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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

Want to start BLW this weekend but feeling chicken - anyone want to hold my hand?

74 replies

phdlife · 08/10/2007 21:37

Ds will be 26 weeks on Friday (hurrah!) and I've been wanting to try BLW, but feeling nervous, mainly coz I don't know anyone who's tried it, and the mums I usually get support from have never even heard of it! (plus I am just a worry-wart!)

I sorta had an aborted go last weekend, feeling pushed by HV - ds got some mashed sweet potato on Saturday (he was indifferent to the sweet potato, but my god he loved that spoon) and he grabbed my banana and shoved it in his gob on Sunday. But his little face looked so worried, and I really don't know how we're going to fit his mealtimes in with ours, and I feel even less sure about how to start the whole process off...

So, anyone else about to start BLW? Let's do it together! [hopeful emoticon]

OP posts:
EvangelinesMum · 09/10/2007 15:18

LL & Aitch - thanks for the compliments about dd's name - there were no other contenders for us, it was the only one we could agree on!
gerbo - well done with the banana - that is currently dd's favourite. I think because it is sweet and mushes up easily.
Also Aitch - your blog has been really useful for tips when starting out - thanks!

EvangelinesMum · 09/10/2007 15:34

A big concern I have is gagging, in that I feel a bit mean towards dd to be actively giving her things which are likely to make her gag. To me gagging is a horrid sensation and I feel guilty going down a route that will impose this on her alot.
I keep watching her every second to check and then leap for her mouth whenever she gags - I guess I just need to RELAX!

littlelapin · 09/10/2007 16:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Psychobabble · 09/10/2007 20:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Habbibu · 09/10/2007 20:20

Psycho - I reckon that "I've always thought that as long as you offer any mashed or runny stuff in the same spirit as you would proper finger food - ie put it in front of them and let them get stuck in - then it counts as BLW." pretty much does make you a hardcore BLWer! It's the principle of self-feeding, rather than consistency of food that counts. I've always reckoned if she snatches a loaded spoon off me, or picks it up, that counts, and that seems to be the consensus.

And mashed potato is super nice - would be a shame for the baby not to have it on principle! I just wouldn't mash stuff which is nicer unmashed, if you see what I mean.

Psychobabble · 09/10/2007 20:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
phdlife · 09/10/2007 21:15

the stuff about drinking is useful (maybe) - have been trying to get ds to take EBM from a bottle, a "trainer" cup, and a normal tommee tippee - all to no avail so far. Well he gets the milk in his mouth, then spits it out!

might try an open cup tomorrow, maybe he'll be feeling better then.

gerbo this is gonna be so fun!

(IKWYM about the gagging though, EvangelinesMum. I'd feel a bit the same, but then some BLW stuff I've read suggests they get over that stage fairly quickly. Fingers crossed...)

OP posts:
EvangelinesMum · 10/10/2007 07:11

phd - i had the same problem with dd not taking anything from any kind of bottle or cup, but now she's older she will take it from the open cup - good luck!

liath · 10/10/2007 07:31

D'you reckon ds will need water if he's still BF on demand? Not sure when to start offering it.

I'm going to miss those breast milk nappies, though .

seeker · 10/10/2007 07:44

I thought your OP title was a mistype for "feeding chicken" and was about to leap in with a frantic ""no - not to start with!!!!"

Hope it's going well - good luck. My friend recommends a friendly labrador to clean up the floor!

EvangelinesMum · 10/10/2007 08:00

liath - I know what you mean about the nappies, they are already changing!
I have just been offering dd some water each time I offer her finger foods, she quite likes to play with the cup, banging it on the tray, etc! I have held the cup for her and she takes a bit but not very interested at the mo. Will just keep offering it I think and see what happens.

SharpMolarBear · 10/10/2007 09:35

Might try offering water, does it not go everywhere though?
Apparently last night's nappy had bits of broccoli in it - so glad it wasn't my turn

RoRoMommy · 10/10/2007 11:15

This is a great thread! I just started BLW, and the first night we had a gagging/vomit issue with green beans that were overcooked. But then this morning I saw a bit of green bean in the nappy, so something did get down! DS loves banana, I think carrots are next on the list.

I found the "first months" foods list on Aitch's site to be very helpful, printed it and keep it in the kitchen.

My nanny thinks I am crazy, BTW. She thinks pureed foods are safer, but besides that she thinks DS is so fat he doesn't need solids anyway. DS is 6 months and 23lbs.

Anyway, so excited to keep my eye on this thread and share experiences with all of you.

Original poster
phdlife · 10/10/2007 12:31

ooh, ooh! GCSE's nappy also had broccoli in it this morning!!

sharpmolarbear I've tried giving gcse water in a trainer cup and it does indeed go everywhere, but I am fairly sure this is because he spits it out!

OP posts:
AitchTwoOh · 10/10/2007 12:34

oi, get over and post that on the other thread, then, you naughty woman...

Original poster
phdlife · 10/10/2007 12:42

I can't, I just had to send your tech a whole string of mortifying emails and not only can I never show my face on your forum again but in fact am going to have to leave the country in shame at sheer woolly-headedness

OP posts:
Original poster
phdlife · 10/10/2007 12:46

oh wait, you said, "post that on the other thread", didn't you - is there another BLW thread I should know about?

I've been meaning to change my name, I'm thinking "usedtobequitecleverbeforeallthisbabymalarky" might be appropriate...

OP posts:
AitchTwoOh · 10/10/2007 13:14

lol, monumental x-post, i was telling Ronansmum to go back and post on her thread that there was actually some green bean goiing down.

Original poster
phdlife · 10/10/2007 13:22

oh, so you mean I'm not the only DOLT around here?

OP posts:
AitchTwoOh · 10/10/2007 13:30

lol, not even close.

RoRoMommy · 10/10/2007 13:41

Sorry, Aitch! [sound of footsteps pattering over to babyledweaning.com]

Original poster
phdlife · 12/10/2007 12:11

how are we all going here?

gcse has had steamed carrot and steamed broccoli now. And yesterday when dh had lunch without any for ds, apparently he began howling (ds that is, not dh) - think he likes being able to "join in"!

OP posts:
gerbo · 12/10/2007 13:50

phdlife - sounds like it's all going really well! Afraid we are currently on hold re. BLW as we're waiting for the weekend when my husband can start her off with me!! (Cue understandable eye-rolling from Aitch...) But - excited still. Had a taste though of criticism from a lady at a playgoup I went to this week who looked at me with horror at the suggestion of giving her anything not pureed to within an inch of it's life - she clearly had never heard of BLW and thought it was craaaaazy.....Guess we all have ot be prepared for flak.

Original poster
phdlife · 12/10/2007 14:22

lol gerbo - don't tell Aitch but we started last w/end so dh could join in too

OP posts:
AitchTwoOh · 12/10/2007 15:26

what are you on about, i don't give a fig when you all start... that's the cool thing aobut BLW, if they aren't ready, they don't pick it up. and a pal of mine delayed things a month because she was on holiday abroad at the time, good decision i say.