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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

Can we clear up once and for all whether you are 'allowed' to mention the possibility of spoon feeding on a BLW thread?

376 replies

Enid · 22/03/2007 11:36

If the consensus is no, then I will happily bow out of any thread asking for advice on weaning, specifically BLW.

I always say that IMO it is fine to do both - ie a mixture of finger foods and spoon feeding.

Surely this cannot be in any way controversial?

OP posts:
quadrophenia · 22/03/2007 14:12

just with milk

littleEasterlapin · 22/03/2007 14:12

Gosh, and do you know what, I blitz beef before I make it into burgers for him!!!

Oh my god, I'm a puree-er!!!

SoupDragon · 22/03/2007 14:18

Hunker, I don't need anyone to tell me it's fine, I know it is

I'd like someone to explain how BLW is something other than a baby feeding themselves finger foods though. Because it appears to be putting finger food in front of your baby and letting them eat it. Or not. It's certainly not rocket science.

Ladymuck · 22/03/2007 14:25

Its the ethos though Soupy. If you just place appetizing food within reach of baby, then you're not putting much effort in, are you. You need a guru to set some random rules (which they may or may not have ever used themselves or children which they may or may not have had). You're focussing on the destination Soupy - that you want children who enjoy a wide variety of foods, and are able to join in the wonderful organic feasts that you prepare for your family. A BLWer is focussing on the journey.

SoupDragon · 22/03/2007 14:36

But they're not. There aren't rules like in AK Land where you have to make "sleeping canelloni" or "sausage snails", you just dump dinner in front of your baby and let them eat (or not). Other than the No Spoons/puree rule I guess.

littleEasterlapin · 22/03/2007 14:44

People are definitely losing their ability to spot "joking" posts today... maybe we need a little [clown] emoticon...

Rhubarb · 22/03/2007 14:46

How dare people joke about such a sensitive topic! Have they no feelings?

kamikayzed · 22/03/2007 15:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

zippitippitoes · 22/03/2007 15:07

my most recent experience of weanijg was with dgs and he insisted on taking food off my plate rather than his which i found quite annoying but it was the same food but as we were sat next to each other on the sofa a bit unavoidable unless i batted him away

but we also both had cutlery

so this is not blw is it?

bundle · 22/03/2007 15:07

the No Spoons/puree rule

madness

littleEasterlapin · 22/03/2007 15:22

Regardless of all this bickering about spoons, the BLW thing is great and the divine Aitch's blog is an excellent source of advice, support and recipes (for anyone who has wandered onto this thread and is perplexed! )

GingGangGooley · 22/03/2007 16:13

OH god that took me a while to read!

Just thought I'd go back to the orginal question as it seems to have gone off on a tangent:

Can we clear up once and for all whether you are 'allowed' to mention the possibility of spoon feeding on a BLW thread?

As far as I am aware spoons are "allowed" to be mentioned - freedom of speach and all that jazz.

However like others have said there is no such thing as doing BLW & Puree as it is simply finger food and puree.

However (another one!)Cutlery can be introduce for your child to explore and learn to use themselves around 10 months (ish) Babies mimic their parents so will learn how to use them.

I think the problem lies not with BLWers correcting people that have made a wrong statement but the people making the wrong statements getting offended for no reason. you're not being told you are wrong for weaning the traditional way just corrected for using BLW in the wrong context.

I am not an earth, mother, hippy type woman and i don't think i'm better than anyone for doing Baby Led Weaning. I'll happily give finger food advice on my blog too. So why can't you all just stop being a bunch of donuts

chipmonkey · 22/03/2007 16:19

Can someone please inform Hunker that someone else has started a Weaning Spoons thread. I believe she has copyright on same. Thanks.

chipmonkey · 22/03/2007 16:21

Sorry, didn't realise Hunker was already on the thread!

Original poster
Enid · 22/03/2007 16:34

"I think the problem lies not with BLWers correcting people that have made a wrong statement but the people making the wrong statements getting offended for no reason. you're not being told you are wrong for weaning the traditional way just corrected for using BLW in the wrong context."

you clearly have not read the thread then! Noone here is making any 'wrong statements'!

also being 'corrected for using BLW in the wrong context' is fecking annoying

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 22/03/2007 16:40

"However like others have said there is no such thing as doing BLW & Puree as it is simply finger food and puree."

How are finger foods and BLW different?? What a load of bllocks. BLW is* simply fingerfood. And it's quite possible to do a mix of BLW and spoonfeeding as it happens.

Original poster
Enid · 22/03/2007 16:49
OP posts:
bundle · 22/03/2007 16:51
SoupDragon · 22/03/2007 16:53

Well, it is fingerfoods isn't it? Or am I missing something? It's putting a plate of food in front of your baby and letting them get on with it or not.

As for the mix thing, some meals BabyDragon is spoonfed, some she is happy to fend for herself in full on BLW stylee and some she can't be ar$ed and is relieved when I spoon some of her made-to-be-self-fed meal into her open mouth whilst she deings to pop some in herself occasionally.

At least she's not lost any weight again after her disasterous "I'll eat only sweetcorn and macaroni" diet

TeeCee · 22/03/2007 16:54

I'm so on the fence but Soupy people are saying that finger food AND PUREES is not the same as BLW. BLW is giving whole food, in whatever form and not having a spoon pout anywhere in sight! That's proper blw.

Another not so blw pure form is doing the above but ofering soem yoghurt on a spoon but not attempting to put it in your DC's mouth they guide the spoon in.

Then there doing finger food as a main thing but also having spoons around (![smile} and giving them some things by spoon.

Original poster
Enid · 22/03/2007 16:54

yes it is fingerfoods. It is fingerfoods, but if you feel like using a spoon to feed your baby as well, you cannot. Or it is not BLW. And other BLW'rs judge you. (actually I fully admit I made that last bit up and perhaps they don't)

OP posts:
Original poster
Enid · 22/03/2007 16:56

I think its ok to give purees as long as the baby feeds herself with them - I mean its the method rather than the food? you can put porridge straight on the tray and baba feeds herself with her hands, you don't spoon feed.

OP posts:
TeeCee · 22/03/2007 16:57

All the poor true, pure blw are saying is that if you use the term BLW, which isn't a name they made up, then by that you are saying that you never use a spoon for anything, you child puts EVERYTHING into their mouths themselves. THAT is BLW. Anything outside that is either a diluted type of BLW (like letting them take yoghurt off the spoon from you) or it's the normal form of giving them stuff you've blitzed in a food processor and serve to them on a weaning spoona nd at the same time you also offer finger foods. All is fine but the later as it involves a puree and a spoon is NOT BLW.

Original poster
Enid · 22/03/2007 16:58

Can I also just mention how much I LOVE feeding my baby with a spoon? (She feeds herself lots of stuff but some stuff I spoon)Would be a damn shame if, as has been mentioned in the past, everyone did BLW as then you'd miss out on spooning lumpy mush into a hungry maw. Which I thoroughly enjoy!

OP posts:
TeeCee · 22/03/2007 16:59

Enid, that was naughty! No BLW anywhere that I've ever seen has judged anyone at all, ever, you naughty girl.

There is no wrong or right way of feedign you child. There is a wrong or right way to describe what BLW is, that's all.

I just do what I do and don't call it anything other than breakfast, lunch or dinner.