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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 Virgin - What are your top tips?

21 replies

barefeete · 09/08/2007 19:20

DS was terrible to wean and i was PATHETIC which makes me think that this may be 1 reason why he is such a fussy eater now at 22 months!

BLW seems perfect for me as i have a vege DH and I am a meat eater and DS eats not much so I already have loads of different meals to do for everyone!! Also i am lazy and just can't bear the thought of pureeing anything ever again!

So top tips from all those BLW experts i to get me started if you please (yes i have read the blog and have been devouring it daily)...

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jojosmaman · 09/08/2007 22:18

I have only just started a couple of weeks ago but I think the only advice I can offer is take it slowly and try and get out of the mentality of "getting food in to them". At first I would see NCT members who are pureeing spoon feeding bowls of carrot or whatever to their little ones and my ds would be sat there with half a piece of cheese in his hand and the other on the floor and it would, briefly, cross my mind, mmm maybe I should just start him with a bit of puree. But like you I can't be bothered and it is easier to cut up a bit of fruit or veg so luckily I have persevered and I think we may be having a break through this week as I have noticed a slight change in his nappies so I think he is finally swallowing something! Take it slowly, at babies pace as that is what it is all about and you will soon see a difference. The other day I was in Sainsburys and ds was getting a bit hungry for his milk and so I opened up the mini babybels and gave him one and he happily sucked on it until we got home and it was then I realised the true pleasure of BLW!!

Oh and I found cucumber sticks and tenderstem broccolli as great first foods!

Original poster
barefeete · 10/08/2007 00:37

Thank you exactly what i needed to hear

anyone else?

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TranquilaManana · 10/08/2007 00:40

top tip, read the BLW blog.
all the info you need there.

also; unclench.
let the kid make amess
let them take an hour to get a milimeter cubed into their mouth.
theyll get the hang of it. probably [joke!]

ds3 did blw. hes a fabulous eater. even does soup properly witha sppon, since about 13m. 'mazin'

ruddynorah · 10/08/2007 00:43

ditto that. the blog says it all.

my best tip is not panicking when they gag, smile a lot, do loud chomping faces, very over the top. it distracts them from gagging and helps remind them to chew.

Original poster
barefeete · 10/08/2007 03:11

Thanks ruddy - act the clown, easy!

Tranquilla: I have read the blog which is fab. Was hoping for some amazing tips from the top but blw is obviously simple as...

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TranquilaManana · 10/08/2007 09:08

barefeete - thats the beauty of it - the dc does all the hard work, you just present the food and let them at it.
i love it when the path of least vresistance appears to be the'right' one (and i can feel like a good parent!)

Manictigger · 10/08/2007 10:51

Yep, I agree with all the stuff below - Aitch's blog is brill. But I'd also say don't ever feel that a spoon is the work of the devil. My dd always has Greek yoghurt from a spoon now because I tried putting a small pile on the highchair as an experiment and she just became really frustrated because she couldn't get it in her gob. Then I started loading a spoon up and giving it to her to hold which she did for a bit but now she just sits up with her mouth open waiting to be fed like lady muck. When she's had enough she just shuts her mouth.

Oh and buy loads of those bibs with sleeves on (Asda etc do them quite cheaply) unless you want clothes to get really grungy - I find normal bibs are just useless for BLW. And use them inside out so the waterproof bit is in contact with the food - makes cleaning them easier. In fact if you roll the sleeves up so they stay quite clean, with a careful rinse you can reuse them all day ( bib slut )

Original poster
barefeete · 10/08/2007 17:46

I used to give my DS Readybrek for breakfast with apple or weetabix with banana or something similar. mainly because it was easy and it was fortified. was i being precious with the fortified bit? what is a typlical BLW breakie?
Thanks manic. I would still like to incorperate a spoon like you have done for yogs and such. Did you do that from the beginning?

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Sunshinemummy · 10/08/2007 17:48

I used a spoon for yogs in the v early days but DS soon learned how to do it himself. Give him a spoon as well as yours so he can have a try at the same time. And don't worry if they refuse something - it happens.

Habbibu · 10/08/2007 18:50

Think continental meal times - long, leisurely, sociable, and dipping in and out of various courses! A BLW meal is a slow, pleasant process, and a joy to behold.

Original poster
barefeete · 10/08/2007 19:32

Thanks sunshine and Habbibu - i am used to things being refused, I have a 22 mont old who refuses all but peanut butter on toast and pineapple! DD will be calm, happy place of food worship. might get the joss sticks out to!

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Aitch · 10/08/2007 22:52

tell you what, barefeete, it may just work out that ds1 eats better when he sees the baby enjoying his food. i've certainly heard tell of that happening a few times.
i like the 'unclench' advice best, although manic's inside-out bib is pretty inspired. likewise not treating spoons as the enemy... in fact don't treat anything as the enemy, it's all up for grabs, so to speak. also i like hab's continental thing. oh, look, if i start a poll like this on the blog and put it in the 'getting started' section, do you think you would all do me a favour and pretty much repeat what's been said here..? pretty please? i think they're all solid gold tips, tbh.

Original poster
barefeete · 11/08/2007 01:29

Hi Aitch, from a mum who is struggling to feed a 2 year old you have really given me the courage and inspiration to try something new - THANK YOU.

Sounds like a good idea to me to put in a get 'started section' on the blog. I may even be adding my own tips soon enough!

One of the main reasons for me to do BLW (apart from the fact that it is simplistic, which is what i need at the moment as i REALLY don't need any more stress added to my day mealtimes especially!)is that it might encourage DS to eat something new when he sees his beloved (not said with sarcasm - he does actually think she is gorgeous, thankfully) sister eating something different to him. Fingers, legs, toes etc etc all crossed.

Hopefully with catch up with you again when i get this thing all started in a month or so.

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Aitch · 11/08/2007 14:27

aw, thanks barefeete.

now, in your honour i have started a post on the blog here, so now you if you'd all go and repeat yourselves on there i'd be unbelievably grateful. because i'd feel awkward about just stealing them and claiming them for my own...

Manictigger · 13/08/2007 23:07

Oh Aitch, nick 'em and be damned. None of us have copyrighted them I'm sure (though have now been persuaded to sign up to the blog again - I used to be registered months ago but was sadly seduced by MN..... and have forgotten my password etc.)

Barefeete, sorry wasn't ignoring your question just haven't looked at this topic for a few days. We've used a spoon for yoghurt from the beginning (aside from the piling on highchair experiment) but it's the only thing we do spoon. Even rice and couscous can be left in a pile if it's made gluey enough.

PutThatInYourPipeandSmokeIt · 14/08/2007 09:45

I agree - just relax and treat meal times as 'messy play' and don't for a minute start getting hung up on whether they've eaten anything. Learning to eat solids is like learning to crawl / walk / talk etc - it's a process that you just can't hurry!! My LO (8 months) got a fit of the giggles when I dangled a green bean from my mouth yesterday. She then picked one up and dangled it in her mouth. We had such a laugh!

If ever you feel yourself starting to panic about how much and what they're actually eating, remember that my sister's friend grew up on sugar toast and chocolate and wouldn't eat anything else AT ALL and she's absolutely fine.

Eggy bread & cinammon toast fingers are the current brekkie fave!

Aitch · 14/08/2007 09:49

lol manic, i fear that my metions of MN on the blog have lost me a few users over the year. wouldn't have it any other way, naturally. now al of you go and post on that thread. i can't steal 'unclench', it's genius.

2Helenback · 15/08/2007 16:12

2 weeks in the best thing I have done is drop my own faddiness. I HATE bananas due to childhood trauma; the sight, smell, taste, texture, EVERYTHING. I really don't like the stinky yellow things.

However DD adores them, and they are v. easy BLW food to have with you, needing no preparation etc. DH sits saying " Mummy must really love you" as manky mashed devil fruit goes all over my hand, the chair, floor etc.

Also, extra wipes; I'm no hygiene freak but some pub and cafe high chairs are BUGGING! Also DD likes to treat the harness straps as an extra form of nourishment, so if a chair is especially manky with food encrusted straps she's staying on my lap and the washing machine will just have to cope with the aftermath! I never thought I'd find myself carrying a tiny Bounty pack spray of anit bac everywhere I go.

ProfYaffle · 15/08/2007 16:18

Never go bibless thinking "It's only a rice cake, how much mess can she make with a rice cake for goodness sake?" They can make an eye watering mess with the smallest and cleanest of foods.

lulu25 · 17/08/2007 18:28

get a compost bucket

PutThatInYourPipeandSmokeIt · 17/08/2007 22:42

I so second that

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