Too young for BLW?

[SAEJ]

Hi,
My DS is 22 weeks and we have been planning on doing baby led weaning wit him. I had no intention of giving him food till 26 weeks but in the last two weeks he has become fixated with food and very grabby at meal times. I read the Gill Rapley book and I usually have him sat on my lap while DH and I eat so he is used to meal times.

In the last two weeks it has been a bit of a battle to stop him pinching stuff off my plate (usually because it is too hot) but also because I am worried he is still too young to deal with food.

This weekend I let him grab a steamed carrot baton which he promptly stuffed in his mouth. He did not gag or cough and most of it seemed to come back out but because he seemed to cope fine I let him play with/eat a few more. I just assumed that he was mouthing it and letting it go all over the floor/me/my chair/his face etc etc but when I changed him today there was definately carrot in his nappy.

My question is - do you think it is possible he is ready for me to let him start blw? I am worried he is too young but equally he seemed to cope fine?

Sounds like you have already started! Or rather, he has already started!

The theory behind BLW is that their insides are probably ready at the same time as their outsides IYSWIM, so if that is correct then he will be fine.

IMO, it would be fine to sit him in a highchair with a few bits of steamed veg and see what happens. Just don't put it into his mouth for him. ( I expect the book says that anyway).

Have fun ( and a mop ready )

Thanks for this - I hope that bececause he has chosen to eat then it is right - I have just been worried that he seems too young (I don't know if it makes any difference that he was a couple of weeks overdue?).

I won't be feeding him at all - its all up to him - I would just hate to think that I am giving him anything which might harm him.

I will be sticking to just fruit and veg till 6 months.

I would just give him some to play with - my DD sucked on things for over 6 weeks before much went in!!

Sounds like he's taken to it like a duckling to water! The theory main theory of BLW is you let the baby make the move, and he has, beautifully!!

Now, get the high chair out and start planning his Christmas lunch!

(theres a BLW book now)

Thanks again for this - needed some reassurance - he has had carrot sticks and papaya tonight - papya was far too squishy but he has seemed to really enjoy the carrot sticks - I think most of it went on the floor but he bit it all into bits first!!

So excited that he will be able to join us for Christmas lunch now!!