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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 is all very well if....

330 replies

babybore · 14/02/2007 13:51

  1. Your baby has very good gross motor skills
  2. You are not concerned about their weight gain
  3. You have the time and money to prepare a wide variety of foods, most of which end up on the floor.

My dd is 7 months, weaned at 6. I was looking forward to weaning her as she was under her growth curve and I thought it might help her get back on it (it has). I have been trying finger foods but have mainly relied on home-cooked mashed or pureed food as she does not yet have the dexterity or the brain development to understand that the stick of brocolli put in front of her is her lunch, no matter how long I leave her with it.

If I had done BLW, my baby would be unhappy and underweight (she loves her solids) and I would be miserable and worried. So while it works for some babies I really think a degree of caution needs to be exercised in believing that all babies can eat finger foods from 6 months.

OP posts:
Locksikas · 15/02/2007 19:09

Message withdrawn

AitchTwoOh · 15/02/2007 19:21

fishcakes and courtesans... just an ordinary evening round at the Aitch Block.

harpsichordcarrier · 15/02/2007 19:34

OK, to be factually accurate: for brief periods in human history (tiny periods relative to the length of human history, a tiny elite has been in a position to eat more than they need to survive.
not true for the slaves, peasants or even the artisans.

VeniVidiVickiQV · 15/02/2007 19:43

photographic evidence

VeniVidiVickiQV · 15/02/2007 19:45

puddeny nymphs

AitchTwoOh · 15/02/2007 19:47

yes, but you can see vvvqv's point, harpsi. no way she'd have been a slave, peasant or artisan. courtesan, maybe... hawking her battered fishcake round the high and mighty of ancient athens.

harpsichordcarrier · 15/02/2007 19:55

arfarf at battered fishcake
very good girls

SaucyMoo · 16/02/2007 00:23

sorry to jump on this thread so late (havent read all the messages as its so long!) but i think the OP was saying what she did because there are people on here who wont consider anything except BLW even if their baby is clearly not picking up food and putting it in their mouth...if they do then brilliant, if not, then just feed them yourself-they are after all just babies! I think everyone should have a bit more of an open minded attitude towards weaning!

oops · 16/02/2007 00:34

Message withdrawn

terramum · 16/02/2007 00:36

But Saucymoo if a baby doesnt pick up food straight away & eat doesnt mean they never will! It just means they probably arent ready for solids yet. Babies dont need solid food to survive. Milk will provide all they need until they are at least one year old. The skills needed to self feed are usually acquired at the same time as the digestive tract matures & gets all the enzymes needed to properly digest things other than milk. By spoon feeding you may be giving them solids before they are ready for them....increasing the chances of problems with allergies, digestive & kidney disorders later in life. Its like trying to make a child walk before their legs are strong enough to support their weight - theres just no point or worth the risk imo.

oops · 16/02/2007 00:44

Message withdrawn

VeniVidiVickiQV · 16/02/2007 00:48

Oops - I remember your gorgeous DS2 in his early BLW, and the associated decorating of the floor. Was lovely to see.

How are you doing today, btw?

terramum · 16/02/2007 00:50

Oooh I like your thinking oops! Makes me feel all brave about being the first in my bfing group to do blw & for facing the comments & looks from MIL - who being a childminder has weaned 100s of babies: "Ive never seen it done like that before"

oops · 16/02/2007 00:52

Message withdrawn

oops · 16/02/2007 00:53

Message withdrawn

oops · 16/02/2007 00:54

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VeniVidiVickiQV · 16/02/2007 00:54

I remember all those rice cakes at Mars' too

Im okay, not had the best of weeks (nothing serious - see my thread in chat entitled "arse"), but, okay.

We must all get together with the LO's again soon.

terramum · 16/02/2007 00:57

He he Oops - thats what happens when you post in the middle of the night.

BFing & BLW is nothing - cloth nappies , make my own cleaning products Home educating ....Im a right wierdo me

oops · 16/02/2007 00:58

Message withdrawn

VeniVidiVickiQV · 16/02/2007 00:58

Ah, see, now, cloth nappies....i dont think i could have managed. Definitely not.

VeniVidiVickiQV · 16/02/2007 00:59

That can only be a good thing. Take care my lovely. Speak soon x

oops · 16/02/2007 01:02

Message withdrawn

terramum · 16/02/2007 01:06

OOh forgot about the mooncup & my wemoons ....now wheres me lentil knitting got to....

Enid · 16/02/2007 08:46

yes oops! that's right. People who don't do BLW are less open-minded!

And people wonder why I have said there is an insidious pressure behind methodology

SaucyMoo · 16/02/2007 09:00

tbh i do both methods as i find one particular does not work with ds. But i think i am open minded because when one doesnt work i do the other..what do you call feeding normal food with your hand to your lo? cos thats what i have to do with him! Its not blw and its not puree-ing Confused