Going from puree/mashed to blw

[Blue2020]

Did anyone start on puree/mashed food and then transition to blw or do a mixture?

My ds is 7 months (6 months corrected if that matters). Hes now used to taking puree/mashed food from being spoon fed. He has the instinct to put the spoon in his mouth if we let him/give him the spoon. The food wouldn’t stay on but we let him hold the spoon to get familiar with it. I have tried a piece of broccoli a few times and he refuses to pick it up or put it to his mouth. We had success with him eating a banana a few times but only if I hold it and he then mashes it with his gums. So he didn’t feed himself but at least it’s a half way point of him biting/mushing food. Just to add he’s an expert at trying to put toys/teething toy/muslin/anything etc in his mouth due to teething it’s just if I offer eg broccoli he doesn’t even try putting it to his mouth.

Do you have any suggestions of good starting foods that are finger sized that he might like and take to it since it’s new to him?

Broccoli can be quite bitter, I’d try mashing it into mashed potato first, to see if he likes it.

And try cauliflower, that’s soft when cooked.

It's really common that they don't eat much at first just squish it all over themselves and lick the food a bit. You can try all sorts of things really, what about very soft steamed carrots or parsnips? Or just bits of whatever you're eating.

Soft cooked fish like salmon breaks up nice and easily.

I would have him in his highchair whilst you are eating your meals and just give him a few bits of what you are eating (obviously taking into account salt, extreme spice and choking hazards like nuts). It doesn't matter if he just plays with it to begin with, he'll observe you eating it and eventually try to copy you. He will also be learning about taking part in family meals.

This^
Pasta twirls were very popular with my girls.
They're a good size to get hold of and nibble and the twirly bits make them less slippery if they have sauce or butter on. We introduced lots of flavours that way once they'd got the hang of the twirls themselves. They're also very easy to clean up

cut food into small stick-shaped pieces that can easily be grabbed. toast, apple, cucumber, carrot, etc. offer a few at a time. don't be surprised if baby doesn't seem to actually eat any, as long as he is putting it in his mouth, then he is learning the tastes and textures, and real eating will come a bit later

Thankyou, that’s all really helpful. We have already started sitting him in a high chair during lunch and dinner to eat with us. Then I usually feed him at the same time as dh and then have mine after. However letting him just explore the food sounds like a good idea.

Just to update incase anyone comes across this.

At 7m just after this post we started making his food lumpier to get used to the texture and chewing.

At about 7.5m we also introduced finger foods alongside his bowl of food at each meal. So steamed broccoli and carrots mainly. Then cauliflower. Then at 8m we introduced omelette as finger food- so cut it into long strips the size of two fingers so he could hold it. Then at 8.5m he’s been eating toast with peanut butter on it. I did a week with toast and butter since it’s an allergen and then added the peanut butter. He’s now almost 9 months old in a week time and doing really well.

Oh for bananas I now chop it in half, then I cut half of the skin off and he manages to hold the banana really well. It’s like a mini banana, he can grip the skin at the bottom really well, and then eat the top part of the banana. I think I saw it somewhere and thought it was a great idea. It’s not slippy for him to hold the skin like bananas can get otherwise. We try to limit a banana to 3-4 times a week.

He now sometimes has finger food only breakfasts and dinners. Eg for breakfast banana, omelette, toast with peanut butter. For dinner eg broccoli, carrot, cauliflower, omelette if he hasn’t had it for a day or two. Trying chicken as small pieces too but they were a bit small for him to grasp properly.

Stuff like pitta bread cut up into strips and dipped in vegetable puree, yoghurt, cream cheese, even porridge etc is good at this age as they can pick up the little strips themselves and either lick/suck the puree off, or try and give it a chew. Trouble with spoons and forks is them having to get it to their mouth and then get the food off, it's such a task for them.
And pancakes, make your own, and again cut into strips, with dips, or add blueberries, cheese, banana to the pancake batter. Finger food basically. Sweet potato is also good, cut into long chunks, and roasted, then once cooled down they can hold it and it's such a good texture and consistency for them to gum up! Same with most veg, roasting stuff like carrots, parsnips, makes it much easier for them to hold without it falling apart like it does when boiled.

@DiaNaranja thats a good idea with the pitta and the sweet potato. I will try those.

He has banana pancakes and now recently I have tried vegetable fritters where it combines a few vegetables and he can eat it as finger food. He also likes toast on occasion, we’ve tried peanut butter and now jam. He also tried parsnip as a finger food and ate that too. He just loves food which is great. Now it’s how inventive can I be for him to try more things and not just be stuck offering him carrots, broccoli, cauliflower. Which I will continue to do, but just alternatives as well.