If they can grab food off you and shove it in their mouths are they ready?

[tutu100]

DS2 is 22 weeks and if he is being held whilst you are eating something (the joys of multi tasking!) he makes a grab for it and tries to shove it in his mouth.

He is EBF and feeds pretty much every 3 hours even through the night. I started weaning my first child at 19 weeks in the hope it would help them sleep through the night (which is didn't so I'm not really under that illusion this time), I was planning to hold off weaning ds2 for as long as possible, but am now a bit worried that he's ready and I'm being cruel by making him wait longer.

It's up to you.

I did wean my son at this age because like yours he was taking food and happily eating.

obviously take it slowly and surely

What is the "recommended" age for weaning? Is it 24 weeks? If so, I wouldn´t hesitate to let him help himself, presuming appropriate food. He does seem to be sending you a message, doesn´t he!

I had absolutely no intention of giving ds anything before 26 weeks, but he started to grab food and feed himself, complete with chewing and swallowing, at 5 months, so we began blw then.

I don't think it's cruel to hold off - but then I think he is giving you a pretty clear sign that he is ready! Maybe start in a very relaxed sort of way, ie no plan, no idea of what meals he should be having, just if he complains while you are eating, offer him a bit of what you are having. You just have to watch out for certain foods before 6 months. Do you know about baby led weaning?

I know a little bit about blw (i think) but tbh I was probably going to go the puree route as thats what I did with ds1 and ds2 hasn't got any teeth yet, but any advice anyone wants to give on blw will be greatly recieved.

They don't need teeth for BLW - all they need is to be able to sit up (with support if necessary) and to be able to grab things.

Basically you cut foods into chip shaped pieces so they can hold it and then the rest of it sticks out of their fist so they can gum/chew/eat/just taste it. You wouldn't be offering hard things at first like apples or raw veg, without steaming or boiling it as bits can break off and be a choking hazard. So soft things, or things like rice cakes and breadsticks which go mushy when you eat them. But really, once the baby has learned how to scoop you can give them anything and (practically) everything!

That's it really - you do have to know the difference between gagging and choking as well. Gagging is when they make a retching/coughing noise and a few seconds later the food will come out in a mushed up lump - can be scary at first but it's a protective thing so best to let them deal with it themselves. Also the gagging stage is really short, DS very rarely gags any more. Choking is actually very rare, but silent which is why you have to be with them while they eat at all times. I don't actually see that BLW increases any risk of choking as long as you are doing it safely - ie sitting the baby up, supervising them, and not giving them small hard round foods like whole grapes or nuts.

Aitch wrote a blog about BLW which has now grown a forum and FAQ pages and all sorts, here: www.babyledweaning.com

There's also a book about it written by Gill Rapley, her website is here: www.rapleyweaning.com

Just wanted to say that babies grab everything and shove everything in their mouths food or otherwise, at that age, it dosn't mean they are necessarily ready for weaning.
feeding every three hours day and night must be hard for you though.
DD i will be 6 months next week (that's 6 calender months..I have lost count of how many weeks she is!) and I am not weaning yet, but having said that she is pretty much sleeping through the night and going 3 to 4 hours during the day and is BF.
She does get very excited when she see's people eating her legs start kicking, so I think she is starting realise that there is more to this eating business than just boobies!