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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

BWL Vs Spoon Fed

15 replies

OwlyLady · 28/12/2017 22:37

Hi,
I've been happily doing BLW past week now with 6 month old (he's fully able to sit, chew, swallow and coordinate food to his mouth). BUT I was just wondering what everyone else does and what the pros and cons are of different ways to feed baby. All of my friends appear to be opting for spoon feeding their LOs with baby rice and purees and it's got me questioning my decision now. Especially as they have all been to NCT and other weaning classes.
Please let me know your thoughts.
Thanks x

OP posts:
Original poster
OwlyLady · 28/12/2017 22:38

Urgh I obviously meant BLW (put it wrong in post title 🤦) haha

OP posts:
snackarella · 28/12/2017 22:39

I ended up doing a combo but strongly believe baby led creates a better relationships with food in the long term.

In fact I actually think as long as they see you cooking and preparing food from scratch it doesn't actually matter which one you do !

Good luck! Z

NapQueen · 28/12/2017 22:39

Did blw with dc1 and enjoyed it. Found it easy to do. Dc2 was spoon fed as I just wanted both kids fed and through mealtimes asap tbh.

Dc1 is ridiculously picky. Dc2 eats everything.

Just do what you prefer.

WinkyisbackontheButterBeer · 28/12/2017 22:43

We never gave dd purées. She has lots of finger foods and will tuck into absolutely anything.
I’m reluctant to say we did blw as some parents are really strict on what they class this as. We do spoon feed dd things like yogurt and porridge. I don’t see the point in leaving them to struggle with something that you could help with. Dd got very frustrated.
I would go with mixing what is easiest and most appropriate for you. Baby needs to get used to a range of tastes and textures anyhow.

SimultaneousEquation · 28/12/2017 22:45

Did blw with dc2. He chomped down on apple, courgette, pumpkin, cucumber, you name it.

10 years later he’s a right fusspot.

SunshineAllTheWhile · 28/12/2017 22:46

It’s so easy to doubt yourself with these things; especially when it seems like everyone else is doing something different to you. I started out BLW with DS (now 3) but I doubted myself and ended up doing annoying purées & giving him pouches when out etc. Essentially it was fine but I do always wonder why I bothered changing tack if he was happy with BLW. Ok reflection, it was probably a lot to do with feeling like I wasn’t doing things the same way all the NCT & therefore probably missing some sort of trick.

My DD is now 7 months and is only BLW - she wouldn’t have it any other way. (And having a toddler to contend with too, BLW makes meal times so much easier not having to mash/up or puree anything!)

DS could have carried on BLW
but was also happy to do traditional weaning, DD will just wrestle the spoon off me & throw it away. You know your baby better than anyone, don’t doubt yourself. Whatever you decide will be right Smile

FartnissEverbeans · 28/12/2017 22:49

Spoon feeding is easy and less messy, I found. I work full time and didn't have time to leave my baby to mess around with food for ages. I also couldn't expect his nursery to take him through BLW, so he got purées, porridge etc. I never gave him baby rice, just because I didn't think it sounded very tasty.

Early on I found that he got really frustrated with finger food when he was actually hungry, and just chucked it away when he wasn't. He's not a big eater even now (14mo) but he prefers to eat with a fork or spoon rather than his fingers.

I wouldn't do BLW as I think it's a faff and a fad but obviously finger foods are an important part of the weaning process.

skankingpiglet · 28/12/2017 23:16

If he happily takes to BLW I'd just stick with that TBH. Much easier for you: no blenders to clean and you get to eat a hot meal together. No need to bring a separate meal for him with you if eating out. However if you're not sure then give traditional weaning a go and see how you get on. As long as you offer finger foods alongside the puree and aren't still soley spoon feeding stage 1 mush at 18mo he'll be fine.
I think people like spoon feeding as it's easier to quantify just how much is going in/get food into them and it's far less messy, but there is no need to quantify or load them up (milk being their main source of calories and food being complimentary) and at some point you will have to let them have a go and deal with the mess anyway. I think some parents are anxious about choking too and feel spoon feeding purees allows them some control with this.

Personally I was too lazy to blend or spoon feed so both mine were BLW. DD1 eats a huge variety of foods and has a good appetite, DD2 has a good appetite but is far more limited in the foods she's prepared to eat/try. It's just their personalities, they were treated the same.
Amongst my friend's DCs it seemed to make very little (no?) difference which method was used except with a couple where the DCs were denied almost all finger foods for a very long time (think 12m-ish) whilst also being fed only jars/pouches. Those children had/have texture issues and were very reluctant to switch even to homemade puree.

InTheRoseGarden · 28/12/2017 23:48

I did BLW with both of mine. They seemed happy and it was really easy for me.

Original poster
OwlyLady · 29/12/2017 03:18

Thank you all so much! Maybe I will try doing a bit of both, will make getting his breakfast over with a bit quicker in the mornings.

I've heard when they start nursery or school that's often when they become fussy as they pick up fussy eating from other kids? DS starts nursery in a month so super hope that's not true

OP posts:
Seahawk80 · 29/12/2017 04:30

I'm in exactly the same position as you. I asked a few of my NCT friends why they were doing purées - just out of interest. One was worried about choking and another just didn't think her baby would have the head control until at least 7m, another just wanted to do purée. I think don't doubt yourself and do whatever works for you and your baby.

I've been doing BLW but am not a purist, I have given DS a bit of pouch here and there at breakfast in the same way I would give yogurt just to check he likes flavours and just in case I ever want to give him the odd pouch once he's bigger and used to getting a bit of food in in case there is a day where for some reason it's my only option. )We are taking him travelling so it's more likely to be the case than when at home.) FWIW I love the fact that I don't have to take him off to have his lunch spooned into him at certain times and that we can all eat together - the mess is something else though!

SadieContrary · 29/12/2017 04:36

I started spoon feeding but now keep that for yoghurts etc. I find my DD eats better if she has bits and pieces in front of her - so a bit of both

Hesburger · 29/12/2017 05:41

I find my ds eats a wider variety of foods at nursery than he does at home. When he sees other children eat new foods, he tries them too.

April45 · 30/12/2017 19:20

Do what you’re happiest with. There’s a very purest group of blw fans but it’s not new it’s what they called finger food when I was young. In my experience DS was about 9 Months before he developed the coordination and chewing skills to tackle finger foods but he loved playing with it. We did purée and finger foods and now at 11 Months he mainly feeds himself with spoon or fingers. You can’t force them to eat from a spoon (which is what blw say). For me it’s about developing a positive relationship with food.

moita · 05/01/2018 10:44

DS refused to be spoon fed so it was BLW for us! It is messy but I love not having to take food out with us: he just eats what we having (but low salt/sugar).

Expecting my 2nd and I'll do BLW again.

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