Caved and spoon-fed LO, now regret it

[Pink Petals]

We really wanted to do BLW. I read the book, bought the cook book and was pumped to start!

It has been about a week and all LO has done is make a mess. Very little has gone into the mouth and what has, came back out.

I started worrying about LO not eating and so I tried spoon feeding him. And he spat it out that time too... I feel bad, because he didn't seem to like me feeding him, but I fed him a few spoons anyway.

Now I regret what I did. It goes against everything I planned and prepared myself to do and it didn't even help him eat. I was just worried about LO's nutrition and him not eating.

I know that the book says it is ok if they dont eat in the early days, but I still worry about his nutrition.

Do I persevere with BLW? Do a combo until he is swallowing?

 

[Rachel_C]

I'd just carry on with BLW. If LO isn't ready, what good will feeding him with a spoon do apart from to make you feel better? For me, a big part of BLW is that it is about HIM - how he feels about food, what he wants and needs to eat - not about what somebody else thinks he needs or what somebody else wants him to eat.

If you believe in the theory behind BLW (and it sounds like you do), put all thoughts of what LO should be eating out of your head for another 6 months. If LO won't swallow anything at a year old, you might want to think about it then but a week in? Nope! He would be perfectly fine on milk alone until at least a year old. If you're really worried about nutrition in a few months you could look at vitamins but they still won't be necessary.

 

[Pink Petals]

Thanks!

I do really believe in BLW. I think I just got freaked out, because we had our 6 month check up and my doctor is not supportive. She had never heard of BLW and when I told her about the kinds of things you give the baby, she flipped out and lectured me about choking, nutrition, etc. She gave me handouts with the recommended amounts of purees babies should be eating from 6-12 months and emphasized that LO needs iron.

But I have also talked to a nutritionist who supports BLW and she seems to think LO is doing fine.

Would be nice if the professionals would agree on things!

 

[Lou1234]

Breast milk or formula is the main source of nutrition for babies under 1. Food at the moment is for new things like taste and textures.

BLW is all about letting the baby eat when they are ready. Your son might might play with the food for a week. Next week he might eat a bit and in a few weeks you'll probably wonder why you worrying.

At the moment it sounds like he is fun feeling the way food feels.

We did a mixture at first. I spoon fed purées but made sure LO had finger foods as well at each meal like steamed carrot sticks or banana so she could get used to feeding and gumming. That worked for us. Some days we would have fully BLW meals and sometimes a mixture.

 

[MindUtopia]

Just carry on and try not to stress about it. Everything you describe is perfectly normal and as others have said, they largely get their nutrition from breast milk or formula for the first year and solids are just a bonus on top of that. So he doesn't need solids nutritionally right now. What he does need is just to learn about tastes and textures and picking things up and feeling them, which is exactly what he's doing when he's making a mess. You just need to trust him and yourself enough to step back and them him do it. My daughter didn't really eat much of anything (other than a bit of the top of broccoli florets) for the first month and a half. Now at 13 months, she's very independent and loves her food. That said, spoon feeding isn't 'bad' either. I do occasionally spoonfeed my daughter certain things like porridge or yogurt, but we do it on her terms (sometimes when she's poorly she won't do it herself and points to the bowl and the spoon until I do it. It's fine. But it's because I trust her to communicate what she wants and when she's done, which she does very well now that's to BLW). Just hang in there and trust the process and don't expect much to happen overnight. I'd say give it 2 months and then check in with yourself and see if this really feels like the right thing. So much will change in that time!

 

[Tess.ie]

Just carry on and try not to stress about it. Everything you describe is perfectly normal and as others have said, they largely get their nutrition from breast milk or formula for the first year and solids are just a bonus on top of that. So he doesn't need solids nutritionally right now. What he does need is just to learn about tastes and textures and picking things up and feeling them, which is exactly what he's doing when he's making a mess. You just need to trust him and yourself enough to step back and them him do it. My daughter didn't really eat much of anything (other than a bit of the top of broccoli florets) for the first month and a half. Now at 13 months, she's very independent and loves her food. That said, spoon feeding isn't 'bad' either. I do occasionally spoonfeed my daughter certain things like porridge or yogurt, but we do it on her terms (sometimes when she's poorly she won't do it herself and points to the bowl and the spoon until I do it. It's fine. But it's because I trust her to communicate what she wants and when she's done, which she does very well now that's to BLW). Just hang in there and trust the process and don't expect much to happen overnight. I'd say give it 2 months and then check in with yourself and see if this really feels like the right thing. So much will change in that time!

Couldn't have said it better myself! It took my dd a while to get going, but now people marvel at how much she eats,and the fact that she sits up at the table and eats with a fork and spoon herself

 

[Noodlebear]

I'd do a combination and see which one your LO eventually takes to. BLW is a great idea but it doesn't suit all children and ultimately it's actually up to them which method you follow. Lucas was spoon fed initially but very quickly decided he'd rather shovel it all in himself

 

[Pink Petals]

Thanks. I think we will do a combination for awhile and see how LO does. Hopefully, I will bebrave enough to do exclusive BLW soon!

 

[MrsElsie]

Dont put pressure on yourself to have to stick to one way or another just because its what you originally thought you wanted to do - you are allowed to change your mind! You have to do what you are comfortable with.

If its any consolation I started BLW 5 days ago and my little girl does put things in her mouth but it pretty much all comes out again - I'm not worried about it as she is getting everything she needs nutritionally from milk. I've read that with BLW they learn to chew (with or without teeth) before learning to swallow, which is why most of it comes out at first. With traditional weaning babies learn to swallow food before learning to chew so they inevitably consume more to begin with.

Do you sit and eat with your LO at the same time? I think it's good if they can see someone else that they can copy.

I think its awful that your doctor has never heard of BLW - they really should be a bit more clued up about this sort of thing before scaring new mums. Dont listen to them and follow your instinct. Good luck - enjoy watching LO learn about food, whichever method you choose!

 

[MrsElsie]

Oops just seen this thread is a month old - silly me!! I expect things have changed a bit by now!!

 

[Pink Petals]

That's ok. Nothing has really changed in a month anyhow. LO still spits most of everything out. Although, I was ecstatic today to find zucchini skin in his poop!