Doing BLW, HV says give purees as well - confused

[marushka82]

Hi everyone, I hope you can help!
My DD us 6.5 months, sitting up, has shown interest on our plates for over a month now. We decided to do BLW (I have read a few threads about it, plus the blw website, have yet to read Gill Rapley's book) and started a few days ago. DD is ebf, has one tooth coming through and weighs 9 kgs which puts her on 91st centile. So far she's only had cucumber and carrot and seems to enjoy the experience. She hasn't yet eaten anything, but gummed through the cucumbers and got some juice and flesh from them. Carrots she just spat out:)
I spoke to hv today - wanted to ask about how and when to introduce dairy as DD seems sensitive to it (I've been off it for a few months now). HV asked how I'm doing weaning and after I explained she said the following:

1. I need to introduce some purees otherwise DD won't get nutrients and vitamins (as she's still at the stage where she plays with her food)
2. I'm to gradually decrease the number of breastfeeds (to my 'How do I do it if at night she's only settled by boob' HV said I'm the boss and have to introduce a routine. From what I know about blw, babies will drop breadtfeeds themselves when ready?)
3. no water needed (again, I thought you can give a bit of water when doing blw)
4. I can introduce baby rice to help DD sleep better (this I pretty much know is not going to help and again is not very blw as blw is not about baby food)

Confused and thinking that HV's got some outdated info especially since she said from now on my breastmilk's nutritional value will decrease - err, what?

I'm keen to read your thoughts! Am I to follow Hv's advice and spoon some puree into DD or keep doing what I'm doing?
Also if anyone has experience with introducing dairy to a baby who might be sensitive, please please share!

Marushka you can offer her food as often as you like - there's no need to limit to once a day. It's just a big adventure at this stage! Plus from what you say she seems to be enjoying it so go for it!

There is a load of nonsense talked about weaning. It is a very short period and they end up eating what you eat. How you get there really doesn't matter. The only advantage that I can see in never giving purées is that it cuts out bought jars. You can mash a banana if you like (I sometimes mash mine) and you can offer things on a spoon. I think the idea comes for people thinking you can force feed a baby- which must come from someone who has never tried getting a spoonful of something down a baby who didn't want it! Do what you are comfortable with- be led by the baby, they might prefer purées. People always seem to hold the view that all babies are the same and what is best for one is best for all!

How you feed them has no bearing on their attitude to food later on.

Try leaving a sippy cup of water on the highchair tray when you offer your DD food. At the beginning she may just use it like a rattle but soon enough she'll discover that she can drink from it (especially if you show her how!). By the time she's eating enough solids to require extra water, she'll be fine at drinking it.

Ignore the health visitor.

You'll soon figure out what your baby is consuming - the lumps just go straight through at first!