BLW starts today, any buddies? this could get messy....

[becksblue]

My Ds has reached the 6 month mark so it's time! So far this morning he's made an almighty mess with a banana and seemed to really enjoy himself. No actual eating though bar licking some fingers.

Anyone else up for keeping me company/swapping tips and progress?

[0phelia]

It depends what it is. Anything he can pick up himself (eg toast n topping / veg etc) he will pick up himself.

When spaghetti or soup is on the menu there's no way I'm letting him handle that on his own so I spoon ig into his mouth.

When it comes to his morning porridge, he's not sophisticated enough yet to spoon feed himself, so I let him try, but I also spoonfeed. He loves trying and is improving! But you can't help be impatient.

I'm still annoyed that we went out the other day for lunch and I ordered from the child's menu "pasta in tomato and cheese sauce" which (assuming pasta shapes) DS can feed himself and loves.
What arrived was spaghetti! I didn't bother complaining, it was very busy. So I had to twiddle the spaghetti around a fork and feed it to him whilst eating myself and holding adult conversation...

Be prepared for these obstacles. I will now always check if "pasta" actually means "spaghetti" while ordering in a restaurant.

[unimagimative13]

Would you just not cut the spaghetti up?

[0phelia]

Nope. I'm half Italian.

[0phelia]

It makes no difference with a baby1 Shapes they can pick up themselves, you can give them the fork eith a shape on etc.
Spaghetti just spills everywhere cut up or not.
In fact, cut up is messiest.

Don't question an Italian on Spaghetti.

[thenewaveragebear1983]

Ah spaghetti. Still the only food my nearly 4 year old still insists on eating with his hands....we love a bit of 'worm pasta' in our house! (Apologies Ophelia)
You can get some huge pasta shapes in our tesco, big giant shells or tubes, they were brilliant when blw.

[poocatcherchampion]

Spaghetti is brilliant to just shove in.

Soup goes in an open cup here.

[0phelia]

Just be grateful my mother can't hear you

Soup in a cup is great! We're currently leading up to that. DS is just over 1yo. I still sort of hold the cup, though... Will be relaxing on that front soonish!

[thenewaveragebear1983]

Needless to say, we don't have it often!

[Marmite27]

We started about two weeks ago, it's not what I wanted to do but DD won't eat unless it's 'real' she refuses purée/smooth foods. Except for yoghurt. Then she can't get it in her mouth quick enough, so will deign to be spoon fed for the sake of eating it quicker!

She had some bagel thin with Philadelphia and a cucumber stick at lunch time, along with a strawberry and some yoghurt.

I'm so surprised at how quickly and efficiently she eats! And has been known to cry when what she's eating is finished.

My DH jokes she already has a broader pallet than some of her more dietary restricted adult relatives.

[unimagimative13]

We had porridge today and some scrambled egg.

I get a bit worried with DS gets frustrated at not getting it in quick enough and cries. He throws this arms back and opens his mouth for me to feed him. So I end up doing a bit of feeding as well as him. Is this wrong?

[becksblue]

Don't think that's 'wrong' if it works for you and your baby. I'm trying not to get too worked up about labels etc for this reason.

So broccoli was fairly successful. Had our first couple of gags and my heart was pounding but I was definitely more distressed than him because he happily carried on.

Going to try sweet potato today

[becksblue]

ophelia you spaghetti chat made me

Do feel free to post your authentic Italian recipes

[thenewaveragebear1983]

I think the only issue with spoon feeding, in a 'true blw' sense is that with blw the baby doesn't actually eat much food. They don't replace milk with food calories. If you give porridge or puree say, everyday for a week, and then the following week give only finger foods, the baby simply won't be able to get the calories they have come to rely on so may need more milk. In all honesty, most people I know who have tried blw have not done 'true blw' . its basically a combination of spoon feeding, finger food and is both parent led and baby led to a degree. After all, do you let your baby spoon out his portion from the serving dish? So he isn't really choosing, he's choosing from a selection that is given to him. I think there's a lot of pressure of parents and it really depends on your family and your lifestyle. My babies have done it fairly successfully, but as I said in an earlier post, I have given puree and ds enjoyed it, so will likely give it again. The one thing I do love about the principles of blw is how you trust your baby to tell you about food- what he likes, what he doesn't, how full he is, and what he's ready for. With mush, you don't get this interaction in the same way. My older ds would always have about 2/3 of his savoury food, then have a bit of yoghurt, then go back to his main....and he still does this now, often having a piece of cheese after his pudding!

[unimagimative13]

I agree! I've been doing a bit of both as if it was down to him not much food goes in his mouth.

I did mashed banana and a bit of yougurt today but with some toast to nibble on too.

[becksblue]

Is everyone giving water with every meal? Ds hasn't been that interested so far but hoping that soon changes. He is picking the cup up bit isn't bringing it to his mouth yet.

Carrots tonight!

[HolaWeenie]

Hello, my little boy is just 6m, so I'm on the weaning wagon. He seems to struggle to with a sensitive gag reflex. Tonight was hard boiled egg and watermelon, not at all sure how much went in!

With my 4yo I did traditional weaning with purée and finger food. I'm much less keen to stick on the purée this time, it's such a faff.

Forgot how much of the finger foods end up in the bin!.

[thenewaveragebear1983]

Yes, and I keep forgetting to do things In the right shape for blw (eg cut veg into fingers) so poor ds has had Ella pouches spread on toast today....

[unimagimative13]

My DH looked in horror as I dipped toast into an Ellas pouch

[becksblue]

Ds is mastering the cup for drinking which is great to see but still not very much eating going on!

[MadamoiselleMango]

Oooo watching with interest as dd turns 6 months in a few weeks and I'm looking forward to starting blw!

[unimagimative13]

The grabbing is getting better after a few days!

But there's a lot that ends up on the floor.

I did pancakes yesterday because they crumble well but he stucks/eats half then puts his hand out the high chair and just drops it!

[becksblue]

broccoli was fairly successful but messy (as is everything when blw!)

Wondering when to introduce things other than fruit and veg. Anyone else feel like they do a mountain of reading/research and you forget it all after 5 mins and need to read it all again?!

[unimagimative13]

I thought the whole point of BLW was feed them anything! Anything we have he tries! Maybe try some toast fingers (DS did just suck off the buter)

[poocatcherchampion]

Yes I literally offer a bite of what is on my plate. No thinking about what to give at all.

I try not to give honey and have any eye on what is processed ans we don't eat nuts anyway so that is that.

[thenewaveragebear1983]

It's more the shape of things until they develop the pincer grip when they hold food in the palm they can't get small bits to their mouths. Also I'm a bit wary of anything too spicy/ potential for wind!