BLW and daycare

[Pink Petals]

Hello!

This is my first time posting in this section. My LO is 5 months old and we plan to try BLW when he is 6 months old. I have been reading the book and love the ideas!

I am worried about when he goes to daycare. He will be a year old by then. How do daycares usually feed one year olds? Do they offer them food and let them feed themselves? Or do they spoon feed?

I don't even know what one year olds are traditionally fed. Is it purees still?

Thanks

 

[Babybear85]

My little one is not at daycare but from what I understand it's whatever you want them to have as your paying it's something I guess you will need to ask the nursery when you visit or you could give them a ring. I did baby led with both of mine so I dont know the typical age that people move from puree to solid finger foods but I would have thought by 9 months finger foods would be being introduced so if your little one isn't going to nursery until 1 you will be fine

 

[MindUtopia]

You're in Canada, so not sure exactly how it works there, but I know in the U.S. you're often expected to send food with your child to daycare, so they get fed whatever you choose to send them (or at least at the places where my friends' babies are). If that's the case, then you're in charge anyway and they'll offer whatever you send. Here in the UK, nurseries provide meals. Not sure how it is everywhere, but at my daughter's they get meals brought in from a caterer every day. They have mostly kids who are 2-5 years, and only about 4 under 18 months, so it's just normal food. I think they do mash it up or puree it and spoonfeed if your baby needs it. But they only take babies who are 9+ months anyway and by that age, most are starting to eat finger foods at least some of the time.

We did BLW and I just told them when we started that she'd feed herself. I think it did take them a bit to trust her to do it, as she wasn't eating much the first couple weeks she was there and I think they felt like they needed to spoonfeed her (I think they did for a bit). But once she settled in, she eats just fine, like she does at home. She has all sorts of things just like the big kids - today it's fish cakes and peas and salad, somedays it's veggie pasta, or BBQ chicken, or chicken casserole. They almost always have a fruit or yogurt as well and I think they do feed her the yogurt with a spoon, which she's fine with now. Basically, in my experience, they just work with whatever works best for your baby. But yes, at a year, babies shouldn't really be on pureed food anyway. Some still eat mashed food or food in small pieces, but it shouldn't be unusual to them to give a 1 year old finger foods, so I wouldn't worry too much. Just ask them what they do and explain what he eats and they should be able to accommodate. BLW isn't that unusual anymore, so they are probably used it it.