MiissMuffet - DM2 summed it up, but the basic premise to it is that you don't spoon feed your LO at all. Anything that goes in their mouths us put there themselves, even spoons and mushy foods. In the beginning they advise offering them finger foods for easier handling. The concept is that they learn to manage and to chew and swallow their food faster this way and the earlier (from around 6 months) they start handling food the better as their gag reflex, which keeps them from choking, is further forward in their mouths so food doesn't make it far enough back before they bring it forward to either spit out or chew some more if it is too big to manage.
There are some really interesting theories behind it too, such as the notion that they better learn to regulate their own appetite and eating habits, taking only so much as they need, thus laying the foundation for healthy eating habits and reducing the risk of obesity later in life. There have also been studies done that show that as long as babies and toddlers are offered a balanced variety of foods in front of them, that they will naturally take what they nutritionally require, so even if all they range to eat for a week is fish and strawberries, that's ok!
The mantra during the first year is that food is for fun and that the bulk of their nutritional requirements should still be met by milk.
I would highly recommend reading Rapley's book, even if you choose to wean traditionally by spoon feeding purees as the information about offering finger foods is well worth it.
DM2 - good to hear from you! It sounds like Hunter is doing great. Ronan is long and lean too. He's in 6-9 for sleepsuits and 3-6 for most everything else. He has some 6-9 shorts and trousers for length but they are baggy around the waist usually so keep slipping down!
Emskins -sorry to hear you're having such a hard time with Wren right now. I agree with DM2 though about the baby rice, if she's fussing or waking at night for feeds then she needs more milk, not a full rummy of empty calories. Ronan started feeding poorly during the day around the same age too and there are days he's so distractable that he just wants to watch the dog, or find daddy because he can hear him, or try and get his mitts on the tv remote or my phone. I can't even drink from a bottle of water or eat while he's feeding anymore because he's just fascinated and wants to watch. I often end up going up into the nursery to feed him during the day because it's cool, dark and quiet in there!
mummydee -if you're lucky, it won't affect Roman, or at least not too badly. I think Ronan being able to self settle and to settle back to sleep on his own made it more bearable for us. I dread to think how awful it would have been for me if i was having to get up to settle him every time he stirred rather than just when he genuinely needed a feed!
i wont last forever
