First day on solids, BLW, is this normal?

[Pink Petals]

We tried BLW today, starting solids for the first time.

We put banana on his tray. He mostly mushed it around. Got some in his mouth, but gagged and spat it out.

Is this normal?

If it continues, I worry that he won't get enough iron, etc.

 

[fieryphoenix]

Yup, totally normal. My lo didn't start to actually ingest anything until 7.5-8 months old

 

[staralfur]

Very normal. My LO didn't swallow anything until she was 8 months. It's a long process for some. As long as he's getting enough milk there's no need to worry.

 

[Pink Petals]

Don't their iron stores start running low?

 

[staralfur]

That was never something my LO's doctor mentioned and she knew my LO wasn't eating solids until 8 months (and she was far from eating 3 meals at 12 months).

Are you breastfeeding? Or using iron-fortified formula?

 

[Pink Petals]

Just breastfeeding.

 

[staralfur]

Here's some info:

https://kellymom.com/nutrition/vitamins/iron/

 

[Rachel_C]

Yes totally normal. Weaning (and depletion of iron stores) is a long slow process, not a line in the sand. LO won't suddenly run out of iron and LO won't suddenly eat loads of food (not most LOs anyway) so don't even think about it until after a year If left to their own devices, healthy children will eat what they need so if LO starts nomming down steaks in a few months you know he wants the iron! Have you read the BLW book? If not, I would as it will explain what you're doing and why.

 

[MindUtopia]

Yep, perfectly normal. It's not like there's much iron in banana anyway, so you have nothing to worry about. Just make sure he's on a vitamin supplement if you're BF. If he's on formula, he'll get all he needs in vitamins and minerals from that up to a year.

With BLW, you really just need to give it time. My daughter did a lot of playing and gumming, but not much eating for probably the first month and a half. They get most of their nutrients and calories from milk anyway at that age, so they have plenty of time to explore and learn how to feed themselves. But about 9 months, my daughter could feed herself 2/3 of a whole banana in one go! Plus whatever else she was having for breakfast. So just hang in there and give it time.