Can someone reassure me that I'm doing BLW properly - DD being sick when gagging

[iwouldgoouttonight]

I've been trying to do BLW as DD refuses to be spoonfed, and basically letting her eat what we eat.

She tends to suck on the food and is happy playing with it but whenever she actually sucks a bit off she gags to get it back to the front of her mouth (which I know she had supposed to do to stop herself choking) but she is often sick as she does it (quite a bit of milk comes up, even if its a while since she had a milk feed). And then she normally just spits the food out, and has rarely eaten anything.

Is being sick normal in BLW babies when they gag? My mum was with me today when she did it and she panicked and was all ready to perform the Heimlich manoeuvre , even though I kept telling her she'd supposed to gag. But now I'm doubting myself.

Also I've read you'd supposed to cut things into chip shapes but what about if you're all eating something like spaghetti bolognese or something with rice or peas, do you just put them on the tray and let her try to pick them up? That's what we've been doing but it looks really difficult for her to actually get anything into her mouth!

I foolishly asked the HV for advice and she knew less than me about BLW (although did recommend it so that's good) but she said I should be giving DD vitamin drops as she's hardly eating any solids. Is that right? Will she be missing out on vitamins?

She's FF and 6.5 months old.

I think (but would be happy to be corrected) that this is just evidence that your DD's body is very good at protecting her from trouble. The gag reflex is very strong when babies are young.

WRT the peas on the tray, the whole idea is that if she would be able to cope with eating peas and other small items, she would be able to pick them up. Over time she will perfect her pincer grasp, and be able to pick up smaller foods.

I don't think that Vitamin drops are necessary, tbh.

Are you breastfeeding? If so, no need for vitamins.

If she is bringing up formula, maybe she had too much milk so not interested in solids?

Here is an article about traditional weaning and BLW, published in NCT newsletter. There is also mention of yahoo group for BLW

www.simonecastello.co.uk/weaningways.pdf

There is a summary of Gill Rapley guidelines, you can find those on her website, mentioned.

There is also a yahoo group for BLW, where some mums said their kids didn't eat substantial solids till later.

By the way, at 6.5 months old they only have tasters, proper 'meals' start later, between 8 months and 10 months...

If all fails, try soft berries or grapes (cut in half, no pips). They usually love them.

She's formula fed (which is also confusing me as everything I read about BLW suggests it works best with breastfed babies). Thanks for the link, goldenpeach, that also says no need for vitamin or iron top ups if breastfed, but it doesn't say about formula fed.

Can't you just give her purees for a bit, like most people do?

She won't eat them, Grammaticus, I've tried all sorts of pureed fruit and veg and she refuses to even open her mouth. Even a spoon of milk, she just clamps her mouth shut and gets upset.

Giving her food to play with by herself, however, she loves! Its just me who is getting all stressed by it!

Not sure how much formula they need at her age but maybe she has too much? You need vitamins with formula fed (basically if you bfeed she gets vitamins from you). Another thing, don't be pushed to be iron formula, it's best to stick with what she had before and give vitamins on top. The reason why weaning is 'easier' if you breastfeed is because breast milk changes flavour as mum eats different things, while formula stays the same.

Weaning can be a frustrating experience. Try to find her favourite food, it just helps, that's why I was suggesting berries and grapes, they are nutritious and most babies love them (blueberries, straws, raspberries).

Using sweet veggies help (carrot, butternut squash). To sweeten foods you can whizz some raisins in it, to make is savoury use tomato puree (if you check labels most types have virtually no salt).

If you do puree, freeze portion in ice cube trays and then in bags, it avoids waste.

If all fails, don't worry too much, the main nutrition until one year old is breastmilk or formula. Even breastfed babies might not take to solids until 10 months old.

From 7-8 months you can try more finger foods, the NHS book Birth to Five that was given you has good tips on weaning.

Babies get ready at different ages, if you stress, they feel it and react to it.

Ah I see. Could you try "dry mush" (think mashed potato consistency) so that she can still handle it herself then?