BLW - Baby led weaning support thread

[Lu28]

Aisling's not been gaining weight well over the last few weeks and has now lost weight. I'm hopefully seeing the doc tomorrow to see if they'll prescribe dopemedrine but the HV thought this was unlikely. So my other options are supplementing with formula which would obviously make a low supply problem worse, or weaning onto solids now.

As I want to continue bfing, I think solids would be the best of those two options BUT I still really want to do BLW! What do you think is the best thing to do? I was thinking of maybe a bit of baby rice for the next few weeks before she really gets into the hang of BLW. Or if I start with spoon feeding, is it just defeating the purpose?

Thanks ladies

 

[helen1234]

i started with puree's lu when rhys was around 5 months for the same reason he stopped putting weight on i picked blw up when he was6 months and he was really good with it, i still sometimes spoon im food such as porridge, yoghurts, and he loves the plum range baby food so if we're out i'll take that, his weight is still slow but i give him porridge in the morning and i out 4oz formula in it just to get the extra in.

do what you feel is right blw is really adaptable and if you want to spoon her some puree as she's holding and sucking on veg and fruit thats fine as well you can easily pick it back up, better than forgetting blw all together.

x

 

[elm]

Lu xx

How's Aisling doing with blw'ing? You could offer her foods made with formula maybe (Elliot had weetabix with formula today for example) you could ask the specialist for advice. You could see how she does eating them herself then spoon feed if necessary. If I give Elliot anything on a spoon I just make sure it's him bringing his head to the spoon. He tends to grab the spoon anyway - it's just if it's something that needs a bit more dexterity than normal.

x

 

[Lu28]

Thanks ladies Helen, it's really nice to see that you started weaning at the same time for the same reason and are still getting on really well with BLW, definitely gives me some hope.

Elm, she's only eaten that one bit of apple, she didn't even look at it today! Don't think I can rely on BLW to get the weight on her just yet and what worries me is that it would take a good while for her to gain even after 6 months. I like the idea of mixing formula with a cereal or something, at least that way it's not replacing a milk feed. And great about letting them bring their heads to the spoon, worth a shot!

I'll see what the doc has to say tomorrow but this makes me feel like I can do right by her but not "failing" at bfing either, thank you so much

 

[elm]

If she needs food early there's all sorts of things you'll be able to make her and you can enjoy giving her loads of different flavours getting her ready for solids if she has purees and formula food things for a bit

Have fun with it xxx

 

[Lu28]

Thanks Elm, I can always rely on you to help me feel better!!

 

[xxxjacxxx]

Hi Girls.

I'm now at a stage where I think its time to begin on BLW with Leo
He's been on purrees now since he was 3.5 months and has breakfast, lunch & dessert and tea & dessert plus 4 7 oz bottles aday!

So where do I start with BLW?
ive been told to try toast in the morning, so Im going to give him his usual milk, then put some toast cut into fingers infront of him and spoon feed him bits of porridge....does that sound ok?

Where can I get ideas for meals from? I gotta admit I'm not the best cook so simple ideas would work best for us.

Im actually quite excited!

 

[helen1234]

Jac, i would start just putting pieces on his tray and seeing what he does with it, he's still only 5 months so he might not do anything with it, he might get frustrated if you dont spoon him some but if he can hold the spoon you could guide it up to his mouth, it sounds bizarre and it does take longer but they soon get the hang of it, i load rhys spoon and he put it in his mouth,
theres a great book off amazon by gill rapley and a finger foods book which are reall good and i'm always dipping into one of them.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Baby-led-W...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253089080&sr=8-1
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Finger-Babies-Toddlers-Jennie-Maizels/dp/0091889510/ref=pd_sim_b_3

you dont have to be a great cook just give him what you give the other children but maybe adapt it slightly the other night we had fishfingers chips and beans lol, rhys had fishfinger, beans and a frozen bag of veg pockets.
shephards pie, lasagne, spag bol, curry, chicken cooked anyway, baked potato, all the salads, pasta, sausage, spagetti, scrambled egg, crumpets. just to think of a few.

the choking thing.. because he's controlling what goes in he's less likely to choke than feeding puree, he might gag which is different to choking and is a natural reflex thing to do is not panic, luckily rhys has only done it twice and it was because my stupid inlaws were hovering over him like banshee's talking to him and being twits so he lost his consentration.

x

 

[xxxjacxxx]

Ok so I tried a finger of toast this morning and he was not impressed!
Dinner we wnet to tesco for lunch so I got him a jam sandwich and put it on the tray for him..he had great fun squishing it between his fingers!
I know he;s only nearly 5 months so I dont expect him to do much, but I am going to keep at it...feed him his puree but put some finger foods on his tray for him to explore if he feels like it.

 

[saraendepity]

i got my bible thru today and have been avidly reading it!! it really makes sense!! cant wait to start playing with foods with daisy!!!!

sara

xxxxxx

 

[xxxjacxxx]

Thankyou!
Ive just ordered those two books!
cant wait to get stuck in now

 

[elm]

Does anyone else love messy food or is it just me?! I gave Elliot porridge made with formula with banana in for breakfast - I love seeing him getting stuck in and food flying everywhere.... Going to have to repaint the kitchen wall at some point though!!!
x

 

[Lu28]

I tried Aisling with baby rice last night and she hated it I made myself some spiced sweet potato soup today and it's really thick so dipped a spoon in and gave it to Aisling - this is the result!!

[IMG]https://i329.photobucket.com/albums/l393/nualamcanally/img_0990.jpg[/IMG]

Sooo happy she's able to get the spoon in her own mouth and she actually ate a good bit - well a few teaspoons worth anyway!

Only problem is, whenever I took spoon off her to reload it, she bawled her eyes out - more than happy when I gave it back to her though!

 

[rach321]

Try having 2 spoons - one to load and one for them to hold - helps prevent any meltdowns !! Great pic

 

[helen1234]

ye rhys hate me taking the spoon i have to use his arm to dip it in lol,
rhys just loves scrambled egg and he watches my every move when i make it.
he loves making a mess and i always know when he's eaten enough cos he just starts swiping it onto the floor i am constantly mopping the kitchen floor, and he ends up sitting in it and squishing it into the corners of his seat where its hard to clean out lol. then i look at his mucky face and its all worth it.

 

[Babyshambelle]

Hi everyone! Just dipping in to say I am nearly finished reading the bible, and I'm really excited about starting BLW (not that I'm wishing the time away though!).

Like Sara said, it makes total sense! Especially the bits about 'aeroplanes' and not praising when they eat, or telling them off when they don't. I already trust her to eat what and when she wants at my boob...why should I then start shoveling puree into her mouth and making her have 'one last bit for mummy'.

I'm going to keep an eye on this thread from now on

 

[saraendepity]

I tried Aisling with baby rice last night and she hated it I made myself some spiced sweet potato soup today and it's really thick so dipped a spoon in and gave it to Aisling - this is the result!!

[IMG]https://i329.photobucket.com/albums/l393/nualamcanally/img_0990.jpg[/IMG]

Sooo happy she's able to get the spoon in her own mouth and she actually ate a good bit - well a few teaspoons worth anyway!

Only problem is, whenever I took spoon off her to reload it, she bawled her eyes out - more than happy when I gave it back to her though!

omg that has to be the best photo i've seen in a long time!!!!LOVE IT!!

sara

xxxxxxx

 

[Lu28]

I feel like a bit of a fraud posting her at the moment because I'm not doing the full BLW thing until Aisling starts putting on weight However, I tried Aisling with some baby rice mixed with banana last night which she loved, more sweet potato soup just now and she's just munched down a big chunk of banana all on her own! I'm either letting her have the spoon herself or just holding it near her and she goes to the spoon and takes the food off herself.

I do have a question though. I know with normal weaning there's alot of attention paid to timetabling feeds and letting them have a certain number of feeds each day, then building it up. At lunch and dinner I was just going to offer Aisling the opportunity to have some solids if she wants them. Does this sound like a bit much for her second real day? Or do I just follow the spirit of BLW and letting her have as much as she likes? She always has a breastfeed first as I want to make sure she doesn't cut back on milk as much as possible as it has the most calories and putting on weight is the focus just now.

Thanks!

 

[CountingDown]

I feel like a bit of a fraud posting her at the moment because I'm not doing the full BLW thing until Aisling starts putting on weight However, I tried Aisling with some baby rice mixed with banana last night which she loved, more sweet potato soup just now and she's just munched down a big chunk of banana all on her own! I'm either letting her have the spoon herself or just holding it near her and she goes to the spoon and takes the food off herself.

I do have a question though. I know with normal weaning there's alot of attention paid to timetabling feeds and letting them have a certain number of feeds each day, then building it up. At lunch and dinner I was just going to offer Aisling the opportunity to have some solids if she wants them. Does this sound like a bit much for her second real day? Or do I just follow the spirit of BLW and letting her have as much as she likes? She always has a breastfeed first as I want to make sure she doesn't cut back on milk as much as possible as it has the most calories and putting on weight is the focus just now.

Thanks!

Sounds like she is doing great hun xx

I have just been offering Olivia food randomly at the moment till she learns to chew and eats properly. I offer her little bits from my plate or sit her in her highchair and give her bits of apple or carrot to munch on. xx

 

[Julie74d]

Hi Ladies, just a quick question. What beaker/cup does everyone use for water/juice? I have a 'anywayup cup' but I think it's too hard for little one to suck and a normal tommee tippee with free flow spout but she keeps shaking it about and water goes everywhere!!