top tips for baby led weaning

[eclondon]

I started baby led weaning yesterday with mixed results (pear was gummied, banana mushed into hand and then hand sucked) and was wondering if you could let me know you're to tips and first recipies.

I think that the pear and banana might be too slippery a they pop or of his slimey hands !

Any tips on doing blw with some puree?

There will be a lot of mess in the early days. Baby is learning how to pick food up.

Food cut into thick chip shapes is generally easier, or try handing a loaded spoon and letting them figure it out themselves.

We didn't do any special food for BLW, just literally put some bits of whatever we happened to be eating onto a plate and let her get on with it.

Have you read the book? As basically it's about baby enjoying the touching as well as the tasting. So let the baby play with a pear.

Mine used to love squishing cherry tomatoes in his fist before he ate them.

I remember giving my 5.5 month old a piece of cooked broccoli, we all sat around the table together, the baby looked at DP eating his broccoli and then me eating the broccoli and the just copied what we were doing and it was all fine.

It's about trust and mess.

Get a dog

Yep, be prepared for mess! Don't worry about how much is going down, it is mostly about exploring and trying until a year. DD is 9 months and some days will pick at a couple of bits, other days she hoovers anything up!

Agree wrt not cooking different things for them, as long as you eat reasonably healthily he can have what you eat minus added salt. Stay away from whole nuts and honey until over 1yr though. squish things like blueberries and peas etc before offering. If you are having a takeaway or something baby unfriendly, toast/ crumpet/ sandwich/ cheese/fruit etc will do.

Have a look here www.babyledweaning.com/ for more info and also on their forum.

Main thing is to relax about it and if it doesn't feel right for you, don't panic!

There are a few safety issues which apply to all children, not just BLW.

Cut grapes and cherry tomatoes in half until you know that the child is going to bite through them immediately. Their skins are tough under pressure so if they do lodge in the throat, they are hard for the body to choke up. If they are cut in half first or the skin is broken then this won't happen.

Even now DD is 4 I still watch her carefully when she is eating grapes or cherry tomatoes.

Thanks guys! Yes I read the book - guess I'm just feeling a little alone with the new step and wanted some personal anecdotes!

Yes yes to mess (but unsure I could cope with baby and dog! !) I'm finally pleased we have tiled floors! !

Thank you for the tips I think I'll cut things into more a boxy chip shape. and will try mango, apple and toast and avoid whole round fruit! ! Plus I'll try loading spoons - good idea.

All advice welcome!

Newspaper on the floor and an oilcloth on the table!
Plus, if you eat meat, roast lamb works v well