Started BLW this week. Advice needed!

[salander]

My daughter will be 6 months on Friday I started BLW 5 days ago. I offered a banana first 3 days. Yesterday and today broccoli floret. She hates broccoli any time she puts it in mouth she pulled a face as if to say "mum what the hell are u giving me!" Ha
I'm confused as to how many times a day should I offer food. I know it's only day 5 but I don't think she's had any of the food at all. When will she start to eat? Have all BLW babas been the same at first? Tomorrow I'm going to offer butternut squash. How long should I steam it for?
Getting a little stressed as its the unknown for me as I did purées for my first daughter xx

 

[Cheska]

Aw don't stress. I can't offer masses of advice as I didn't stick with it 100% as felt my lo was too small to hold things at first. When I discussed blw with my health visitor she said don't worry about how much they are getting food is just for fun until they are 12 month and eventually they will get the hang and be eating some of it rather than just throwing it around.

I think I would steam butternut squash for about 20mins you don't want it too mushy so she can keep hold.

Just as ideas what I have found useful - steamed apple rings, toast, sticks of cheese, pitta bread strips and homous, strips of pepper.

The idea is whatever your eating minus salt eventually. I've seen pictures of babies eating spaghetti Bol off their highchair tray with their hands. I'm sticking with spoons for the mo.

Good luck.

 

[salander]

Thank you! I'd really like to stick with blw as I've started so you've offered great advice currently steaming the squash as we speak and I'll give some avocado too. Just been reading a bit more and seems I don't have to offer one food at a time so I'll stick a couple of things down for her to grab. We have a stokke high chair so at the mo I'm using a bumbo with a tray on. Very messy! Wish me luck!!
Am I right in think I can also give weta is cereal in the mornings for her to try (giving her the spoon) perhaps I'm a bit confused as to what I can give from the start as I'm used to offering one food at a time etc... Xx

 

[Cheska]

Haha!

My lo won't sit in his bumbo just try's to grab his feet so ends up doubled over.

Yes I think that's the idea, put a few different things on a tray and let her choose what she wants.

With things that she can't pick up such as weetabix I think I would spoon feed or try her with the spoon but offer some finger food with it. Toast or strips of fruit.

 

[MindUtopia]

Just keep offering things. It might not be until about 8-9 months that you notice much food actually being eaten. My daughter made a lot of faces at first because she didn't realise what was going in her mouth would break apart if she chewed it. We're on maybe week 3 or so now and she definitely picks things up and munches on them more intently. She still doesn't really intend to eat them, but more goes in. It's definitely coming out in her nappy now, just little bits of things, but I still think it's pretty early for that.

And don't be afraid to try all sorts of things, not just veg or fruit. We did breadsticks, toast with pea dip, toast with avocado, spaghetti. Yesterday we tried tomato and basil ravioli and today I'm making her blackberry muffins (low sugar, baby recipe). You'll be amazed what they really can eat if you give them the chance.

As for how long to cook stuff, just test it. Also, you might find roasting butternut squash works better as it's more likely to hold it's shape and be easy to handle. One of our first foods was carrot and parsnip sticks roasted in olive oil, thyme and rosemary, which were a big hit. And they were crunchy enough to be easy to handle.

And you're right, you don't have to offer one thing at a time. I usually do 3-4 different things per meal (cucumber stick, steamed carrot, toast with avocado for instance). And for now, we are mainly just doing lunch and sometimes an early dinner if we have time. She gets frustrated after a bit, so I try not to force it too often until she gets the hang of it more. Then we'll do dinner every day and also add in breakfast.

 

[biglebowski]

Our lo only started to really eat the last couple of weeks. He is 8 months. Just relax and let lo have fun. The key to BLW is to just let them experience food and everything that goes with it. The sights,, the smells, the chat at the table and sometimes even eating it!! Offer lots of different roasted veg, toast / pitta / low salt rice cakes with toppings - mashed fruit, low salt butter or soft / cottage cheese. Make some home made chunky soups with low salt stock cubes or spag bol. Lo loves these with crusty bread dipped and then to sook. Also don't put too much effort into cooking just for lo. I learned very quickly that the more effort I put in, the more likely it would be to be sniffed, tentatively licked, then tossed on the floor!!!! Try to adapt your cooking for you and OH and save some for lo. Our lo would sometimes barely eat, then devour grub another night. I take comfort that he's getting his bottles for his nutrition. Foods just added fun at the moment.

 

[Mrs HM]

Firstly, do not stress. Remember that eating together this way should be easier and more enjoyable than using purees. As another poster said, food at this stage of just for fun so as long as you've cooked things until they are soft enough for your LO to pick up and eat, it really doesn't matter how much she eats.

I gave my LO three or four finger foods at every meal. It took quite a long time for him to understand what was happening, but at almost 19months he feeds himself with a spoon very well and helps himself to what he wants at every meal. BLW is really great so relax and just have fun watching your LO discover food.

BTW - my LO is not fussy at all but he hates broccoli too!!

 

[salander]

Thanks ladies that's really helpful. Feeling better about it. Think I'm going down the path of inbetweeners ha. I have a 2 year old and my partner works away quite a bit so meal times are all over the place and I just have to slot in when I can. I've been offering fingers foods and mushing food up to a lumpy texture and kind of letting her guide my hand and spoon into her mouth. She's loving all the foods so far from the spoon. She tries the finger foods but just gets frustrated but she's getting there each day. So far she's had avocado, mango, butternut squash, banana and some weetabiscuits this morning. She's doing so well. Thanks again for the advice I don't think I can claim to do blw anymore but Im happy with how she's doing. Soooooo much easier not doing purées tho! I'll get onto offering her toast with avocado next I think I let her have a munch x

 

[salander]

Well I'm flabbergasted! I put some roasted parsnip and carrots and cucumber in front of her today and I thought she'll not eat any so as I was mushing a bit up for her she picked up the parsnip and had a good old suck and munch on it. She loved it!!! Thanks so much for idea I roasted it with garlic and rosemary. So proud of my little munchkin

 

[aug95est]

Well I'm flabbergasted! I put some roasted parsnip and carrots and cucumber in front of her today and I thought she'll not eat any so as I was mushing a bit up for her she picked up the parsnip and had a good old suck and munch on it. She loved it!!! Thanks so much for idea I roasted it with garlic and rosemary. So proud of my little munchkin

That's awesome!! I was abt to tell you to hang in there and she will get there, but from latest update, it seems like she is loving the stuff you are offering.

I love reading stories of blw, only wish I had started my lo a little earlier.

You are doing a good job

 

[MindUtopia]

Well I'm flabbergasted! I put some roasted parsnip and carrots and cucumber in front of her today and I thought she'll not eat any so as I was mushing a bit up for her she picked up the parsnip and had a good old suck and munch on it. She loved it!!! Thanks so much for idea I roasted it with garlic and rosemary. So proud of my little munchkin

That's fantastic! Just keep going with it. My daughter is 6 months and 3 weeks, so we've been doing this just over 3 weeks now and it's really only been this week that she's really getting the hang of it and seeming to intentionally eat it.

I gave her some sauteed courgettes today for lunch and she munched on each one for like 5 minutes and sucked all the tender bit out of the center and just left the skin behind. It was awesome.

Just keep going with it. They get a lot more confident and skilled as time goes by.

 

[DaisyAnne]

My daughter will be 6 months on Friday I started BLW 5 days ago. I offered a banana first 3 days. Yesterday and today broccoli floret. She hates broccoli any time she puts it in mouth she pulled a face as if to say "mum what the hell are u giving me!" Ha
I'm confused as to how many times a day should I offer food. I know it's only day 5 but I don't think she's had any of the food at all. When will she start to eat? Have all BLW babas been the same at first? Tomorrow I'm going to offer butternut squash. How long should I steam it for?
Getting a little stressed as its the unknown for me as I did purées for my first daughter xx

My LO didn't eat much at all for the first month or so. It was more a learning/practice thing. The idea is that they first start by gumming/sucking on the food not really eating, then they learn to bite off pieces (but keep spitting most of them back out), then they learn to chew, then they learn to move the food from the front of their mouth to the back of their throat and swallow (their gag reflex is supposedly in the middle of their tongue around 6 months, which helps them learn safely). So the difficulty is that we know TW where they learn to swallow first (bypassing their gag reflex), chew last- so they're eating immediately, and that's hard to compare it to BLW in that way. Some BLWers eat more right away, but most take awhile it's part of the process! I know it's so anti-climatic, though, haha!

BUT we love BLW and are so glad we stuck with it. Resist the urge to speed things along, this is exactly the way they learn

Oh, I recommend the Baby Lead Weaning Cookbook. They have lots of info about BLW and a lot of ideas for foods to give them and recipes. I've foudn it really helpful

 

[salander]

Mind utopia how did you do the sautéed courgettes? As your parsnips recipe was a hit I'm going copy another idea
Daisyanne thank you! I'm going to resist now I've seen her munching on the parsnip and let lead the way
Thanks everyone for your suppor and advice xx

 

[Lulu]

This is a great thread - I've been trying to do BLW with my little girl since last week and I'm getting worried that she's just not interested in food yet. Rationally I know that it's still early days and she's still just figuring out what food is and what to do with it but at the same time I keep thinking maybe I should just go to purees. I really need to chill

 

[salander]

Lulu I was apprehensive about it but my little girl is loving her food. I know she's not eating lots but when I saw her munching on a potato wedge for lunch and pear wedges for dinner it's just amazing. I had a few friend round and they couldn't believe it! I've also started her with sippy cup for water and she's doing ok with that. I just can't believe that a 6 month old is picking food up herself from the table and trying hardest to munch on it. She's great also at spitting food out when she's taken a huge bite off something. Stick with it, it hasn't taken her long at all and it doesn't matter if she doesn't eat as she's getting all her milk still x

 

[kitty_el]

I am very confused with the idea of BLW - I wanted to give this a go, I gave my LO half a grape to play with and she started choking on it - like went bright red, started screaming and eventually was sick - very scary.

Am I doing something wrong?

 

[biglebowski]

I am very confused with the idea of BLW - I wanted to give this a go, I gave my LO half a grape to play with and she started choking on it - like went bright red, started screaming and eventually was sick - very scary.

Am I doing something wrong?

Maybe a grape was not the best thing to start with as the skin can be tricky for them. Maybe start with a roasted parsnip or carrot. Keep the veg a nice size for lo to hold. My lo is 8 months and I just started to feel comfortable with grapes.
With BLW initially you might find that they sook or gum food but don't swallow. Also they may gag a bit. This is noisy, very natural but still can be very scary!! They are just experimenting with how to manage food. My lo now can work the food to the side of his mouth and chew (he has just 2 front teeth). He will also work forward any food that needs more chewing. With the grapes he gummed it for ages, chewing the flesh and worked the skin out of his mouth as he obviously didn't want to swallow it!! These babies are so smart....but it takes time. They are learning a new skill. With TW babies swallow first, then learn to chew. With BLW they learn to manage and chew food, THEN swallow. Take your time, try not to fret,and if you think BLW is for you buy the recipe book. They break down good foods to start with, based on babies grip etc, and how to prep food so lo's hands can cope with holding food. Good luck...and have fun!!

 

[kitty_el]

Thank you I hadn't thought about buying a book so I will definitely look into getting one and you're right I don't think a grape was the right choice for a first food it was more a spur of the moment thing. I got some ripe bananas earlier to try tomorrow though

 

[biglebowski]

Thank you I hadn't thought about buying a book so I will definitely look into getting one and you're right I don't think a grape was the right choice for a first food it was more a spur of the moment thing. I got some ripe bananas earlier to try tomorrow though

If you check out the BLW website there's lots of great info and recipes! Hope your lo enjoys the banana. You might wana cut it and leave some skin on for lo to grip as they may struggle as banana is very slippery!! Or smear it on toast finger or a chunk of rice cake. My lo loves it!