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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

If you chose NOT to do BLW, what were your reasons?

218 replies

mrsb26 · 06/01/2016 19:56

Looking to start weaning dd soon and have been reading up on various approaches.

I understand that baby led weaning seems to be the 'thing' for many mums at the moment. I see its benefits in many ways, but also air on the side of caution with it for other reasons.

If you chose to wean traditionally (eg puréed food first), what were your trains for not doing BLW?

Am I right in saying that the NHS recommends a combination of purées and finger foods from around six months?

OP posts:
HeadDreamer · 13/01/2016 14:05

umbongo doesn't represent most BLWers. I've given my fair share or organix and Ella's Kitchen finger food! And mcdonald's burgers and chips.

UmbongoUnchained · 13/01/2016 14:08

For an almost 2 year old it's just lazy. All because they don't want to clear up a bit of mess. What's a toddler getting from a pouch?
And I would've loved my daughter to have fed from a spoon at the beginning. So don't know where you're getting that from.

TheCatsMeow · 13/01/2016 14:10

No it isn't lazy. It's practical when you're out and about. How many people whip out a gourmet meal on a day out vs a pre done sandwich?

It's no different.

CultureSucksDownWords · 13/01/2016 14:11

Just when I thought the thread had escaped the judgey-ness...

I think if you don't know each persons exact individual circumstances you really can't be in a position to judge.

UmbongoUnchained · 13/01/2016 14:12

Make the child a sandwich. It's not difficult. They've got teeth, absolutely no need to be fed mush.

SirChenjin · 13/01/2016 14:13

It makes you "mad" to see someone using prepared food for their baby? Literally mad - as in furious?

UmbongoUnchained · 13/01/2016 14:16

Yes it does. When all the other children are sitting there eating their sandwiches and fruit and that poor kid is shoved in a pram to be spoon fed a cold cottage pie from a pouch because the mum "can't be fucked to deal with any mess"

TheCatsMeow · 13/01/2016 14:19

There is nothing wrong with it though. What is the problem? More complicated doesn't equal better

MrsJayy · 13/01/2016 14:20

Is it a specific toddler or just in general im not sure i care enough how a baby is fed their lunch its maybe just easier to get out a pouch they know their baby will eat than faff about with a sandwhich that gets mushed up and not eaten.

MrsJayy · 13/01/2016 14:21

Did she say she cant be fucked to deal with the mess ?

TheCatsMeow · 13/01/2016 14:21

Oh for the record I refused lumps for years umberto but nice to know you'd call my mum lazy because she let me have mashed food Smile

CottonSock · 13/01/2016 14:22

Blimey, you need to get your priorities straight IMO. Those poor kids eating boring sandwiches, I feel sorry for them

SirChenjin · 13/01/2016 14:27

Wow Umbongo - you sound very aggressive over something so innocuous. Mindfulness is very good for dealing with that - but if you feel you need something stronger for that level of fury you feel over puree food your GP will be able to help.

UmbongoUnchained · 13/01/2016 14:27

He doesn't refuse lumps though. It's purely because she's lazy. And the only reason he makes mess is because he's never been allowed to feed himself.

Notso · 13/01/2016 14:28

I did BLW with my third, the first had purée from around 17 weeks as was the guidelines at the time. I hated the purée stage and didn't give any food to DC2 until he was 7 months. He went straight on to mashed food and finger foods which I found much easier.
I read about BLW when pg with DC3 and he turned out to be very interested in grabbing our food at just under 6 months, so I went with it. It was fine but he turned out to be incredibly fussy and still try's to eat with his hands at age 5.
DC4 wasn't bothered by food until he was 8 months old and I stopped breastfeeding. I was put off BLW by DC3 so went back to mashed food and finger food for him.

MrsJayy · 13/01/2016 14:30

So she doesnt like mess im not sure it needed that much fury though do you all sit and sneer and gossip about her at the group.

Starbores · 13/01/2016 14:32

Umbongo if that makes you mad you really need to get a life.

The rest of use wether we traditionally wean or blw are managing to discuss it without judging or having digs. If you want to have a rant start your own thread.

UmbongoUnchained · 13/01/2016 14:34

Wow if you think I'm furious then you're a bit sensitive. I just feel sorry for the kid. It's our job to teach them, and by 17 months he should be able to use at least a spoon.

SirChenjin · 13/01/2016 14:38

I don't 'think' you're furious, you've already alluded to the fact.

Don't worry about what other children are doing, and don't worry about how others are parenting -it's not a competition. Oh, and if you're bitching about it in your group, stop it.

This thread was going along quite nicely without the swearing and ranting - there's always one, isn't there.

MrsJayy · 13/01/2016 14:45

How another parent choses to feed her child is not something to get mad about , my sister was probably that kid at 17 months she was a pita at eating my mum spoon fed her she is 30 now and manages a spoon and solids just fine .

Oogle · 13/01/2016 14:57

As awful as this sounds, I compared the table manners of the toddlers I knew who had been spoon-fed against those who were BLW. I preferred the table manners of those who had been spoon-fed. I am fine with messy play but I personally do not think mealtimes are playtimes. Seeing the BLW children that I know throw food across the table, mush it into the table and generally be absolutely horrible, fussy eaters totally put me off. Before any BLWers jump on me here - I said the BLW children that I KNOW, not all BLW children.

My DS is 13 months and has had a mix of puree and finger food, he's started to feed himself with a spoon but if he wants to eat his peas and carrots with his fingers, I have no problem with that. We eat out a lot and he is learning that mealtimes are not for playing - if he bangs his cup against the table, the cup gets taken away, etc. I refuse to let him be one of those children who runs around a restaurant and makes a load of noise, upsetting other diners. When we're out he tends to have a bit of what we're having alongside some bread (he loves bread!). Prezzo is great actually - for less than £4 he can have garlic bread, tomato pasta and a banana (or icecream)

But hey, I probably make a lot of people "mad" because I will happily whip out a pouch and/or baby crisps if necessary Grin

HeadDreamer · 13/01/2016 15:04

oogle no, you just come across as smug.

Lweji · 13/01/2016 15:07

And I thought the thread was going so well. All about doing what works for you and all forms of feeding are valid and hardly anyone does it all one way or the other. All respectful of each other's choices. Grin
I suppose it was just a matter of time.

CultureSucksDownWords · 13/01/2016 15:20

I really don't know what Oogle's post is meant to be adding to the previously helpful and respectful discussion...

Oogle · 13/01/2016 15:23

WTF? Smug? Sorry, that's not what I intended at all.

Culture, I was answering the OP.

I have absolutely no problem with how other people choose to feed their child - hey, I bottle-fed after BF failed for me...I have been on the receiving end of a load of shit, on here and in real life.

This is why I rarely post on here, I obviously don't come across well. I'm actually tearful now, I didn't intend to upset or offend anyone.

I think I'll go back to lurking.