Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
crikeybadger · 27/04/2010 20:15

pickesrule fantastic news! I think we've all become nappy watchers in the last few weeks!

Mosschops- welcome! Dept of Health advice is to wait until 26 weeks for weaning, but I think it's important to look at your baby and see if they are showing signs of readiness. With the blw, you generally wait until that time and then you can pretty much give them anything (except those things popsig mentioned).

The Gill Rapley book is a good place to start as it explains the theory behind it all.

this link is good for advice and help too.

We started off with sticks of roasted carrots, parsnips etc (they have to be able to hold them) and only a few weeks later we are on noodles and tofu. Oh yes, and as you may have gathered it is very messy, but a lot of fun!!

MrsPurr · 29/04/2010 09:49

Ds is 24 weeks and plunged in this morning. Really wanted to wait till 26 weeks but have felt increasingly mean as he has been watching me eating with a longing look on his face trying to get bits of pitta bread off me etc.

This morning I was eating porridge with strawberries so gave him a strawberry to see what he'd do. No joy it just got hidden in his fist then thrown on floor too small for him. So I cut some long sticks of pear for him and he sucked on one and seemed to really enjoy it, smacking his lips together.

So excited! I think we should go for it. Ordering bibs and crinkle cutter as we speak!

What is everyone doing about drinks? I know Baby Led Weaning is ideal for EBF babies as they can regulate their fluid intake themselves. However, my DS is half-and-half bottle and boob fed. Am thinking I should offer him a beaker of water at 'meals'. I should think it'll take him a good couple of months to figure out what this beaker thing is all about though...

mistressploppy · 29/04/2010 10:12

Yes, start with a beaker to get him used to the idea at least. I'm offering ds water with meals in a free-flow Tommy Tippee cup - he holds the handles and mouths at it but can't actually get anything unless I help ( - I know this isn't strictly BLW!). He usually has a couple of glugs

I'm keen for him to have water as he gets really constipated and this has got worse with the solids. I know lots of babies barely need anything as bfing gives all they need, not sure about mixed feeding.

Congrats on starting! Welcome to the mess!

popspig · 29/04/2010 11:52

Morning - seem to have a breakthrough as DD is now swallowing some food rather than rolling it round her mouth and spitting it out. And she's cut her first tooth today so fingers crossed for sligghtly more sleep.

MrsPurr I give DD a beaker with some water with all her food, more for something to play with and start her getting used to it.

eg2006 · 29/04/2010 13:53

Hi!

Id like to join please. DS was six months on 19th April, been doing purees for a while but he loves finger foods.

Came here looking for advice on fussy eaters, but think I will try BLW, sounds fun, DS on my lap at mo eating a rice cake (he refused pureed kedgeree and fish pie lunchtime)

Is there any concerns about nutrition with BLW? DS has been alternating between 91st and 75th centile, he is currently on 75th and I feel like I should feed him up a bit. (DS1 was a hefty baby and looked like a beachball before he started crawling!....he's now 5 and nearly 4ft and skinny as a rake!)

BTW DS has just sicked up rice cake over me!

Sorry long post...been on my own all day!

McDreamy · 29/04/2010 13:55

I have the book but no longer need it - anyone give it a new home?

mistressploppy · 29/04/2010 14:03

Hi Eg! Your DS is exactly the same age as mine!

re nutrition, the general feeling is they get the most important calories from milk still at this age, so not to worry too much. Some HVs might disagree though

lamby79 · 29/04/2010 14:32

Toast and marmite, rice cakes, cheese and brocoli with gravy are going down very well here at the mo!

But one question, DD has started freaking out when she gets food stuck in her mouth (outside of the gums). She sticks her fingers in her mouth to try to get at it and I have been trying to encourage her to chew but the food seems quite wedged in (has happened with carrot, cauliflower and mushroom). She then refuses any more food. Anyone got any tips / had similar experience?

lamby79 · 29/04/2010 18:59

Also, meant to add to those who haven't yet got their highchairs, the Ikea Antilope is fab. I brought a chicco one and my mum got the ikea one...well, just got back from visiting her and have stolen her highchair. Lots less mess (esp if you get the inflatable so sides padded out) and perfect for those little hands to grab the food!

crikeybadger · 29/04/2010 20:00

lamby- does offering some water help with the jammed food?

We have been having quite a bit of loud 'squawking' at the evening meal time. DS isn't really unhappy, but maybe frustrated as he can't seem to get things in to his mouth quick enough. Could also be tiredness I suppose too.

eg- good to have you along.
as mistress ploppy says, milk provides most of the nutrients as you don't drop any milk feeds initially. You'll probably find that your lo won't actually 'eat' much for a while anyway. If you've not got the Gill Rapley book, then it's a good read.

Punky79 · 29/04/2010 20:17

Can I join in too please?

My DS is 6 months on 7th June so we have a little while to go though I have been letting him lick things !

When he turns 5 months I'm going to start putting him in the high chair and giving him bits of food to play with I think.

Most of my NCT girls have started with purees and have bet me that I won't do BLW for more than a week so the challenge is on!

crikeybadger · 29/04/2010 20:50

Welcome along mrspurr and punky !

Haha punky, what a challenge! I'm sure you'll have a lot of fun, mess and enjoyment doing blw. I've enjoyed seeing my ds teach himself how to eat and his skills are improving all the time. It's certainly got to be more fun than spooning in gloopy baby rice .

The thing about blw though is that because you're not dropping any milk feeds, you can just go at their pace, so yep, for the first week, or even first couple of months, they won't be eating much (generally chucking it on the floor), but from what I've heard, the benefits are seen further down the line.

Well, we'll see anyway...at the moment, I'm loving it, (who knows I may be eating my Annabel Karmel flavoured words in a few months!)

Let us know how you get on anyway.

MrsPurr · 30/04/2010 09:45

This morning we did cucumber sticks (gummed and sucked) and I gave him some of my porridge which he greatly enjoyed sqiudging around (we make it with water and jumbo oats so is very thick, so I thought it might be just about manageable for him). He got balls of it in his hands but was really just playing with the consistency. I think he licked a bit off his fingers though. Had to clean the oats from between his toes (!) afterwards...

mistressploppy · 30/04/2010 11:48

We tried a banana for the first time this morning (ds gets constipated so have been putting it off)

He loved it!

Also lovely conditioning treatment for his hair, vain boy...

picklesrule · 30/04/2010 12:26

morning all! We had cheesy mash potato for tea last night, v sticky everywhere but I think a fair bit went in

Tried that banana bread recipe from the blw blog as well and that went down a treat..think I will try some of the other muffin/bread recipes on there..all v healthy..

Just started giving her something at teatime the last couple of days and the last couple of nights her sleep has been much worse! Has anyone else found this? Might be a coincidence but was thinking it might be the feeling of digesting food that is waking her??

picklesrule · 30/04/2010 12:27

haha mrspurr love the finding oats between the toes - DD hasn't managed to spread anything that far yet although a fair bit seems to end up in her ears!

mosschops30 · 30/04/2010 18:28

mcdreamy I would love the book , how much do you want for it?

Many thanks to those who cleared up some of my questions, i started today and gave ds2 some porridge out of a jar just to see how he got on, but have now read in an old book that hes not supposed to have cereals until 6 months, does this include baby porridge?

Also am I supposed to be sterilising spoons and bowls?? Just seems a bit pointless.

Have cooked and pureed some cauliflower and butterbut squash tonight and am gonna give some pieces of banana tomorrow.

He loves it, think hes gonna be a good eater

McDreamy · 30/04/2010 20:26

Mosschops email me at grimmer dot kim at gmail dot com. Tis yours

eg2006 · 30/04/2010 22:26

Hi all,

Here's an update on my experiences...

DS choked on a ricecake yesterday, tipped him up and patted his back no worries ricecake reappeared (across the room!)

Bought some Ellas Kitchen rusks today and DH nearly has a fit when DS chokes again (methinks it might have been a gag but try telling a man that he is wrong!) DH then smugly points out the pack says 7months. He is ignored!

Going to try brocolli and cucumber tommorrow.

picklesrule · 01/05/2010 08:49

Hi eg2006 well done for staying calm with the gagging, it is quite scary the first few times isn't it! I've found dd has massively improved with gagging in the few weeks we've been doing it - she seems to know much better how to move the food around her mouth before it gets to the back.

Weetabix and yoghurt here for breakfast - I've found that breaking the weetabix into chunks softened with a bit of milk goes down a treat esp when covered in yoghurt..DD was wolfing it down this morning.

Just trying to make some porridge and fruit biscuits so will report back on how those come out later..I'm not known for my cooking skills so could be interesting

crikeybadger · 01/05/2010 12:51

pickesrule - sounds like things are going well- banana bread yum!

Must look up the recipe for that. Actually doing the blw has given me a bit of a kick up the backside and pushed me in to making some more imaginative meals (usually we do the same things pretty much). Last night I made some marinated chicken fajita type things with black bean stew and corn on the cob. DS3 loved it and DS1 had a good go at it - corn on the cob was a bit fiddly for him.

must go... lunch is calling

RubyBuckleberry · 01/05/2010 13:40

hi everybody!

mosschops no need for sterilising I think?? They put so much in their mouths anyway!

eg2006 well handled with the choking ! DS seems to choke but I think it just gagging. I think if they are really choking it all goes silent! very scary.

crikeybadger i'm the same - been cooking all sorts of delights so he can hold them! quiche gone down well, and oat pancakes and my friend's doing it and gave half a baked potato folded like a taco which i am keen to try!

gave S yoghurt for the first time yesterday and he loved it - it went everywhere but i think some went in?!

he also had a butternut squash muffin. i think i liked them more than he did though!!!

RubyBuckleberry · 01/05/2010 13:41

pickles is your DD eating weetabox with her hands?

picklesrule · 01/05/2010 17:45

yes, i put a bit of milk on it, just to soften slightly (the edges & centre are usually still a bit crunchy) and then break it into 3(ish) chunks..it tends to stay together long enough for her to shove it in and out of her mouth a few times..this morning when it had started to break up more she was just kind of scooping it off the highchair and shovelling it in...
It is very messy though as it seems to get stuck everywhere

picklesrule · 01/05/2010 18:16

Oh and the oat/fruit biscuits are YUM! (I think I might like them more than DD!)
Used the oat slice recipe on the BLW site - you have to guess at quatities but they seemed to work...

Have also definately been trying to be more creative - realised that when I'm on my own I eat pretty much then same thing for B'fast and lunch every day, and its not even very exciting so definately having to branch out for DD - its fun though!