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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

A General Thread for BLW

105 replies

TheBreastmilksOnMe · 03/03/2009 16:02

Hi! I thought I would start off a thread for anybody who is interested in BLW, who has started it or has done it and hopefully we can support one another. I havnt seen another general thread on it yet so sorry if anyone has already started it-could you link me if so?

My DS is nearly 6mths old and we have been giving him the odd bit of finger food which he absoloutly loves! Guidelines state you should wait until they are 6mths old and able to sit unsupported but 1st time parent excitment has made me a bit impatient and eager to let DS join in the fun!

So is there anyone else out there?

OP posts:
mothersmilk · 05/03/2009 15:42

thebreastmilksonme id offer it anyway my little ones been really ill all week and for some reason an evening meal seems to perk him up i just slop it on his tray and let him get on with it

Original poster
TheBreastmilksOnMe · 05/03/2009 15:52

He's just really grissly with no patience today he cried throughout lunch and some mashed potato I'd given him so I'll offer it to him tomorrow when he'll have the concentration needed to pick up the tubes. Poor DS and your LO mothersmilk

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SnowlightMcKenzie · 05/03/2009 16:23

No, they're going for around £80-£90 without postage on ebay.

I suppose if I bought one new I could sell it for that and then it'll have cost me about £50 in total!?

Jacksmama · 05/03/2009 16:50

I forget who asked about wasted food - I feel a bit the same as you, watched DS cover himself with yoghurt yesterday and thought, well, he got about two teaspoons into himself, ho hum, that was a waste...

Original poster
TheBreastmilksOnMe · 05/03/2009 18:20

Just think how much money your saving not buying jars and jars of baby puree though. And your not lining the manufacturors pockets either.

OP posts:
peachsmuggler · 05/03/2009 20:28

It really won't be long till they are not wasting too much. You get a handle on the portions they need and I only put down a little at a time, that way they can't waste much and what you don't give them can go in the fridge or freezer.

As to sweetcorn, I've just started giving DD this (she has just turned 1) and give it to her on the cob. That way she can bite it off and therefore it gets chewed, but am sure it would have the same effect in fritters. Sounds lovely!

mothersmilk · 06/03/2009 09:47

money wasting that was me!! i never bought jars for dd all home made so it was relitivly cheap with little wastage i guess thats why i feel like this but at the same time dd has a terrible gag reflex that maybe had she been blw wouldnt have been so bad so iknow in the long run its just... well better

pigleychez · 06/03/2009 10:58

DD was pretty wasteful to start with too but is now getting better after a month.
She has recently started eating bit more (digesting) and her poos have turned into solid little lumps. The poor little thing is finding them hard work. Her bum is red raw and the look of panic on her face is awful.
I guess she just has to get used to them as its a new feeling for her. poor thing.

Hope everyone else is doing well

MrsJamin · 06/03/2009 12:45

the way I think about wastage of food in the early days of BLW is that if DS continues to be so non-fussy, I can just do one meal for the whole family, meaning less wastage and less energy needed to cook different alternatives for the 18 or so years DS lives at home!

Divvy · 06/03/2009 16:15

If you do blw, what about cereals for breakfast, how do you give them this? Or can you spoonfeed some things?

Original poster
TheBreastmilksOnMe · 06/03/2009 16:19

Divvy- yes you can spoon feed of course you can. I just dollop anything runny onto the tray in front of him so he gets absoloutly covered in it but seems to manage quite well by sucking it off his hands and sucking off the tray!

OP posts:
SnowlightMcKenzie · 06/03/2009 16:23

I've just begun to realise, that Eating Out is the cleanest and easiest way to do BLW.

Baby Starlight surprised me no end when she 'swiped' a bit of cucumber of DS's plate and munched it. I then put some pita bread in front of her and she managed to get that and suck on it too (no idea if either foods are suitable).

One thing though, - how can cucumber become so messy?

Divvy I don't think you are really supposed to ever spoon feed, because that intereferes with the natural apetite regulation. As horrifying as it is, I think you're just supposed to let them at it with their hands, - baked beans, cereal, yoghurt etc.

Divvy · 06/03/2009 16:30

I dont do messy babies!

maybe we will stick to our finger foods instead

FaintlyMacabre · 06/03/2009 16:36

DS has Raisin Wheats for breakfast.If you soak them in milk for about a minute or less they get nice and soggy but don't fall apart. DS, the tyrant, has to have warm milk...

MrsJamin · 08/03/2009 12:37

FM - they are so much nicer with warm milk, I have to agree! Divvy - you can overcook porridge and they can eat it with their hands - My description of how to make it on another thread. BLW is quite messy but DS is getting so much less messy now, and he eats like a trooper (if that was a phrase!). With spoonfed things you can often get around it by loading up the spoon and they can take the spoon and feed it to themselves (i.e. yoghurt) or with something like soup, dip bread in it and eat it that way.

Original poster
TheBreastmilksOnMe · 08/03/2009 20:49

MrsJamin my DS just sucks sloppy things like yogurt off the tray. it's so funny to watch!

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snottymcgrotty · 09/03/2009 00:17

Well, things had been going so well with BLW until today . DH gave DD2 (6.5mths) a piece of garlic bread to chomp on while we had our lunch of gorgeous lasagne etc, and she choked. Not talking gagging here, was definitely a proper choking session, no sound at all, no air moving when trying to breathe...... even though we know exactly what to do (are emergency HCP's), there was definitely a split second of panic feeling setting in ! (always different when its your own).
DH is now very reluctant to continue BLW and has said he wants to go onto purees or jars (and I really don't blame him).

Reassurance needed !

CMOTDibbler · 09/03/2009 09:25

Sorry to hear about the choking Snotty. The thing is though, that they are just as likely to choke at 5 years when they are running around and not paying attention, than at 6.5 months. But by them learning from the offset that they have to chew food, I think it does help them later.

Bread can be tricky though as it can clag up in your mouth and form a lump - DS who is 2.9 years still sometimes gets a lump if he has bitten off too much. Crusts or toast are better at first - so peel off the outside of the garlic bread and give her that

6inchnipples · 09/03/2009 09:34

yeah i agree just as likely to happen as toddler. my ds choked on toast age 2, scary stuff and does make me nervous.

good luck snotty hope it doesn't put you off too much.

snottymcgrotty · 10/03/2009 00:05

Bottled it completely today and stuck to puree for lunch and tea, although she did have some mushy peas too (which she loved !)
Went shopping today though and bought some green beans and mangetout (think she should be able to chomp on those ok ??) with the intention of continuing BLW but VERY carefully !!!!!

MrsJamin · 10/03/2009 09:58

TBH I don't think DS has ever managed to eat a mangetout, as they are quite tough and would need some molars to properly get through them. mini corn are much better as bits break off more easily.

wahwah1270 · 10/03/2009 10:20

Mrs Jammin My DD can gum the life out of a mangetout or runnerbean, keeps her busy for hours!

MrsJamin · 10/03/2009 10:29

wow, fair enough, DS gives up too early then!

mothersmilk · 11/03/2009 11:13

can ds 6months have eggs dd had scrammbled this morning and i wasnt sure wether to give him any?

peachsmuggler · 11/03/2009 11:25

Assuming there are no family allergies, then they can have scrambled eggs, as long as they are properly cooked through!