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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

***Just about to start Baby-led Weaning*** Join Me to share experiences !!

909 replies

FluffyFrog · 12/04/2010 16:35

I have a 20 week old and am planning on starting BLW around the end of May ish. Have been reading the Gill Rapley Book but would be great to get some ideas from others and share a few experiences. We will probably start in the next 4-6 weeks. Is there anyone else around starting at the same time that wants to join me on this thread ?

OP posts:
hendo77 · 10/06/2010 17:25

Cies - thanks for tip about sticks and chunks of food. Today I offered cucumber both in stick and chunk form and the sticks kept sliding out her hands but the chunks she could hold in both hands and then gnaw on (think squirrel!). Going to try some other foods in this shape now.

I was about to give up and was seriously considering a bit of pureeing alongside finger foods (nothing wrong with that I know if I want to!) but the nappies show that foods are definitely going through so I'm going to stop. I think perhaps I was thinking she would actually eat quite a lot when I know rationally that isn't the case. I've been doing a bit of mashed up stuff on spoons and toast but she'll only put things in her mouth when in control herself so loading the spoons for her has been good. We had hardly any coughing today and lots of chewing action so I think she's suddenly getting the hang of it.

Sorry for long post, just quite excited that I think I'm doing the right thing now!!!

BananaMush · 10/06/2010 17:48

Can I join please? new to MN but really wanted to join this thread.. DS is currently 5months & 2 weeks. Started on mashed food but have decided to switch to BLW. I know he isn't 6m but I'm going by mum's instinct - he is sitting up himself, excellent co-ordination etc etc etc

Today I held a banana while at a friend's house and DS had chomped it down to nothing in about 10min...it was a small banana... so although it's something I have thought about, I've decided to def give BLW a go

Advocado in half an hour, wish me luck

hendo77 · 10/06/2010 19:00

Welcome BananaMush - good luck with the avocado!

crikeybadger · 10/06/2010 20:02

Welcome bananamush (very appropriate name!) and alibobins!

Pdog here is the recipe. They are rather sweet (funnily enough) and didn't go down that well with the rest of the family.

Know what you mean about becoming more inventive with food too. I've been searching for new recipes....my head is swimming with them so much I'm making a list of things to try.

Alibobins, must be tricky with such an allergenic baby. Don't worry though, the great thing about blw is that you can just go at your own pace and introduce things slowly. I've found it much more relaxing than a puree approach as I know that my DS is still getting loads of nutrients from the milk feeds (so it doesn't matter if they take a while to actually start swallowing food).

hendo77 · 10/06/2010 20:16

Welcome alibobins too - sorry didn't mean to be rude and only welcome bananamush earlier!!!!

picklesrule · 10/06/2010 20:32

Hi all!
Thanks for recipe crikeybadger I was going to ask for it as well! I know what you mean about head swimming with reipes, I have nevr cooked so many different things in my life! It is quite fun though

hendo its so exciting when you see bits in the nappy isn't it? definately makes you feel like you are doing the right thing. DD has regressed a bit this week I think due to being ill, but is starting to get interested again so I am back to being an avid nappy watcher! My DH thinks I am crazy/a little gross

good luck with the avocado bananamush my dd likes it mushed up with banana or with huumus on a rice cake in case you want a bit of variety!

alibobins · 10/06/2010 20:41

We haven't really given any food today although I gave him some cucumber out of the fridge as I think he is teething.
What do you do if they get a big chunk do you just leave them to it or try and get it out?

hobnob57 · 10/06/2010 20:43

hmm, recipes.

Please give me a kick up the arse inspiration because I'm stuck in a sweet potato fingers-rut.

RubyBuckleberry · 10/06/2010 20:44

welcome bananamush and alibobins you'll love it - watching them competently feed themselves relatively early is totally priceless!

crikeybadger that is great news! go mini crikey!

made those wholemeal cheesy scones this morning and DS ate 3/4 of one smothered in philadelphia! i ate two they were so nice warm from the oven! loving the variety of foods we have too! i have never made so much from scratch!

DS loved lamb hotpot - the lamb was all soft, didn't touch the beef in the beef stew - it was a bit tough! and we were shopping the other day and stopped for a snack - DS munched on strawberries, half a plum, and a bit of my cheese toastie and it actually kept him going till supper! very proud .

on the flip side, DS throws anything he doesn't like the look of - just picks it up and discards it over the side of his high chair! Cheeky monkey! And I don't know what I can do about it as he is so little - he has no idea that is not really allowed!

RubyBuckleberry · 10/06/2010 20:47

alibobins just remain calm and make sure he is sitting forward. if it goes too far back he will gag and if he is sitting forward it will easily fall out.

Cies · 10/06/2010 21:16

If he drops it over the side I just pick it up and give it back to him, unless it's towards the end of the meal and I think he's getting tired and I'm getting bored.

Gave DS a chicken drumstick today - he lovedit! Sat there like a little Flintstone gnawing away and grinning like mad

Re: poo and constipation (avert eyes if you don't want TMI)
For the last couple of days ds has been eating quite a lot of bread, cereal and rice cakes, which I think must have contributed to bunging him up. He did a couple of tiny poos, but was obviously straining and nothing was happening. So yesterday I cut back on the carbs and concentrated on offering him water and fruit. This morning he had some orange segments and some pureed prunes in yogurt. A couple of hours later he was grizzling, rolling onto his tummy and arching his back. I tried a bit of tummy massage and cycling his legs, and he did the biggest poo I've ever seen him do. Poor little chap was crying the whole way through. So I'm going to rethink his meals and make sure he has lots of water and hopefully he won't suffer like that again.

londonlottie · 11/06/2010 07:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

BananaMush · 11/06/2010 08:37

Thanks for all the hellos and welcomes! Sounds like all your wee bubbas are doing great.

Cies - your poor wee man...at least you can now rethink his meals and hopefully you can avoid him getting too bunged up, and at the chicken drumstick!

Londonlottie - parents and in laws eh?! Hope it goes well with the health visitor.

Our advocado went down very well last night. He picked it up, scraped it on the edge of the table, then licked it up I also gave him a little bit of toast and butter which he grabbed and ate!

alibobins · 11/06/2010 11:24

I bit the bullet and gave Ds2 some toast today he really enjoyed gumming it till it was soggy
I was hovering about an inch away from his mouth incase he put too much in does it get easier to watch?

crikeybadger · 11/06/2010 20:46

Hey good news alibobins.

I try not to watch too intently and remain relaxed ....of course at some point he probably will put too much in gag but it's all part of the learning process. (easier said than done I know)

PDog · 11/06/2010 21:08

OK am in need of reassurance today.

evidence of food in nappy today - aprioct and broccoli!!

had 3 gagging incidents today, one quite serious. First was with some pear but DD managed to clear it quite effectively. Second 2 were with some pineapple. She was sucking very enthusiatically and swallowed a big chuck. Her eyes were watering and I was about a second away from slapping her back when she coughed it back up and started crying. We reassured her by smiling and talking so she carried on and then did it again! Was very scary and am a bit now. She did go back to her broccoli so doesn't seem to have been too effected by it but I am very wary now.

RubyBuckleberry · 11/06/2010 22:19

PDog I often fnd I am more alarmed than DS! He will gag, cough, splutter (not all the time) but it is always ok. It is just a sign that his body is working correctly says The Rapley, so I try to just watch carefully but without looking alarmed so DS can concentrate. I think you have to be more wary of 'plug' type objects that could actually block the airway and get stuck: nuts, grapes (whole), cherry tomatoes (whole) and dates on their own are a bit sticky. It is best to be watchful though so its fine to be a bit I reckon. Even though we can give them anything, I have had to remind myself that it is early days and he needs to have stuff he can actually manage. Even so, still lots of gagging etc.

(BTW the gagging incidents have got fewer as he has got older, better at handling the food in his mouth.)

hendo77 · 11/06/2010 22:26

Scary to hear about the gagging incidents PDog, but it sounds like she managed well herself and it didn't put her off her food! Sounds like you dealt with it really well, I'm not sure I would have managed to keep going and probably would have put her off eating anything for life so I'm very impressed!

I just wanted to check, I've bought some yoghurt - it's just plain, organic, probiotic, natural yoghurt - is that the right sort to give her? Also the only prunes I could find were with the dried fruit - are these the right ones to use? If not where do I find fresh ones? Hope I'm not embarrassing myself with these ridiculous questions showing off my lack of shopping and cooking skills...!!!

ruddynorah · 11/06/2010 22:27

ds is still going great guns. current favourite are satsumas. dd peels them for him and hands over the segments. ds then chews them up and out pops the pith. he loves tinned mandarin segments too, less work for him too!

i remember avoiding citrus with dd for a long time as she had such sensitive skin. no such issue with ds. he's had strawberries a lot sooner than dd did too.

his poos are getting firmer. last week they resembled the texture of mashed potato. this week they are even firmer. they don't seem to bother him though. having said that though, he did no poo yesterday, and 4 today

ILoveDolly · 11/06/2010 22:36

Hi everyone, started weaning my 5m old dd this week. I ended up switching to BLW with my first dd which went well, and do already have puree fatigue this time, but thought I should be cautious with the chunks as she's not 100% sitty uppy yet, just a huge hungry biffa of a babe. But then in Machynlleth she grabbed my apple quarter of the plate and gummed at it happily for a while before throwing it down and I thought, hmmmm, this is more fun than blending...... Can I join for some moral support?

picklesrule · 11/06/2010 23:09

Hi all!
pdog that does sound scary.. I actually had DD up and out of the highchair and slapped on the back (unneccesarily) over a bit of something, can't even remember what, in the very early days so you are doing better than me! She is now much much better and we rarely have any gagging so it will improve, just hang in there!

hendo thats the yoghurt I use, someone also recommended greek yoghurt as it is the most fattening I think! DD wasn't a huge fan though, I think maybe too rich..
I use the dried prunes also, chopped up v small..also they are good in any baking instead of/as well as raisons..

PDog · 11/06/2010 23:14

Thanks for the reassurance Ruby and Hendo, have calmed now and feel a bit more enthused after thinking of ideas for next week. Welcome ILoveDolly. Hendo have no idea really but have just done my tesco order including plain natural yoghurt and dried pitted prunes to try DD with so we are on the same wave length, even if it is the wrong one .

crikeybadger have just been having another skim through the thread (kind of feels like us newcomers have hijacked and asked loads of questions already answered sorry!) anyway, noticed you had tried cashew nut butter. Where did you buy it? Bit nervous about peanut butter cos of the allergy thing but is the only nut butter I have seen.

PDog · 11/06/2010 23:16

x posted there pickles didn't mean to leave you out

RubyBuckleberry · 12/06/2010 09:05

morning

so DS finally ate porridge this morning - getting pretty good with a spoon .

we use the natural yoghurt you're talking about hendo - just chop up the prune mix it up and it goes brown. at first i just gave him the brown yoghurt but got braver and he copes well with the bits now - sometimes he has one floating about at the end of the meal - i do it with dates too and the date skin is difficult to swallow. wouldn't actually plug the airway but is a bit of a nuisance. water after helps.

RubyBuckleberry · 12/06/2010 09:09

oh and oranges give him really gripey tummy ache - first time i wasn't sure but then he had them again and got horrible pains and wind!

satsumas and strawberries fine though.

seen a couple of 'proper' poos too - the day after if he's eaten a lot, i think he was quite surprised by one of them hahaha it mus feel quite different if you think about it!interestingly if he has eaten a lot the day before he naturally wants more milk the next day...