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

[FluffyFrog]

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 ?

Hello all! Been away for a while on holiday and out and about.

Have to say that BLW has now been replaced by spoonfeeding plus finger foods, first out of necessity - on a small boat, trying to get something down the boy without him getting everything covered in food - and then because he weighed in very low for his height [guilt emoticon], and the doctor recommended feeding him up a bit. So now we're not true BLWers, but the philosophy of basically giving DS what we're eating is still applicable. In fact, it has meant that the repertoire of food on offer has expanded, as it doesn't all have to be easy to pick up.

Here in our part of Spain (Galicia) a big favourite is empanada which is a big flat pie, with either tuna or meat or cod in it. It's very finger food friendly, although very salty, but DS has had quite a bit over the last fortnight or so. It's made me think about making my own, I'll keep you updated on the result.

Hello Everyone!

Glad to hear what you are all up to. Sorry it's been a while, DH has been on annual leave which dosen't half get in the way of MNing! I keep sneaking peeks on my phone but it hates this thread!

Hi Maygirl ... ...you gave me alot of advice on another thread, if you recall

Devotion Re the flapjack fridge thing I think most things that are dry or crisp go stale very quickly in the fridge, eg bread, cake, biscuits etc...maybe try a tin in a cool place?

DS is doing reall well...recent favourits include melon, melon and more melon, big home made wedges, wedges of tomato, more courgette and green beans, and corn on the cob (I just run a sharp knife through the kernals - which are handily arranged in rows- so he can squish the middle out), stuffed courgettes, sticks of cheese, quatered jacket spuds, banana.

I'm a bit worried that he'll get board as we grow veg and get a veg box so keep giving him lots of the same stuff, that is in season at the mo. At least he loves courgettes...then tyhey'll finish and he won't get any till next year! Poor lad! I keep trying to dress s5tuff up differentl but it is just the same stuff repeated really...

TMI...There's definatly stuff coming out the other end and it obviously feels different to him as his regular pattern has changed and he used to only go when I offered him a potty but we've had a couple of dirty nappies lately...so I guess his digestion is getting used to it all!

I am a bit concerned about going back to work. ALthough it's a couple of months off (even typing that makes it feel ages away!) he's still bfing alot and very unpredicably... I'm freelance and could do with starting to book some work in but am nervous about it... Hey ho, might just start scrimping incase I have to not go back quite when my leave pay is up... [worried emoticon]

devotion, I found the flapjacks weren't as nice cold, although some people on the recipe thread on the BLW forum seemed to like them that way. I think they'd be better re-heated or even toasted.

Hi to Maygirl & Florence.

Florence, the NHS recommendations on infant feeding say that if your baby is showing signs of readiness before 6 months - ie is sitting up, picking up & tasting finger foods - then they should be encouraged to do so.

Hi Ladies, can I join you?

I started BLW today, DS is 24 weeks, and has been grabbing for my food for weeks now.

So today, I put plastic sheeting down, put up my ikea highchair and handed him some toast and banana, he actually managed to eat some of the toast, he did gag a bit which was a bit but I just kept remembering what I had read and tried to relax!!

This afternoon I tried broccoli and rice cakes. The broccoli went everywhere!!! Those little bud bits are impossible to clean up, they ended up in his hair, in his nose!!!

Was really good fun though and I am really looking forward to the journey ahead. I made some sweet potato falafel some courgette fritters and some banana bread today for the freezer, think will stick to simple things for the first few days tho.

Welcome to Florence and Angfirsttimer. Sounds like you had a good start angfirsttimer

Welcome back cies - hope you had a good holiday. We do a bit of a mix of spoon and finger foods too - makes life easier (and cleaner!) sometimes.

Crikey - sorry only just seen this. You can use any part of the chicken except the breast but we use wings mostly because we buy chickens whole and joint them so over time keep getting loads of wings building up and its a good way to use them up!!!

moonfacemama - we try and stick to seasonal here too but DS doesn't seem bothered by the repetition. Am sure if they didn't want it they wouldn't take it!

Hi everyone and welcome to Maygirl, Florence and Angfirsttimer

Tried crikey's cannelloni yesterday and it was a definite winner! DD is a pasta fiend and I do wonder if I'm feeding her too much of it as it's a good, quick freezer standby and I know she'll always wolf it down.

I also made the banana cake which was great, although I did manage to eat most of it with an afternoon coffee and a book whilst DS was having one of her very rare, longer naps

We're having serious bib ripping off issues here - velcro doesn't seem to be DD proof and I'm so tired of having to deal with food stains on her clothes, anyone got any bib recommendations?

If anyone is looking for inspiration this week we've had:

Lentil Dhal and naan bread
Fishcakes
Beef Chilli
Chicken and Sweetcorn jacket potatoes
Carrot and coriander soup
Cheese scones
Courgette rarebit

Hi, welcome to the new blweaners! Hope you have a positive experience with it.

Thanks for the clarification on the recipe lovingkent - will get on to that next week.

Glad you survived the boat Cies. If you need ideas for high calorie foods for your LO, you could try avocado, cashew nut butter, greek yoghurt and adding lots of double cream in to things such as porridge and cheese sauce! Would be interested to know how you get on with the empanadas.

Need to do some meal planning for next week but thinking about doing the fish bake that was recipe of the day on here. Wondering too about a quesadilla recipe with mashed up pinto beans in it. Probably make some lentil fritters too as they are a bit of a fail safe standby.

My pleasure crikey - enjoy it.

Jcee have you tried a pelican bib? They're kind of rubbery and the attachment at the back is a bit like a belt. Have got 2 - one Boots, one Tommy Tippee. Seem to be rip proof and food falls into it so you can just fish it out of there - much easier. Prefer the Boots one - the neck on the Tommy Tippee is pretty wide which means food falls down onto DS's clothes. Sorry can't see it on the Boots website but they have them in my local one.

jcee what about one of those bibs with sleeves? I have a couple, think they are meant to be for messy play but isn't that what BLW is?!

Just to report day two of BLW brought ds snatching a cheesy dorrito out of my hand and swallowing it, and a piece of rib eye steak gummed and sucked to death! Progressing a little faster than I had envisaged!!

Welcome newcomers - sounds like you are off to a great start.

Cies hope you had fun sailing, can imagine the carnage of BLW would be a bit much on a boat.

MoonFaceMama I'm a bit worried about how DD will react now the soft fruit season is drawing to a close.

I am back to work at beginning of October and started trying to switch to formula during the day but DD wasn't impressed. After reading the experiences of others on here, I am now just seeing how things go. Some people have found that their LO's got without when you are not there and catch up when they see you iykwim. As long as they will drink water there should be no worried with dehydration.

DD seems to be cutting down her milk as my boobs feel much fuller and I leaked for the first time in months on Saturday. She doesn't appear to be eating considerably more though, although all her poos have been solid over the last few days so maybe she is swallowing much more. Am going to try introducing an afternoon snack this week and she how that goes.

Hello - wondered if I could join in. My DS2 is just 7 months and we have been BLW for 4 weeks. He has eczema so avoiding dairy and taking things slowly but so far so good. His nappies have just started to change this week so I think he is eating something. Am going to have a good look through the thread and get some recipes.
hello to other Jan 2010 peops

Hi sazlocks, and hi moonfacemama :)

DD going fairly slowly, but had a good go at dinner tonight, suctioned piece of lamb, green beans and went mad gumming apple. I think she has itchy gums- no teeth through but always chewing on stuff- though not usually her food!

I've just ordered some bibeta bibs, hope they're good. DH and I always joke if we don't put a bib on her she's bound to eat! Was true tonight!

I've been doing slimming world, but I think its going to go downhill now, used to dry roast/fry everything, but now sloshing in the olive oil for DD's benefit and finishing off her avocado! Oh well!

Hello everyone and welcome to newcomers.

I made some cheese savoury biscuits from Delia which DS enjoyed and are absolutely delicious. I'm more of a chocolate girl normally, but these are seriously nice - a bit like puff pastry, and really easy to make. Recipe to follow.

DS had a whale of a time with vegetable stir fry and noodles last night - grabbing fistfuls with both hands and shoveling it in. I made clementine pork steaks for tea today which he loved - he sat with the chewed-on piece of pork in his mouth for at least 15 mins. :) Good for a quick and easy dinner, along with some toast/bread to soak up the juices.

Jcee, I would definitely recommend Silly Billyz messy eater bibs. They're pricey but well worth it IMO. We started with a couple of their normal bibs, but these have a long base which can either go over LO's lap, or can be poppered up to form a pocket to catch the food. They say they're for toddlers, but 8 m.o. DS manages okay in them.

Cheese savouries

2oz wholewheat flour (I used white flour)
1/4 tsp salt (I didn't use any)
1 pinch cayenne pepper
1 twist ground black pepper
2oz grated Cheddar
2oz grated Cheshire cheese
2oz butter, at room temperature if making by hand

Optional toppings: celery salt, garlic salt, mild curry powder or cayenne pepper

Pre-heat oven to GM 5 / 190 degrees C

1. Sift flour (and salt)
2. Add cayenne & black pepper
3. Add the cheeses and butter and rub to the crumbly stage (or just whizz it all in the food processor - you can use cold butter if you do this)
4. Bring the mixture together. It shouldn't need any liquid, but if it does, add a drop of milk.
5. Roll out the dough to about 1/8 inch / 3mm and use a 1 or 1.5 inch cutter to cut out the biscuits.
6. Put them fairly close together on a lightly greased baking sheet
7. Sprinkle topping (if any) on them & bake for 10-12 mins before cooling on a wire rack.

Nom nom nom... :)

Thanks for the bib suggestions everyone - Am really liking the silly billyz one as it will cover DD's lap. I've resorted to taking her trousers off at mealtimes as otherwise they end up filthy

Cheese scones are a huge favourite here so I'll definitely be trying the cheese savouries recipe Angeldog - they sound yummy!

DD pulls at her bib lots too - we have lots of different ones but she pulls them all. She eats in just a vest as also had the filthy trousers problem. Might have to invest in some of those long ones.

DD had her first taster session at nursery yesterday. DH was convinced they would know all about blw but they only have one other baby eating that way and it quite a big nursery. Anyway, at least they know what to expect. She is having the meals designed for older children, chopped do she can pick them up easier.

Met up with my nct class last week and they are all doing purees. Discovered another advantage of blw as their lo's have all being sick as a result of over feeding at some point. P

Whoops, sorry for typos and random p - have nicked dh's phone while I feed dd. And thanks for recipe angeldog.

Hello all! Have been lurking for a while but thought I would be brave and come and jump in. My DS is 7 months old and we've been doing BLW for a month which he really seems to be enjoying.

I'm feeling a bit of wavering though, as everyone keeps on telling me he needs to eat loads to sleep though the night (which I would love). Anyone got any stories of BLWed babies slepping though the night?

I am loving the ease and chilled-out-ness of BLW though, we took DS to Wagamama's where he demolished a little chicken dumpling to much amazement from the other diners, so much more fun than having to feed him from a jar while my food got cold!

I have nothing to say about sleep and BLW as having issues with DS2 sleep but that's a whole other thread !
But BLW - what a revelation after having gone down the puree route with DS1. I am totally converted. DS2 eating marinated tuna and chips for his dinner tonight and vegy chilli wraps last night - I wouldn't have believed it possible had I not seen it myself.

Welcome, GetThePartyStarted. My DS slept throught he night about 3 times when he was 3 months, but hasn't since, so his sleep isn't food related (although he does need at least one night feed still at 8 months).

Back to bibs, I should have added that I put a muslin around DS's lap & sides to stop bits dropping down the sides of the bib. I use the previous day's wiping-up-sick muslin and use it for all 3 meals, so there's no extra washing. :)

There was a good suggestion on the BLW forum about using a piece of cloth as a bib / food catcher / cleanish surface to wipe baby's hands on, although it probalby only works with the Ikea chair. I tried it with a muslin & teatowel but neither were quite big enough so I'm going to have a go with an old cut-up sheet and see if that works.

Direct sunlight works wonders on stains. I hung out some of DS's nectarine and tomato stained pale blue trousers on the line yesterday and the stains have completely disappeared.

On subject of sleeping through. I have been v lucky and my ds has been sleeping through for a few months now. My worry is that I keep hearing that BLW kids dont sleep through, please tell me that if he was sleeping through he will continue to do so??!!

GetThePartyStarted - I don't know much about BLW babies sleeping through the night, but I know of plenty of puree babies NOT sleeping through the night if it makes you feel any better.

Yeah, same here jemjabella. It seems to be more about babies' sleep personality than anything else IME.

I'll just add that my DS used to sleep through from 9pm to 6am if dreamfed from about 12 weeks until 6.5 months and now he is all over the shop. Don't think its anything to do with weaning as he started doing this a couple of weeks after weaning. Think its more teeth related (well at the moment anyway). The myth that solids makes them sleep needs to be taken out and shot!

No sleeping through the night here I'm afraid. She was sleeping from about 7.30 pm til 4am, which was good enough for me but that stopped at about 6.5 months (is there something about that age we don't know LovingKent?)

I also know lots of puree fed and FF babies who don't sleep through either though so completely agree that it has much more to do with personality than food, despite my dad trying to convince me otherwise.

Just finished making the cannelloni for tomorrow nights tea. A word of advice - wouldn't bother piping the mixture in unless you have a proper piping bag. Tried using a sandwich bag but it wouldn't go into the tubes enough so ending up using my fingers with DH poking it down with the end of a teaspoon - much quicker but lots messier.