Baby Led Weaning: Am I offering too much

[GrumpyHoonMain]

DC is 6 months old and is catching up so I appreciate he will eat more to appetite but I am genuinely feeling a bit confused by the amounts he’s eating.

He has 11 breastfeeds everyday and is entirely self-feeding and has the following:

Breakfast: scrambled egg (half an egg), a dollop of yoghurt with nut butter, sometimes he’ll cry for more food and so we offer half a weetabix. He’ll eat it all, have a bit of water, and then a breastfeed.

Lunch is usually 2-3 strips of toast (nearly 1 slice of bread) with peanut butter or cottage cheese. Or some cheese and fruit.

Dinner is often a selection of roasted or steamed veg. Have started to offer pasta / lentils too and he loves the combination. He eats it all.

He has a divided plate appropriate for his age and there is mess so he can’t be eating so much, but should I cut things down?

He breastfeeds after lunch and dinner too. Man the more I think about it the more worried I am.

I could be completely wrong, but I see it as you can't over feed a baby but you can feed them the wrong things.

My daughter is 2nd percentile and would empty the fridge daily if I let her. But it hasn't always been that way, we had days of complete food refusal and days of there never being enough.

I get to choose when and what and she gets to decide how much to eat. I don't think it's a bad thing if he likes his food, as long as he has a varied diet.

Perhaps he's having a growth spurt? My daughter had one a couple of weeks ago and it wasn't uncommon for dinner to be followed by seconds and two weetabix with added extras (nuts, fruit, etc).

It'll be ok!

Food before 1 is for fun.

He is learning and exploring. Try and give a rainbow of food as each colour helps a different area of the body. They can then choose what to eat. Easiest thing about BLW is that they have what you’re having.

Does he actually eat all the food?

Are you giving him water as well? He might be thirsty, hence breastfeeding after?

I'm blind... Just ignore me...

Sounds like he's getting a great start! I think you should be pleased. Honestly don't worry. I know they say food is for fun before they're 1 and all that but honestly every baby is different and will wean at different rates. I think that phrase is more to stop parents worrying they're not eating enough! He's still getting lots of breastfeeds, but ultimately you want bf to reduce, not the foods. I think he'll self regulate his food intake so as long as its healthy, a good variety and calorie dense, don't worry. Also you might find weaning is a bit feast and famine, loads for a few days then verging on zero for a few. If you look at the intake over a week or so rather than each day you may feel differently.

I don't think that sounds madly excessive? It's all healthy food, I'm sure lots goes down the side of his chair/on the floor and it's not like he's eating adult or even toddler portions - it's a lot more than most six months old who self-feed manage, but a lot less than a lot of babies who are spoonfed and take to that enthusiastically.

I know it's easy to say but I think this is quite a nice problem to have - if you really think he's having too much (and I'd judge that purely on if he starts dropping breastfeeds too fast, not on how much he's actually eating) then you can cut back but a baby taking well to solid food and self-feeding removes a huge source of stress later.

Phew thanks ladies that’s a relief to hear. It’s all a bit daunting when the NHS advice measures intake by tbs at this age and all my family and friends think I’m overfeeding him!

He’s only on the 9th centile and so is catching up - I’m hoping this is all just in preparation up to a growth spurt.

He gets water - we’ll let him self-feed (with support) from a Doidy and then give him up to 60ml at the end of the day with a pipette if needed. So I think he is hydrated.

The fact he's breastfeeding so much shows he's still getting most from that. Do you see much in his nappies?

Yes his poos are technicoloured

Babies and young toddlers eat if they are hungry. As long as your aren't forcing him to eat food when he's said/indicated "No" don't worry as he's eating because he's hungry.

Also babies iron supplies run out around 6 months so the saying "food before 1 is for fun" is stupid.

I know he's still really young but 11 breastfeeds seems a lot. Would you want to drop 1 or 2 of these feeds instead of reducing his solids if he likes it? I'm guessing you are still feeding on demand, at this stage weaning got me into more of a feeding routine such as 7am, 11am, 3pm, 7pm and a few in the night. I think it's great your little one likes his food.

This whole " food before one is for fun " is not only a massive BS but a sure way to get a fussy eater.
The opportunity window to offer the biggest variety of food closes quite quickly so do not change a single thing of what you are doing and present the biggest variety of veggies.

read here about how important the first meals are qz.com/701128/the-science-behind-getting-your-kids-to-eat-everything/