BLW & FF questions???

[PandasNotJust4Xmas]

DS is now 4mths so am expecting pressure from MIL etc to start soon. We are hoping to start BLW at end of January. I desperately wanted to BF but wasn't able to, so I am really keen on weaning the way I think is best. However I keep reading that BLW is ideal for BF babies. Are there any particular problems more likely with a FF baby?
Also I need ideas for what to say to MIL. Had a huge row with her when I was pregnant, when she told me how oldfashioned I was to want to BF. She also said that I wouldn't be able to do it as it hurts too much. She's in her 70s & FF her 5 children and I am a 40 year old first-timer if that helps. I can't help feeling that MIL won the argument although it was for different reasons I couldn't BF. DH tried to get in early as MIL started going on about lovely rusks in milk to give to DS soon.
DH: We're waiting till 6mths...new advice...blah blah...
MIL: That's good...but surely some chocolate cake would be nice at christmas...
Now looking forward to Boxing Day family get together even less than usual.

Poor you - why can't she just mind her own business? Why should how you choose to feed your son turn into a family arguement? It's unfortunately absolutely typical.

I'm sorry you feel regretful that you couldn't bf, bf is incredibly hard, and it doesn't sound like you had much support. Just trust that you made the right decision at the right time, for you and your baby.

As for the BLW - it is possible to BLW a ff baby. As with any feeding method, it suits some babies better then others, so keep an open mind. There's plenty of advice on mumsnet about BLW.

Old fashioned? No offence, she sounds like a t**t to me! Poor you, no wonder you had trouble b/feeding with support like that!

Rusks aren't great as they have wheat and sugar in them anyway.

I'd politely point out that research and times have changed since she was a mother to little ones, and her advice is way off. You can probably get some leaflets / books to illustrate your point too.

I love weaning! DS has been B/fed, but moving him onto formula now. I weaned earlier than recommended at 19wks (just a spot on rice made with b/milk) as DS was insatiable. He's now scoffing pureed sweet potato, carrots, parnips etc. Also likes gnawing on rice cakes. Try to ignore her and enjoy yourself!

If you go down the route of BLW, you'll probably get more crap off MIL, but it's up to you and DH what you do. We sort of combine purees and wedges of pear or rice cake, and it's loads of fun.

God i've gone on- sorry! Hope it helps!

BLW thread

Ignore your MIL - they're great aren't they

My baby is FF and loving BLW. She's being going for a few weeks now and is finally starting to actually eat something! Take a look at www.babyledweaning.com and in particular the Top Tips section - it's all about "sceptical MILs". For what it's worth my HV said we were "fostering a very healthy attitude to food" for our daughter.

Good luck and enjoy!

PS - I'm dreading the boxing day get together too

I know exactly how you feel. My ds is ff and we started BLW at 6 months. I generally tell people that we're just skipping purees and going straight in with finger food which I've found easier than saying "we're doing baby led weaning". MIL is a bit of a worrier and absolutely convinced he is going to choke to death. But we sit with him and he's gagged a couple of times but not too much. And he's started eating too. Tonight he loved butternut squash, melon and frozen banana. Maybe not my choice all together but hey!

the original study by gill rapley (find link to it on babyledweaning.com) talks abut blw as ideal for bf babies because bf babies control their own intake assuming they are bf on demand, as they do with blw. this doesn't mean a ff baby can't do blw tho.

aitch, who runs that blog, bottle fed her baby and talks quite a bit about how the two can work together perfectly fine. she bottle fed on demand. i'm sure there's a bit on her blog about it. if she isn't along later you could email her to ask how it worked for her.

as for MILs, i just love watching her panicy face when dd's shovelling in half a banana!

hi panda... your MiL sounds like a right piece of work (by which i mean bitch...)
can't really help you on that one. would it cause all-out war if you got DH to tell her and the family publicly that it's your business how you raise your baby and you'll be happier not hearing any more opinions on the subject?
as for the FF, Dizzy has told you about my blog and the fact that i ff'ed, also much against my inclination. go to BF and FF folder
to be honest i was just beginning to get my head round being an ffer when i started finding out about BLW and it really set me back. i was pretty crushed that i would be excluded yet again from doing what i thought was the best thing for my dd.

anyway, i pressed on, started the blog, wrote a startlingly bitter rant about ffing and blw and bless her heart, Gill Rapley popped up one day to voice her support for ffers doing BLW. that meant a great deal.

i'd recommend BLW, obviously, but there was a thread recently posted by enid which you could search for. something like 'isn't blw just another thing for mothers to fail at?' anyway, it was really long, rather antagonistic in places, really enjoyable and covers just about every question anyone could have on BLW.

good luck panda, and here's hoping you are snowed in to your own little house with your new baby on Boxing Day.

Have to say, Panda, I agree with your MIL - BF is definitely old fashioned. I mean women have been doing it for millions of years!

As for BLW it's something I'd like to have a go at myself, but as ds is four months I might have to wait a bit. Though I'm thinking of getting him started off on solids (purees) in a couple of weeks as he is quite big for his age and will soon need more than just milk.

yikes, itsonlythegoodbits. i'm not sure your thinking is nutritionally sound. milk has more calories than puree, if he's not satisfied with the milk he's getting, give him more...

I see what you mean Aitch, and I'm thinking of leaving solids for a few more weeks although the HV has said it is ok to start now.

As with everything when you become a parent - just trying to cope with various pressures from family.

as with everything... have just endured a lecture from my own mother about the fact that we do not present dd's meals on a plate. she's not even one yet, she sees a plate of food as a frisbee waiting to happen, but apparently we are already teaching her bad habits...

lol at frisbee waiting to happen - that's exactly what my dd thought of a plate!

Alfie is FF and started BLW at 25 weeks. He's just over 8 months now and has taken to it really well. I can't recommend it highly enough. Ignore MIL and do what you feel is best.

Hugs xxx

Lol - I hope the firsbees throwers are not using the best china!

Gave ds a tiny tiny piece of banana yesterday....I know I said I wouldn't, but I was eating it next to him and couldn't resist. It was funny to see the expression on his face though! It promptly fell out but eventually a very small piece went in and didn't reappear.

However I will wait a while before starting properly as he does so well on breastmilk. Almost tripled his birth weight and is only four months