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Weaning

Find weaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Weaning forum. Use our child development calendar for more information.

Original poster

BLW question - Aitch or another expert please!

18 replies

PinkTinsel · 08/12/2006 18:02

my ds is 4 months and i plan on baby led weaning when the time comes. the thing is he's incredibly big for his age, very well developed ie; sitting on his own good hand eye coordination and all that.

i was wondering what the earliest from a safety point of view i can give him bits pf food to play with and explore?

theoretically i take it he wouldn't be able to move the food to the back of his mouth til he's physiologically ready but does anyone know how much this can differ from baby to baby?

if he did start before 6 months his sister is glutan and dairy free so he could just have a spoonful of her dinner to play with and in terms of him actually eating it i could care less really, i know that bm contains more calories so am not expecting him to sleep through or anything!

OP posts:
Original poster
PinkTinsel · 08/12/2006 18:03

btw, i have no intention of feeding him now, just read that and it sound like i want to feed him at 4 months.... i meant would 5 months onwards be safe?

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Original poster
PinkTinsel · 08/12/2006 20:39

bump

OP posts:
littlepiggie · 08/12/2006 20:49

started ds at 23 weeks, he was sitting on his own at 5 months, (no support).
I sat him on my knee while eating a banana, and he had a bite. It took about 4 weeks untill he started eating any great amount, but now there is no stopping him. (71/2 months)

Original poster
PinkTinsel · 08/12/2006 20:58

hmm, thats the way i want to do it. he sits on my knee while i eat and i want to let him decide when to take some food and eat it. just need to be sure there's no safety reason to hold off til exactly 6 months iykwim?

thanks littlepiggie

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littlepiggie · 08/12/2006 21:01

evey baby is different, i would not push it though, he will eat when he is ready, and it is slow going.

Original poster
PinkTinsel · 08/12/2006 21:03

o i know, i've only just convinced dd to eat without strewing food everywhere so i'm in no rush to get started again, lol!

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Quootiepie · 08/12/2006 21:12

if he'll eat it himself, itll be ok..because hes ready for it. Just follow the guidelines about food before 6 months - theres a bit you have to leave out. He'll probably just mostly play with it anyway...

whensantagotstuckupAITCHimney · 08/12/2006 22:34

didn't gill rapley's research actually do this? started all the babies at 4 months and found that they generally got the gist at 6 months? if you can promise yourself that you won't be jamming bananas in his mouth then the thinking is that he'll start to eat the appropriate food when he's ready... now that doesn't completely comply with the WHO guidelines but it will be a fascinating experiment.

Original poster
PinkTinsel · 08/12/2006 23:00

thats sorta my line of reasoning, that if i let him take bits of food from the plate to play with he'll eat when he's ready to as opposed to me deciding when he is.

tonight for instance he was examining dd's food with great interest and touching it but although i was poised to grap it if he tried to put it in his mouth he never did. made me wonder if i just leave the option open will he just naturally know it's the right time or is he at risk of choking if i let him do it too early?

and i thought blw would be easier!

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Original poster
PinkTinsel · 10/12/2006 15:05

well he had a good look at dd's dinner last night and had great fun throwing it at her but doesn't look like i have to worry about him starting early!

he did make dd eat a bit more though to save it from him so thats an unexpected bonus.

will let you know if he decides to start before 6 months and how it goes

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DizzyBinterWonderland · 10/12/2006 17:48

yes i seem to remember in rapley's study it said that before 6 months the baby may well pick up food and even put it in their mouth but they probably wouldn't be able to actually eat it.

anyway, it's blw so follow your baby's lead, which is exactly what you are doing!

Original poster
PinkTinsel · 10/12/2006 18:35

scrap what i said earlier, little bugger stole some of my mashed potato and happily devoured it a few minutes ago! no problems with this fella moving food to the back of his mouth!

rather that i didn't even notice him doing at first, wasn't til dd started giggling at him that i looked down to see his face smeared with potato and a big grin. had to take him away from it eventually as he seemed determined to devour the pot and he's happily guzzling a boob full of milk now.

am a bit actually, was kinda looking forward to waiting til 6 months, but i suppose if the whole point is 'baby led' forcing him to wait would be as bad as shoveling purreees in his mouth.

am very impressed at him though, dd wasn't able to self feed like he just did til 8/9 months

will be pouring over those gill rapley reports tonight to reassure myself he's not going to choke himself!

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Wallace · 11/12/2006 19:53

LOL

will be interested to know how you get on. My ds2 is a bit older (20 weeks...I think) and is so interested in food. He loves sitting in his highchair at mealtimes with a spoon to play with. Not planning on starting yet, but it would be hilarious to see what he would do with a lump of mashed potato!

Original poster
PinkTinsel · 11/12/2006 22:42

well he didn't have much luck today.... swiped a carrot from me and got very cross when he couldn't figure it out

must say though he slept better last night despite only eating a small amount.... he used to sleep for 6/7 hour stretches at night and this has gradually decreased to the point where i have to feed him every hour/ hour and a half at night now. but last night after the potato he slept from 8 til 12/30 again

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Original poster
PinkTinsel · 22/12/2006 22:15

well he's 21 weeks today and gobbled up some lumps of banana that dd gave him and a bit of potato at dinner. chewed away like a proper little boy and loved it!

he's not had anything forced on him, both times he picked up the food, put it to his mouth and chewed bits off all by himself but it looks like he's determined not to wait til 6 months!

(i should point out to anyone reading this; he weighs about 8kgs+, is in 9-12 month clothing and can sit well by himself so while i do believe 6 months is more than soon enough for most babies ds is a bit ahead in most other areas and i have at no point handed him food. he sits on my lap at meal times and i put some suitable food within reach and he has chosen himself to eat. so don't all attack me for feeding too soon!)

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thewoodlandfairy · 22/12/2006 22:35

just let him carry on, i would. When mine were weaned the advice was not before 4 months and they came to no harm, loved food in fact. he sounds like a boy who knows his own mind - should be interesting in a few years!

Original poster
PinkTinsel · 22/12/2006 22:37

he takes after his big sister in that respect!

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DecktheWallacewithBoughsofHoll · 26/12/2006 21:57

Pink tinsel - think I've just joined you on this

See my thread here

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