. They went with it though after asking again and again if I was sure it was OK if he didn't have it...