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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

blw guru's opinion on baby 'safe feeders'??

15 replies

6inchnipples · 05/03/2009 20:06

Wondered if any of the blw experts have opinions on the baby safe feeders, you know the little mesh bags.

OP posts:
Lindenlass · 05/03/2009 20:07

link?

MarlaSinger · 05/03/2009 20:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
6inchnipples · 05/03/2009 20:10

i've never tried eating my lunch thru my tights but i might try serving dp his dinner in them for the crack!!

OP posts:
StealthPolarBear · 05/03/2009 20:13

IMO you may as well mush whatever it is and give them that, if they're just going to suck it through one of those

Habbibu · 05/03/2009 20:15

Waste of time and money - blw is about learning to chew and manipulate food from the start.

iwontbite · 05/03/2009 20:19

defeats the object of blw IMO

if a child can't handle/bite/chew the food then they aren't ready to eat it.
those feeders override that

your baby can and will learn to eat big things, you just have to let him/her

warthog · 05/03/2009 20:20

what's the point? really?

honestly, sometimes i despair, i really do.

Original poster
6inchnipples · 05/03/2009 21:11

The point is to avoid choking.

My two year old once choked on a piece of toast, it was a horrible experience despite the fact that i knew what to do and i managed to deal with it.

I have experienced a few choking incidents with children and its really scary.

Despair all you like warthog choking isn't pretty.

OP posts:
Habbibu · 05/03/2009 21:16

No, choking isn't pretty, but these things don't teach children to manage food in a way that helps avoid choking. As you know, children of any age can choke, and it's knowing what to do if and when they do that's critical, as well as avoiding significant choking hazards like grapes, tomatoes and nuts.

That said, I can understand that you'd be especially wary of choking having had that experience. I don't think these products are terribly useful for this - you'd be better of mashing the same food, tbh, as the child wouldn't be learning the food manipulation skills either way.

Original poster
6inchnipples · 05/03/2009 21:28

Thanks habbibu, i have used one before for dd1, i found it useful when she was in the pram or out in car, times when choking would have been even more of a disaster. She loved it esp for things like dried fruit or frozen grapes or apple when teething. I think they have a use, some things are easier to choke on than others, so with dd2 i have continued to use it a handleful of times.

Both my daughters have a particulary sensitive gag reflex (so does mil so maybe it runs in family) so weaning tends to involve a lot of gagging and wretching which isn't fun. DS was fine tho, hardly ever gagged, maybe thats why the choking on toast incident gave me such a fright.

OP posts:
Habbibu · 05/03/2009 21:31

I guess I just didn't bother with those foods until dd was more ready to handle them. Sensitive gag reflex is a PITA, though.

Original poster
6inchnipples · 05/03/2009 21:38

DD2 seems to gag on things which she most desires.. toast, bagels, crumpets... all the things i eat (picturing me as a big fat coo yip??) and she tries to snatch. Not happy if i don't share but she gags badly on all bread type things. She just isn't as passionate about the brocoli and avocado!

Mmmm warm bagels and a cup of tea

Mmmm brocoli, avocado and a cup of tea

Oh the tea is strictly for me btw!

OP posts:
warthog · 05/03/2009 22:08

6inchnipples, i am not making light of choking

i had the misfortune of seeing my mum choke - when she was in her 60's.

the point about blw is that if they can't pick it up themselves, they're not ready to eat it yet. you wouldn't pop a grape in a baby's mouth would you?

i'm not really sure why you're asking blw'ers about a product that doesn't really have anything to do with blw.

irishmammy123 · 06/03/2009 00:31

My OH's friends sent some of these over from the States.
Initially they were great - I put frozen fruit in them for teething.
Now that he's got the hang of feeding himself - they're of absolutely no use. He want's nothing to do with them (at 7 1/2mths). I think they'd be handy as lollipop type things.
With the sensitive gag reflex - all babies have that (when compared to adults). The sensitive part of the roof of their mouth is further forward that that of an adult - a safety mechanism - stops small bits of food from getting too close to their airways. As they grow, this moves back, to the adult position. Gagging is a natural part of learning to eat. They are less likely to choke when they've had practice dealing with gagging. But anyone, any age can choke at any time (if they are eating!!)

wastingmyeducation · 06/03/2009 08:54

6inch, why do you ask? This reads like you're just setting us up for a fight.

What would you have done if the baby safe feeder hadn't been invented?

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