"Food is just for fun" - At nearly 7months old.........????

[hertsnessex]

So who agrees with this statement This was said to a friend whose baby is nearly 7months old.

I don't agree and think baby led weaning is needed - not pruees etc (which she hates) but now mum is confused as she is neither a good milk drinker of eater. baby is fine though and not small.

i am trying to reassure her all is well, do BLW and take babies lead and go with the flow - however i don't agree that food is just for fun - i do think she needs it for taste/texture experiences and her physical and mental development.

Anyone............??

I agree actually. Don't think the statement goes against BLW either. You said she needs it for taste/texture experiences, well, that's 'fun' isn't it? I would clarify 'fun' with learning experience though and think it is essential for laying down the foundations of good eating habits in later life. Maybe that was what was meant?

"I don't agree that food is just for fun - i do think she needs it for taste/texture experiences and her physical and mental development."

Might just be me...but imo the phrase "food is just for fun" means all of those things you've said there - as in babies learn new tastes, textures, skills and developing things like the pincer grip, cutlerly holding etc though having fun & playing....it's usually said in response to people talking about solids being needed for nutritional purposes (which for normal healthy babies the first few months of solids aren't needed for as they have milk for that)

'Until they are 1 Food is just for fun'

this phrase is meant to convey that they should mostly be having milk, and that large amounts of other foods are not necessary

hence reassuring people who are BLW and may be worried that their children are not getting enough food

it is the milk that is important at this age, not the food. Food is 'just for fun', if you like

i don't really understand, what does she think it means? imo all the squishing and arsing about is fun, and yes, at 7 months it's nothing to be concerned about really, SO LONG AS the baby is drinking milk well. if the baby isn't doiing either, i'd say she should concentrate on the milk, so again that does rather relegate the food to a less important status.

and as it happens, i was told the food's for fun until they're one phrase at a standard Sally Army weaning talk all about purees, so it's not strictly a BLW thing. it just chimes along with the WHO guideline, that's all.

my understanding of food is for fun until they are one is that:

they squish it, throw it, dabble in it, rub it in their hair, taste a bit, like it ,don;t like it, enjoy it, then spit it out ! and it is a complement , not a replacement for milk.

at 7 months, am presuming htey are around a month into weaning, so far too soon to expect any sort of structured and formal 3 meal a day type thing.

BLW - is great for development, the baby can go with their own developmental pace, eat what they can get to their mouth, enjoy the difference in appearance, texture and taste between say, a floret of broccoli or a carrot baton. or a slice of peach or apple. stimulating her brain for sure!

food has to be for fun at this age IMO, or you are setting up meal times as a battle ground.

definitely for fun (well at least it is for DS3 - wasn't for DS1 and 2- but then they're all different ).

Although having said that I'm still mystified as to where the HUGE piece of crisp chicken skin went that I put on DS3's tray last night......

As far as I'm aware, nutritionally, milk is enough until around the age of one. Nothing wrong with introducing solids - purees or through BLW - earlier. I saw weaning ore as introducing my son to the experience of eating -tastes, textures, chewing, swallowing - than benefiting him nutritionally.

Sorry, i didnt make myself clear. i am trying to support my friend so that yes, we know milk is important, but food should be in there somewhere - the way the HV put it was very - "oh dont worry you silly woman" and that is where the problem was.

thanks for all your replies.

cx

am still a bit confused

if you mean - you and your friend think food is important at this stage, but the baby isn't interested, and the hv said 'don't worry'

then I would agree with the hv

sorry if I have got it wrong again

i'm with Franny here, i don't really understand what's at stake here.

For once i think i agree with health visitor.