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Weaning

Find weaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Weaning forum. Use our child development calendar for more information.

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Original poster

can you mix BLW and purees?

19 replies

knickerelasticjones · 14/01/2008 15:18

Ok now please dont shoot me down in flames cos I know that BLW is considered to be very much the way forward at the mo, but DD2 (5.5 mths) has been on purees for the past week or so.

I know its a bit early but she was clearly DESPERATE to eat. She kept going nuts everytime we ate and was trying to grab things off my plate. I started with purees cos that's what I'd done with DD1 and I've only in the last couple of days found out about BLW. THe thing is DD2 LOVES her purees - last night she was troughing down tonnes of carrot and parsnip, happy as can be grabbing the spoon and shoving it in her mouth.

Do you think I could combine this with a bit of BLW as well? Or should the two be kept separate? Have I blown it already by giving her purees?

From reading some of the threads here I know some of you consider purees to be the work of the devil but I just dont think DD2 would be very happy if I suddently stopped giving her food which she has really been enjoying. Or would she?

I know I'm rambling on but any advice would be much appreciated

OP posts:

Flier · 14/01/2008 15:21

I was a pureed feeder with my first, and did mixed between BLW and purees with my dd. BLW did eventually lead the way, though. ie she much preferred to feed herself.

I'm sure you could start blw just now.

bobsmum · 14/01/2008 15:24

You could give her finger foods and purees with no problems - just don't call it BLW, cos that's a whole different thing and kettle of fish etc.

BLW is giving a baby what they can pick up, eat and manage themselves once they're sitting up etc - if you're spooning it in then it's mum-led IYSWIM.

Original poster

knickerelasticjones · 14/01/2008 15:25

thanks flier - I did give her a green bean from a salad I was having at the weekend and she seemed quite entertained.

I'm just wondering if she might get confused between the two types of different food she is being offered. My instinct is that she will probably be ok (I tend to think babies are pretty flexible little things) but I wouldnd't want to end up messing things up.

OP posts:

IAteRosemaryConleyForBreakfast · 14/01/2008 15:26

Do what you like is the answer - but the whole point of BLW is that the baby does it so she'd be better off having carrot sticks instead of puree if you want to try BLW.

andiemustlosehalfastonemore · 14/01/2008 15:27

hi knicker my lo is six months and I am doing a mixture of puree and finger food and he seems ok with it eats sandwiches

Flier · 14/01/2008 15:27

My dd loved learning all about food, I don't think your dd will get confused though. If they're hungry, they'll eat!

Original poster

knickerelasticjones · 14/01/2008 15:29

thanks bobsmum that's interesting - I'm probably a bit confused about BLW then. What would you do if a baby wasn't sitting up until 7 months or so - would you just wait until then? And presumably BLW is mum-led to a certain degree as you (or dad) are the one providing the food. Do you choose foods that you think your baby might be able to manage? (I'm trying to imagine my DD2 eating the lentil soup we had last night - could be fun!)

Or have I got myself all confused! (or am I underestimating a baby's will to eat?)

so many questions - sorry!

OP posts:

TheIceQueen · 14/01/2008 15:29

We're doing a mixture of spoon feeding and BLW. I say spoon feeding as it's not pureed - it's just stuff that DS3 is desperate to eat but just can't seem to get to grips with using his hands.

I'm not entirely convinced that spoon feeding them is totally "mum-led" feeding - yes if you're shovelling food in that they're not interested in (as I did with DS1 and 2 ) - but with DS3 if he opens his mouth/makes a grab for the spoon then we put it in his mouth - when he's had enough, he's had enough. If he doesn't open his mouth at all for it then we don't push it.

PerkinWarbeck · 14/01/2008 15:32

I gave a combination of softer spoonable foods like cuuries, fish pie, rice and peas (although not purees), as well as finger foods. Still do in fact, and 9mo Dd seems equally comfortable feeding herself a sandwich as with me helping her with a curry.

PerkinWarbeck · 14/01/2008 15:35

x post QoQ!
I agree that spoon feeding is often equated with pushing food on DCs. We just find she gets more variety with a mixture of softer foods and finger foods. DD is quite clear when she does and doesn't want another spoonful.

AhhChewww · 14/01/2008 15:35

I don't think you should be getting stressed about it... Even pure BLW is mum lead, isn't it. Baby doesn't go to supermarket and think to herself'oh I like the look of this lamb chops. May get some for dinner tonight'. The baby eats whats she's given by mum.

Don't get me wrong. I do mainly 'blw' with my dd. And we love it. I only feed her yogurt and porridge. And even at 7 months she tries to feed herself with a spoon.

FioFio · 14/01/2008 15:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

bobsmum · 14/01/2008 15:38

With ds and dd I did a mix of mashed stuff and finger foods, but it definitely wasn't baby led weaning. Wasn't pureeing either, becuase if you wait til 6 months then you can go straight to mashing and forget the blender - thank goodness!

For no 3 I'll probably end up doing something similar tbh.

One of my good friends did real hardcore blw with nothing but a highchair tray full of steamed brocolli, carrots, etc - basically if baby couldn't pick it up and feed himself, then it didn't get eaten. Watching spag bol for example was an education

No spoons until baby could manage them himself.

AhhChewww · 14/01/2008 15:38

oh just reapeted your thoughts ...
very slaw typing...

Original poster

knickerelasticjones · 14/01/2008 15:38

splendid news FioFio!!

I shall prepare myself by indugling in plenty of other sins (pass me the gin) and then by myself a large heat-proof suit....

OP posts:

WowOoo · 14/01/2008 15:41

Hi, don't see what the problem is! Think our dc at around 5.5 helped themselves to bits of our food and had their milk mostly, spoons or handfuls of porridge (WHAT A MESS) My ds 20 mnths still eats mostly with his hands too! I try not to worry about it all: he's a happy happy bean.

Original poster

knickerelasticjones · 14/01/2008 15:44

Please don't anybody think I'm getting worried about this - it was more of an enquiry really.

THe only hard and fast rule about feeding kids in our house is not to every worry about it! Few kids ever starve themselves....

OP posts:

Aitch · 14/01/2008 19:55

amen. actually, what you mean by a mix of mash and finger food is actually what the most recent govt brochures seem to be recommending now that they're all on-board with the 6 months thing. blw is a bit different but in practive it's more of a 'no shovelling' mind set imo and tbh i don't think many MNers are the shovelling sorts anyway so it's not that big a deal.
as it happens, i suppose pals of mine could have characterised me as a 'hard-core' BLWer because i didn't spoon-feed dd at all. but that was much more to do with the fact that i couldn't see the point of it than an adherence to a set of beliefs. if i'd needed or wanted to spoon feed dd then i would have, no worries.

wrt your question, just give the baby a mix and you'll probably find that the finger food will take over anyway. or the grabbing of the spoon will render you redundant...

NoviceKnitter · 16/01/2008 17:22

Just repeating others really, but we're doing a mix of finger foods and purees or mashed stuff. I never force DD to eat anything tho and with the purees she grabs the spoon and feeds herself - when she stops I regard it as meal over, so I sort of feel it's in keeping with the philosophy of BLW - I'm just too nervous to be purist about it. Also, we eat alot of soups and slodgy stews anyway, so it's a taste of things to come!

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