BLW - Baby led weaning support thread

My lo love one thing per day lol. Yesterday it was weetabix and toast.
The day before it was "I only eat cucumbers" day.
So weird.
But still will not touch pasta or meat

I really want to try BLW with my youngest. She is 6 months. I have never heard of anybody who has done this before. What is okay to give? Only soft foods right? So no apples? Can I give carrots if they are steamed. Do I cut it into small pieces or just give a hunk of steamed carrot? What if I make something like chili or spaghetti for dinner, can she eat it too? What is off limits? So so many questions? Any website with lots of help and advice?

On the whole we've been taking this BLW thing pretty slowly and LO only has 1 or 2 types of food a day and its been going pretty well. But today when she was stuffing a potato wedge into her mouth, she started to choke, so we didn't jump up immediately because obviously she needs to learn to bring it up herself but she seemed to be struggling and making funny noises so I hit her on the back and she brought it up (a huge bit of potato) then she vomited a little. So we panicked I guess, just took her out of the high chair and cleaned her up. It did scare me a little, even though she was obviously ok afterwards because she was trying to scoop the potato (plus vomit) up to give it a 2nd go but its made me feel apprehensive about BLW now. Has this happened to anyone else before?

Yes.. this happened with us with apple. It was really scary for OH and I. But LO wasn't fazed at all. :srug:... we ended up slowing down a bit with BLW, but now LO is getting VERY upset when we don't let him feed himself or if we don't share meals with him. So we are back on track and haven't had another choking moment.. some gagging, but not much of that really either. LO is a very good eater now... though I have to admit, we haven't tried apple again.

It happened again yesterday, this time with the yolk of a boiled egg. It wasn't as bad as the last time but its really making me question whether we're doing the right thing by doing BLW. That together with the fact that she doesn't seem to be actually eating any of it. Most of the food ends up on the floor, she probably spits out what she tastes and chews, so I'm pretty sure shes barely eating anything. So now I'm concerned about whether shes getting enough nutrients because we're in the process of gradually introducing follow on milk but it says on the box that the milk complements weaning and the introduction of foods.

Hiya
Yes, we had a couple of gagging episodes, once with a rice cake when I think he was so hungry he tried to wolf it down! I've learnt to always boob feed before solids now....

Saw your ticker and your LO is just over 24wks? We started offering the odd bit of veg stick a week or so ago when LO was 24/25wks and tbh he ignored most of it and certainly nothing was going down. Now, in the last couple of days he seems to have really got the hang of it better and nearly everything we give him goes straight to his mouth - and some is even definitely going down!! We've seen th evidence in his nappy

Keep at it, or hold off for a week or so but try BLW again then maybe? The last skill they learn is actually swallowing, so most of it will end up on the floor/mashed into the tray, but it's all a learning experience for them. Serious business for babies, this playing with food

Forgot to say, LO seemed to do a lot better when we gave him actual meal food, like lamb patties and sweet potato wedges - as opposed to raw veg sticks

I would also say to either keep with it, or leave it for a couple of days/ a week. We started.. then had the scary moment and backed off for almost two weeks. Still let him explore food, but not often and no meal times etc.
At close to two weeks after said incident, LO was getting SERIOUSLY frusterated with us for NOT including him in meal times so we started BLW again.. AMAZING the difference. He was SO excited and happy..
He still has gagging sometimes, but that is normal..and he is eating TONS.. a lot more than I expected, as they say Food is for FUN in the first year.
There is a lot of mess with BLW.. but the look of happiness, confidence and pride in LO's little face when he feeds himself is priceless. Worth all the clean up, and it is SO nice not having to make something different for him, and then feed him at a different time. He LOVES being a part of the whole eating experience with us.

I would also second what another poster said, always do a milk feed before BLW feed. Sometimes, in the afternoon and evening meal usually, I will do a half milk feed before BLW meal and then the rest after the meal. LO responds really well to that.. though the morning I always give a full milk feed before BLW breakfast.

You are doing GREAT

how do we all give wheetabix? i tried mashed with his milk but he wasnt keen so i thought maybe give it to him to hold and chew/gum?

Really struggling with what to give and whats off limits xx

I soak weetabix in a couple of tablespoons of milk before giving it to her. So she can hold it and eat it, but it's not soggy and falling apart too much! At 6 months+ they can have just about anything apart from:

-Not fully cooked eggs
-Honey
-Whole nuts
-Shark, swordfish and marlin
-Raw shellfis

Obviously take care with sugar and salt and give whole fat foods instead of low fat ones .