BLW support - welcome weaners old and new and mind the lentils on the floor

[JumeirahJane]

Fellow weaners,

Hope you find this, our second thread. Haven't we been chatty! The title was borrowed from the kind words with which I was welcomed onto the thread by KiwiPanda. Hope you like...

On the topic of highchairs, I also have the ubiquitous Antilop from I**A, against my better judgement, damn them. It is awfully practical, even I will admit. Just shove a folded towel under her bum before feeds, saves on cushion washing

Felt brave today and administered both avocado AND blueberry muffins in the same meal. It was worth the mess to see her grinning little face at the end.

I used to hold pear for BB and let him suck on it. It was only a few weeks before he could hold slices himself. I started leaving the skins on around 7.5 months as he would just spit them out (still does), but judge it on your own baby's abilities. They take you by surprise though! I discovered his pincer grip completely by accident, and it opened up a whole new world of possiblities. Including the discovery that Tescos sell blueberries for £3 for a tiny punnet...ouch...

We had to ban our dogs in the end as BB has now learnt to throw things to them...

I put an old towel down now and they follow me into the garden when I shake it. They wolf down the scraps.

I have discovered dd likes boiled eggs! Not the white, she picked that up, dropped it and did that Mackauley-Culkin-Home-Alone headshake . I offered her some off my egg on a spoon which she took and then tried to use the spoon to get more egg. Thats the first time shes tried to do it herself. Usually spoons get thrown on the tray/floor when she wants more, she's just realised that she can load it herself .

Actually, she couldn't load it herself but she tried.

DH gave dd some raisin wheats for breakfast but instead if draining off the milk he tipped it all onto her tray. DD bent her head down and sucked up the milk. It sounds so cute but I missed it.

Does anyone else feel stuck in a food rut? I need some inspiration. I'm making chilli in the slow cooker today but its hardly Masterchef, is it?

Oh I dont know hulla I think that is quite adventurous and you have inspired me to try dd on it, yes great the dog cleans up but she is a lab and starting to look a bit chunky ! I am nervous to try eggs because they used to make me have a rash when I was a baby, gave dd raisin and lemon pancake for lunch but not much went in!

I made sweet potato chips last night for dd but think i ate most of them

Hello all! Hello new BLWers! Hope all's well. Am very happy to report DD is now eating more again. Not as much as she used to but then I have been reading all about babies eating habits and it sounds like it's perfectly normal for them to slow down purely because their growth slows down so they don't NEED to eat as much. Clever little things aren't they?

Hulla DD (and, let's be honest, me) are obsessed with your pancakes. We have them for breakfast virtually every day now. I made the latest batch with just pear instead of apple and they were lovely, so so sweet.

Snail Hope you are ok and not too nauseous/ tired!

Ah, here you all are!

Welcome to all the new BLWs - hope you all like mess!

Well, I think DS has caught the being-weird-with-food bug. Today, he's been really off holding the spoon and big lumps. He seemed to want to be spoon-fed mush and then blew raspberries into it! He's been blowing out his water too. He's also obsessed with turning around and trying to lick the back of his high chair...

So not much has gone in today. Hmm, that's going to help with sleep then!

Think I will have to try the famous pancakes too.

I'm well and truly stuck in a food rut too so any ideas welcomed by me too.

Hulla if possible can you re-post the fabulous pancake recipe? I missed it!

things we've had lately that BB has liked:

• casserole made with braising steak (OH's recipe as I am veggie)
• couscous with a tomatoey sauce
• homemade potato wedges (bit of oil, 35 mins in oven)

Aaaah I've run out of ideas, I guess I am in a food rut too!

Ok, pancake recipe - now get a pen because it's long:

50g self raising flour, 1 egg, 1 apple.

Blend all in a food processor (apple first - cored, obviously). Fry in a pan (I don't use any oil but depends how non-stick your pan is). When the top has little bubbles in, flip the pancakes. Cool & serve! Yum.

Kiwi added a bit of milk to hers but see how your batter is first. Mine was ok but I think I had watery apples.

Hmmm, definately going to try the pear ones today.

I scanned through recipe books yesterday for inspiration and here is what I came up with:

• Liver casserole (I know, hardly anyone likes liver but apparently babies do and its a good source of iron)
• Salad (avocado, tomato, cucumber, yellow pepper, tuna, plain yogurt)
• chicken satay (If I decide peanut butter is ok for dd)
• Spinach & cheese sauce pasta (dd loves spinach)

-Butternut squash risotto (ones of the few mushy-textured things that dd will touch with her hands not a spoon).

• Somekind of fruity curry sauce/tagine. Thinking apricots & chicken will lure dd in!

-Chicken & mango with noodles/rice (I kind of inventing that one myself so it'll probably be dreadful).

Does anyone else have a problem with family/friends offering their dc sweets/chocolate/cake/crap? We live quite far from all of our family so when we visit we usually see different people everyday, parents, siblings, aunts & uncles, grandparents etc. They all want to feed dd crap and I come across as a control freak for saying no. Its not like she needs it, why can't they offer a banana or something? Last time we were home dd was offered:

• potato smiles
• wotsits
• white chocolate mice
• Cheesecake
• kfc
• Jelly tots
• chocolate buttons
• Milkbar "yogurt"

My step-mum laughs at me but I thought it was normal not to want your 7/8/9 month old to develop a taste for junk food? Chocolate and sweets were a rare treat for me as a child and I have no fillings whatsoever

Ok, I'm off to the bf thread. Hope you're all doing well.

Hi BLW-ers!

I tend to go with the flow a bit with family offering DD junk, but then I suppose we don't have many family locally so don't encounter this too often, and its normally homemade cakes and biscuits from my mum which i don't feel too bad about. I definitely wouldn't allow wotsits, but would probably allow a very little bit of the other things on your list (and then eat the rest myself!) She has had kfc with the skin removed but she didn't seem to like it much.

We're stuck in a bit of a food rut at the moment as i really can't face cooking much, so its a case of finding things that are very quick and easy. My sickness stopped dead on 12 weeks last time so fingers crossed i will feel better soon. DD is nearly 10 months whoever asked.

Must try the pancake recipe

Hi GS! So do you think I should chill out a bit? I just find it so hard. I let her have the smiles - had to, she started shouting for them when they brought them in. She loved them!

Maybe its all the salt & vinegar crisps I ate when I was having her. Junk food is in her blood!

Hi everyone can I join in, I don't mind mess!
I've been BLW with DS for 3 weeks now and while the first week and a half was great we seem to have hit a brick wall where he doesn't want to eat anything. I've tried changing feeding times, before milk, after milk, in highchair, on my lap but doesn't seem to make much difference.
Am trying to remain nice and calm about it as that's the whole point of doing BLW but is getting harder!
I know he doesn't need the food but....arrgh!

Hulla I'm not sure whether you should chill out - maybe its just me that's too laid back. I tend to think that denying DD something if she can see everyone else having it might be a bit counter-productive and just make her want it more though. The thing that really annoys me is everyone wanting to give DD juice. She's perfectly happy with water and drinks plenty, plus bm, why do i need to give her juice?

ceb80 welcome. Hope your DS starts eating a bit more soon. Its frustrating sometimes isn't it, but try to stay calm, he will get it in the end.

Snail DD is currently loving a really simple pasta and tomato sauce - am experimenting with different shapes of pasta but she likes penne best. You could make a batch of tomato sauce and freeze some too which means you've always got something in the freezer when you can't be arsed.. I add mozzarella at the end too cos I'm a mozza fiend

I pretty much let DD have anything too. I'd draw the line at chocolate if I'm eating that (which I don't usually do until she's in bed ) just because it's so sugary and so on. But she's had cake and whatnot. Loves carrot cake in fact. If she has lots of that I do try to balance out with a really healthy day though.

hello, can i join please?

ds2 is only 21 weeks so still a bit young but im just going to lurk for a while to get some tips.

i do have a few questions though.

1. those of you who's babies eat what you eat, do they eat adult cereals at breakfast? i have it in my head that they have quite alot of salt but i have no idea where i got that from. if anyone could put me straight that would be lovely.

2. i have ds in the highchair at the table when we eat but he plays with a toy and show no interest in what we are doing, what signs should i be looking out for?

3. he puts EVERYTHING in his mouth at the minute, how do i know when he actually does it because he wants to eat?

sorry if these have all been asked before.

Boooooooyhoo I am far from experienced in these matters but yes you're right, adult cereal can contain alot of salt. Shredded wheat is good as has none as is porridge/ready brek but can be very messy!

Your Ds is generally ready when he can sit up with good head control and has lost the tongue thrust reflex. Oh and is grabbing food from your plate!

The Gill Rapley book is worth a look.

Hope that helps some!

lol @ crap Hulla!

I am in a long-running battle with MIL over the sugar issue. She offers nothing as bad as your list - more jelly and ice cream, biscuits, custard, that kind of thing - every meal must be followed by a pud. I get annoyed in my head, but don't say anything usually, as I don't want to end up with a bad relationship between us. Lately he's had some problems pooing, to the point where MIL went out and bought him laxatives - yet she still gives sugary, processed foods! He poos much better when with me, partly due to BM of course, but also I think because we mostly eat fruit, veg, unprocessed food. I am struggling to have that conversation with MIL though. I did say a while ago that I wanted him having fruit and yoghurt, not sugary foods, but it went in one ear and out the other.

I am a total hypocite though as if I'm having something treaty like crisps, I give him a couple to try.

Boooo - Weetabix, mini wheats, porridge are all low or no salt. I give rice krispies and corn flakes too.

Panda that's a good idea. DD and I both love pasta, DH is never very keen but i could probably get away with it a bit more if i tell him its a craving

Welcome Boooooooyhoo Yes some cereals contain a lot of salt so you do need to read labels and work out what is ok and what isn't. Bear in mind that he'll probably be eating very little to start with. mini wheats, porridge and weetabix go down well here. I would suggest that you start offering some food when he starts to show an interest in your food. He won't know that he wants to eat to start with, but will want to explore the food to find out what it is, and then discover that it tastes good and he can eat it!

Well, I do believe I should come and join you! Another April '09 Mum here, DS is 27 weeks today, and we've been blwing for 3 weeks. Left-handed typing at the mo, so short post, but I'll be back!

thanks all, that has set my mind at rest a bit, i was worried that i would accidentally poison him.

he doesnt seem ready yet so it will be a while but it helps to be prepared beforehand and know what to look out for.

first time have looked at this thread- really helpful, practical ideas about leaving the skin on etc so fruit not so slippy (must be post pregnancy brain that i didn't actually think of that)
am definitely not purist BLWer- do porridge and the occassional yoghurt, but that is all dd2 wants to eat off a spoon. she does absolutely love dairylea sandwiches (wholemeal bread) and ate a whole croissant at lucnhtime yesterday- but was running out of ideas for dinners- so thanks ladies

hi guys, just a quick question...am trying DD (7mo) on a mixture of spooned mushed food and BLW (not sure if this is the problem). She loves chewing on things (banana, penne, carrots, corn etc) but chokes on any of the things she tries to swallow. Mostly slight coughing followed by spitting up and out, but 3 or 4 times actual choking requiring me to lie her across my knee and hit her back. This has scared the life out of me . I have not been giving her cut up food or anything as I know that can be a problem, but any advice greatly appreciated!

Hi again! So, because DS has been very slow to gain weight (born at 9lb 2oz, now about 12lb at 27 weeks!), we've been going for lots of high fat foods, and I'm trying to get him to take lots of high protein stuff. So far, he doesn't seem too interested in meat, but quite likes hummus and lentils. For lunch today, I think we'll give omelette a try.

Yesterday was the first time I tried feeding him in his highchair (yes, Antilop ). Until now, he's been eating in his pushchair - it's quite high, so he's at the same height in that as he is in his highchair, but just slightly tilted back, as he's only just really getting stable sitting up. He's better in the highchair now, with the inflatable booster thingummy in, but he seems to lose the use of his arms once in it! It is by far preferable, it seems, to bring his face to the food, not vice versa! Up until now he's been having porridge most mornings, taking the loaded spoon from me and feeding himself. Well, first breakfast in the highchair this morning and his hands stayed firmly in his lap. He just opened his mouth like a little bird, waiting for the porridge to arrive. I figure that if that's what he prefers, then that is baby-led! He still grabbed the spoon now and again himself, but seemed to far prefer me to do the actual work Doesn't seem to fit with the ethos of BLW to not let the poor boy have any breakfast just because he doesn't want to do it himself! A couple of people I have spoken to think that BLW is all about not using spoons at all, but I disagree (luckily!). What do others think?

ladies, i am a real newbie at this BLW. LO is 9 months old and loves his milk! he is very chubby. solids however is a different matter. he likes to grab the food and feed himself. so far so good. this is where i am stuck. he does not actually eat anything that i can see. i sit him down for lunch at around 11.30am. an hour later, most of the food is smeared all over the table, dropped on floor. i then clean him up and give him his bottle and he goes down for his nap.

question: should i cut down on his morning bottle so that he might eat more solids at lunchtime? for breakfast, he does not have solids, just bottle of milk.

thanks ladies

hi gui i think BLS inlcudes the use of spoons, like the baby using the spoon. i think

Glad I found the new thread .

Progressing okay with BLW. About 6 weeks in now I think, and DS seems to be beginning to get quite a lot in. Unfortunately this led to some very painful constipation, but a plum a day seems to be helping to get things moving again.

He does seem to be sick a bit - I don't know if that is just one of those things, or should I be a bit more attentive to what he has had just before he voms?

Also, the sugar thing. I've not given DS anything with added sugar yet, but was wondering about e.g. blueberry muffins, but the recipe I have has both sugar and a little salt. Does anybody know what to do in this case?

Thanks all!