Traditional weaning V BLW

[purple_socks]

Done in the correct way there is not a huge difference in the 2 methods, babies are offered different foods, if they like it they eat it, if they don't like it they don't eat it. If they are full they stop, if the hungry they take more.

You are missing out a lot of what BLW is about. It's not just about letting LO feed themself solid food and stop when they're full - a lot of it is to do with the psychology behind eating and eating behaviours, not just the physical action of "eating".

I know exactly what BLW is, I have read alot about it, obviously I am not going to write about it all, I just made those 2 points.

All I am saying is if done correctly BOTH methods will serve a baby well, they will end up well nourished and with a decent grounding for eating properly when they are older.

It really bugs me that some BLW people seem to think their method is more superior and ends up with a better baby somehow..and that TW babies are somehow lacking in what they learn - TW done correctly includes finger food - babies who are TW do not miss out on this important part of learning.

i'm not really sure where u got that impression from maybe you've read a thread i haven't?
i haven't come across anyone who has said or implied that BLWing creates a 'better baby'.

i know i personally feel like its a great way to wean and i like promoting it because i think there r other people who would prefer BLW over TW only they aren't aware of it because its not very widely known abt yet (i know b4 i came across info on BLW by mistake i didn't know there was any other way...i just thought weaning was TW and that was that)
...but if someone chooses TW once they fully understand the theory/meathods of BLW then good 4 them. i don't judge them or think i'm superior 4 BLWing

do u think maybe u've misread someones positivity abt BLW as negitivity towards TW?

 

[Lisa1302]

Done in the correct way there is not a huge difference in the 2 methods, babies are offered different foods, if they like it they eat it, if they don't like it they don't eat it. If they are full they stop, if the hungry they take more.

You are missing out a lot of what BLW is about. It's not just about letting LO feed themself solid food and stop when they're full - a lot of it is to do with the psychology behind eating and eating behaviours, not just the physical action of "eating".

I know exactly what BLW is, I have read alot about it, obviously I am not going to write about it all, I just made those 2 points.

All I am saying is if done correctly BOTH methods will serve a baby well, they will end up well nourished and with a decent grounding for eating properly when they are older.

It really bugs me that some BLW people seem to think their method is more superior and ends up with a better baby somehow..and that TW babies are somehow lacking in what they learn - TW done correctly includes finger food - babies who are TW do not miss out on this important part of learning.

i'm not really sure where u got that impression from maybe you've read a thread i haven't?
i haven't come across anyone who has said or implied that BLWing creates a 'better baby'.

i know i personally feel like its a great way to wean and i like promoting it because i think there r other people who would prefer BLW over TW only they aren't aware of it because its not very widely known abt yet (i know b4 i came across info on BLW by mistake i didn't know there was any other way...i just thought weaning was TW and that was that)
...but if someone chooses TW once they fully understand the theory/meathods of BLW then good 4 them. i don't judge them or think i'm superior 4 BLWing

do u think maybe u've misread someones positivity abt BLW as negitivity towards TW?

no not at all, i think peoples positivity towards BLW is great on here - however there are always comments from some BLW people regarding the things that people get wrong with TW, which have been known to cause issues later on - as if the method is to blame and will always cause these issues - when in fact its the person doing it that makes the mistake, not the method.

BLW is so widely liked because it hopes to stop issues that apparently come about from TW - but if done correctly those issues wouldn't exist.

 

[JayleighAnn]

Done in the correct way there is not a huge difference in the 2 methods, babies are offered different foods, if they like it they eat it, if they don't like it they don't eat it. If they are full they stop, if the hungry they take more.

You are missing out a lot of what BLW is about. It's not just about letting LO feed themself solid food and stop when they're full - a lot of it is to do with the psychology behind eating and eating behaviours, not just the physical action of "eating".

I know exactly what BLW is, I have read alot about it, obviously I am not going to write about it all, I just made those 2 points.

All I am saying is if done correctly BOTH methods will serve a baby well, they will end up well nourished and with a decent grounding for eating properly when they are older.

It really bugs me that some BLW people seem to think their method is more superior and ends up with a better baby somehow..and that TW babies are somehow lacking in what they learn - TW done correctly includes finger food - babies who are TW do not miss out on this important part of learning.

i'm not really sure where u got that impression from maybe you've read a thread i haven't?
i haven't come across anyone who has said or implied that BLWing creates a 'better baby'.

i know i personally feel like its a great way to wean and i like promoting it because i think there r other people who would prefer BLW over TW only they aren't aware of it because its not very widely known abt yet (i know b4 i came across info on BLW by mistake i didn't know there was any other way...i just thought weaning was TW and that was that)
...but if someone chooses TW once they fully understand the theory/meathods of BLW then good 4 them. i don't judge them or think i'm superior 4 BLWing

do u think maybe u've misread someones positivity abt BLW as negitivity towards TW?

no not at all, i think peoples positivity towards BLW is great on here - however there are always comments from some BLW people regarding the things that people get wrong with TW, which have been known to cause issues later on - as if the method is to blame and will always cause these issues - when in fact its the person doing it that makes the mistake, not the method.

BLW is so widely liked because it hopes to stop issues that apparently come about from TW - but if done correctly those issues wouldn't exist.

Yes they would, "TW" babies have "stages" because TW came from so called experts post WW2 who decided everything a baby does should be controlled by the parents, they made women BF on a schedule thus loosing their milk, they made them puree their food and control how much and when they eat.

"TW" came from babies being weaned too early, so they food had to be puree'd as they couldn't handle real food as they were too young to eat.

And when has there been a post from a BLW'r about our babies being better than puree fed babies? I've not seen one nor do I think any of us BLW'rs feel ourselves to be superior! We face a lot of challenges and criticism for our choice of weaning so why shouldn't we show pride? If being proud comes across as being superior then so be it

 

[Whoppy-pop]

Sorry this is not meant to be inflamitory but TW may well have been born from WW2 experts but I don't know one person who feed's their child to a time table. Everyone who I've known (and I've been a nursery nurse for 3 years previously) who has TW their baby has followed their childs lead too. A baby takes as long as it pleases to eat in TW, and if it is not hungry it should NEVER be forced to eat. I don't think there should be any difference in this respect between BLW and TW. x

 

[faille]

A lot of bad habbits also still exist with TW whereas BLW try to actively break these. The whole rationing of WW2 led to parents "forcing" their LOs to eat all their meals because it WAS a waste and couldn't afford to be wasted during that time. For some unknown reason, that thought process has been carried on through the years - my parents certainly used it for us - "no pudding unless you eat all your greens / eat a bit more than you can have a treat" etc.

I know TW doesn't automatically carry on those opinions and that comes from the person, but BLW tries to actively discourage those opinions. I am in no way shape or form saying that TW'd babies will automatically be forced to eat or that at the end of the day it isn't the parents responsibility because it is. BLW, however, tries to teach the parent about this and tries to actively encourage parents to not use this approach and not use food as some kind of bribe or reward. I think that's the main thing people are trying to get at...

I know before I read up on BLW, I would have just gone by experience and done what my parents done with me - meaning that I would have done TW and 'encouraged' and 'bribed' LO into eating 'healthy' food or just 'a little more or one more spoon' etc. I just wouldn't have known any different - it's not a dig or insult to TW, it's my admition of the lack of information and guidance out there to do with weaning at all. I still don't stop eating when I'm full, I still feel as if I'm 'wasting' food if I don't eat it all - and yes, that did come from my childhood and like I said, if I hadn't of read up on BLW I would have been completely ignorant and made the same mistake. I'm not saying you can't avoid those mistakes with TW as you can and I'm not saying that BLW is a "cure" but it certainly was an eye opener for me. It just so happens that I agreed with everything else about it lol

Sorry, that's turned out real long and I don't even know if I got my point across

 

[Lisa1302]

Done in the correct way there is not a huge difference in the 2 methods, babies are offered different foods, if they like it they eat it, if they don't like it they don't eat it. If they are full they stop, if the hungry they take more.

You are missing out a lot of what BLW is about. It's not just about letting LO feed themself solid food and stop when they're full - a lot of it is to do with the psychology behind eating and eating behaviours, not just the physical action of "eating".

I know exactly what BLW is, I have read alot about it, obviously I am not going to write about it all, I just made those 2 points.

All I am saying is if done correctly BOTH methods will serve a baby well, they will end up well nourished and with a decent grounding for eating properly when they are older.

It really bugs me that some BLW people seem to think their method is more superior and ends up with a better baby somehow..and that TW babies are somehow lacking in what they learn - TW done correctly includes finger food - babies who are TW do not miss out on this important part of learning.

i'm not really sure where u got that impression from maybe you've read a thread i haven't?
i haven't come across anyone who has said or implied that BLWing creates a 'better baby'.

i know i personally feel like its a great way to wean and i like promoting it because i think there r other people who would prefer BLW over TW only they aren't aware of it because its not very widely known abt yet (i know b4 i came across info on BLW by mistake i didn't know there was any other way...i just thought weaning was TW and that was that)
...but if someone chooses TW once they fully understand the theory/meathods of BLW then good 4 them. i don't judge them or think i'm superior 4 BLWing

do u think maybe u've misread someones positivity abt BLW as negitivity towards TW?

no not at all, i think peoples positivity towards BLW is great on here - however there are always comments from some BLW people regarding the things that people get wrong with TW, which have been known to cause issues later on - as if the method is to blame and will always cause these issues - when in fact its the person doing it that makes the mistake, not the method.

BLW is so widely liked because it hopes to stop issues that apparently come about from TW - but if done correctly those issues wouldn't exist.

Yes they would, "TW" babies have "stages" because TW came from so called experts post WW2 who decided everything a baby does should be controlled by the parents, they made women BF on a schedule thus loosing their milk, they made them puree their food and control how much and when they eat.

"TW" came from babies being weaned too early, so they food had to be puree'd as they couldn't handle real food as they were too young to eat.

And when is there has their been a post from a BLW'r about our babies being better than puree fed babies? I've not seen one nor do I think any of us BLW'rs feel ourselves to be superior! We face a lot of challenges and criticism for our choice of weaning so why shouldn't we show pride? If being proud comes across as being superior then so be it

you say 'Yes they would' as in people who TW these days are causing these issues???

bearing in mind that modern day 'traditional weaning' is not done like that, it is not the case....just because that is how it was done then does not mean for one minute that that is how HVs and non BLW professionals suggest doing it now.

things are capable of improving..and TW is no longer the way you describe, in fact it hasn't been for quite some time, so its not really relevant in this conversation.

 

[JayleighAnn]

Done in the correct way there is not a huge difference in the 2 methods, babies are offered different foods, if they like it they eat it, if they don't like it they don't eat it. If they are full they stop, if the hungry they take more.

You are missing out a lot of what BLW is about. It's not just about letting LO feed themself solid food and stop when they're full - a lot of it is to do with the psychology behind eating and eating behaviours, not just the physical action of "eating".

I know exactly what BLW is, I have read alot about it, obviously I am not going to write about it all, I just made those 2 points.

All I am saying is if done correctly BOTH methods will serve a baby well, they will end up well nourished and with a decent grounding for eating properly when they are older.

It really bugs me that some BLW people seem to think their method is more superior and ends up with a better baby somehow..and that TW babies are somehow lacking in what they learn - TW done correctly includes finger food - babies who are TW do not miss out on this important part of learning.

i'm not really sure where u got that impression from maybe you've read a thread i haven't?
i haven't come across anyone who has said or implied that BLWing creates a 'better baby'.

i know i personally feel like its a great way to wean and i like promoting it because i think there r other people who would prefer BLW over TW only they aren't aware of it because its not very widely known abt yet (i know b4 i came across info on BLW by mistake i didn't know there was any other way...i just thought weaning was TW and that was that)
...but if someone chooses TW once they fully understand the theory/meathods of BLW then good 4 them. i don't judge them or think i'm superior 4 BLWing

do u think maybe u've misread someones positivity abt BLW as negitivity towards TW?

no not at all, i think peoples positivity towards BLW is great on here - however there are always comments from some BLW people regarding the things that people get wrong with TW, which have been known to cause issues later on - as if the method is to blame and will always cause these issues - when in fact its the person doing it that makes the mistake, not the method.

BLW is so widely liked because it hopes to stop issues that apparently come about from TW - but if done correctly those issues wouldn't exist.

Yes they would, "TW" babies have "stages" because TW came from so called experts post WW2 who decided everything a baby does should be controlled by the parents, they made women BF on a schedule thus loosing their milk, they made them puree their food and control how much and when they eat.

"TW" came from babies being weaned too early, so they food had to be puree'd as they couldn't handle real food as they were too young to eat.

And when is there has their been a post from a BLW'r about our babies being better than puree fed babies? I've not seen one nor do I think any of us BLW'rs feel ourselves to be superior! We face a lot of challenges and criticism for our choice of weaning so why shouldn't we show pride? If being proud comes across as being superior then so be it

you say 'Yes they would' as in people who TW these days are causing these issues???

bearing in mind that modern day 'traditional weaning' is not done like that it is not the case....just because that is how it was done then does not mean for one minute that that is how HVs and non BLW professionals suggest doing it now.

things are capable of improving..and TW is no longer the way you describe, in fact it hasn't been for quite some time, so its not really relevant in this conversation.

I say yes they would as in TW does cause these problems, as faille said above me "eat your greens and youll get pudding" is a habit from TW of eating all your food and bribing with treats. BLW actively discourages any form of praise for eating.

I didn't mean "they" as in the people I meant they as the problems. TW babies are prone to fussiness and overeating as they can't regulate how fast, how much and how food is put into their mouths. Yes fingers foods are part of TW but it's not the main focus, so for 80% of their eating their portions and speed of feeding etc is being controlled by someone else.

I know that it's come on from post WW2 but there is still a lot left over, such as eating all your food, babies being fed bland foods to start off their pallet.

Theres no need to be rude by telling me something I've written isn't relevant to this conversation, you starting an argument wasn't relevant either.

ETA - BTW I'm not suggesting that anyone here force feeds their child or anything, nor that TW is a bad way to wean your baby

 

[Lisa1302]

Done in the correct way there is not a huge difference in the 2 methods, babies are offered different foods, if they like it they eat it, if they don't like it they don't eat it. If they are full they stop, if the hungry they take more.

You are missing out a lot of what BLW is about. It's not just about letting LO feed themself solid food and stop when they're full - a lot of it is to do with the psychology behind eating and eating behaviours, not just the physical action of "eating".

I know exactly what BLW is, I have read alot about it, obviously I am not going to write about it all, I just made those 2 points.

All I am saying is if done correctly BOTH methods will serve a baby well, they will end up well nourished and with a decent grounding for eating properly when they are older.

It really bugs me that some BLW people seem to think their method is more superior and ends up with a better baby somehow..and that TW babies are somehow lacking in what they learn - TW done correctly includes finger food - babies who are TW do not miss out on this important part of learning.

i'm not really sure where u got that impression from maybe you've read a thread i haven't?
i haven't come across anyone who has said or implied that BLWing creates a 'better baby'.

i know i personally feel like its a great way to wean and i like promoting it because i think there r other people who would prefer BLW over TW only they aren't aware of it because its not very widely known abt yet (i know b4 i came across info on BLW by mistake i didn't know there was any other way...i just thought weaning was TW and that was that)
...but if someone chooses TW once they fully understand the theory/meathods of BLW then good 4 them. i don't judge them or think i'm superior 4 BLWing

do u think maybe u've misread someones positivity abt BLW as negitivity towards TW?

no not at all, i think peoples positivity towards BLW is great on here - however there are always comments from some BLW people regarding the things that people get wrong with TW, which have been known to cause issues later on - as if the method is to blame and will always cause these issues - when in fact its the person doing it that makes the mistake, not the method.

BLW is so widely liked because it hopes to stop issues that apparently come about from TW - but if done correctly those issues wouldn't exist.

Yes they would, "TW" babies have "stages" because TW came from so called experts post WW2 who decided everything a baby does should be controlled by the parents, they made women BF on a schedule thus loosing their milk, they made them puree their food and control how much and when they eat.

"TW" came from babies being weaned too early, so they food had to be puree'd as they couldn't handle real food as they were too young to eat.

And when is there has their been a post from a BLW'r about our babies being better than puree fed babies? I've not seen one nor do I think any of us BLW'rs feel ourselves to be superior! We face a lot of challenges and criticism for our choice of weaning so why shouldn't we show pride? If being proud comes across as being superior then so be it

you say 'Yes they would' as in people who TW these days are causing these issues???

bearing in mind that modern day 'traditional weaning' is not done like that it is not the case....just because that is how it was done then does not mean for one minute that that is how HVs and non BLW professionals suggest doing it now.

things are capable of improving..and TW is no longer the way you describe, in fact it hasn't been for quite some time, so its not really relevant in this conversation.

I say yes they would as in TW does cause these problems, as faille said above me "eat your greens and youll get pudding" is a habit from TW of eating all your food and bribing with treats. BLW actively discourages any form of praise for eating.

I didn't mean "they" as in the people I meant they as the problems. TW babies are prone to fussiness and overeating as they can't regulate how fast, how much and how food is put into their mouths. Yes fingers foods are part of TW but it's not the main focus, so for 80% of their eating their portions and speed of feeding etc is being controlled by someone else.

I know that it's come on from post WW2 but there is still a lot left over, such as eating all your food, babies being fed bland foods to start off their pallet.

Theres no need to be rude by telling me something I've written isn't relevant to this conversation, you starting an argument wasn't relevant either

BUT TW does not cause these issues if it is done correctly, not the way it was done 60 years ago, not even 20 years ago.

The method has changed from what you describe, so you are accusing every single TW mother of force feeding their baby because that is what was done years ago? It simply is not the case (yes there will always be people who get it wrong)

Annabel Karmel is one of the biggest selling writers about traditional weaning, she starts with purees and progresses through to lumpy food and finger food - there is no mention of force feeding as this is not what is 'taught' these days.

How can mothers who TW now be tarred with the brush of people decades ago?

It was not rude to say what you wrote was irrelevant, the fact remains that you are talking about something that happened 60 years ago and is no longer the case, therefore it is irrelevant.

I think in your post you have pretty much managed to insult every single person who TW, by making out they force feed and bribe their babies. We DO NOT.

 

[JayleighAnn]

You show me where I said "every TW mother force feeds their child" you can't because I didn't! I've not accused any mother here of doing that as I'm sure they don't!

 

[mommyof3co]

I really don't get why people get so offended? If you know you are doing what's best for your baby who cares what any one else does or thinks??? I'm not in the least bit offended by what JayleighAnn said...and I TW'd all 3 of my boys. Yes I'm interested in BLW and would like to try it with my next one but I don't think for a minute that I weaned my other 3 in a "bad" way. I completely agree that with TW comes SOME who do force feed, or encourage kids to clean their plates. We don't do that. I know we never forced the boys to eat...hence why even on purees Hayden was started at 6mo and didn't eat until 9mo when he was ready. But that doesn't mean I can't acknowledge that it DOES happen, I've heard clear you plates said to so many kids, eat and get dessert. And I'm sure there are some BLW babies that out of desperation when they get older their parents plead with them to eat and bribe too. I don't see why people can't read other people's opinions on why they chose to do something and not take it so personally? As I've heard someone on here say a few times, if you are confident in your choices no one should be able to make you feel bad or guilty. Don't take things so personal, you know you're doing what's best for your baby, what you feel comfortable with and you aren't forcing them to eat....Jayleigh isn't saying that it happens with every TW baby.

 

[Lisa1302]

You show me where I said "every TW mother force feeds their child" you can't because I didn't! I've not accused any mother here of doing that as I'm sure they don't!

how is this
''I know that it's come on from post WW2 but there is still a lot left over, such as eating all your food''
not saying that you think TW make their baby eat everything..aka force feeding!?!

and how is this
''I say yes they would as in TW does cause these problems, as faille said above me "eat your greens and youll get pudding" is a habit from TW of eating all your food and bribing with treats. BLW actively discourages any form of praise for eating.''
not saying you think TW bribes babies to eat?

 

[JayleighAnn]

I really don't get why people get so offended? If you know you are doing what's best for your baby who cares what any one else does or thinks??? I'm not in the least bit offended by what JayleighAnn said...and I TW'd all 3 of my boys. Yes I'm interested in BLW and would like to try it with my next one but I don't think for a minute that I weaned my other 3 in a "bad" way. I completely agree that with TW comes SOME who do force feed, or encourage kids to clean their plates. We don't do that. I know we never forced the boys to eat...hence why even on purees Hayden was started at 6mo and didn't eat until 9mo when he was ready. But that doesn't mean I can't acknowledge that it DOES happen, I've heard clear you plates said to so many kids, eat and get dessert. And I'm sure there are some BLW babies that out of desperation when they get older their parents plead with them to eat and bribe too. I don't see why people can't read other people's opinions on why they chose to do something and not take it so personally? As I've heard someone on here say a few times, if you are confident in your choices no one should be able to make you feel bad or guilty. Don't take things so personal, you know you're doing what's best for your baby, what you feel comfortable with and you aren't forcing them to eat....Jayleigh isn't saying that it happens with every TW baby.

Nice to know your not offended hun it wasn't meant with offence obviously

 

[JayleighAnn]

You show me where I said "every TW mother force feeds their child" you can't because I didn't! I've not accused any mother here of doing that as I'm sure they don't!

how is this
''I know that it's come on from post WW2 but there is still a lot left over, such as eating all your food''
not saying that you think TW make their baby eat everything..aka force feeding!?!

and how is this
''I say yes they would as in TW does cause these problems, as faille said above me "eat your greens and youll get pudding" is a habit from TW of eating all your food and bribing with treats. BLW actively discourages any form of praise for eating.''
not saying you think TW bribes babies to eat?

Wicked, good, nice to know, I'm going to bed, good night!

 

[purple_socks]

Unfortunately some problems do stem from TW even if its done properly...food phobias are statistcally related to texture and the experinces of being spoon fed.
and issues with food such as over eating and not being able to self regulate does also statistically stem from TW. i know food phobias aren't that common and there r probably more people who turn out to have a perfectly healthy relationship with food that where TW than not, so like i've said before i don't think theres anything wrong with TW. at the end of the day it achieves similar outcomes to BLW...LOs learn how to feed themselves, that food fulfills hunger and they end up making the transition from milk to solids but studies do show there r 'issues' steming from TW that don't happen with BLW...TW is a bit of an outdated practice...its very similar to the example someone gave abt BF on a schedual (the old fashioned way) and BF on demard (the more modern approach). problems were caused by the old fashion way so a new approach came abt to combate those...altho people do still use the oldfashioned method and have great success with that!

the fact TW is slightly outdated is y so many people adapt it. Like u said u haven't dropped milk feeds...but if u TW 'correctly' u should have. the completely 'by the book' 'correct' way to TW can create some 'issue' because it is very regimented. i don't think a lot of people do follow TW by the book tho and most do adapt it to suit their children so they don't need to 'force' anything on them but the basis for the method is 'making' babies eat...putting food in their mouth and being compeletly in control of how much and when etc.

i know that with TW u can still listen to ur child on when they r full/don't like something etc but unless ur magic u wont b able to tell for sure...it is a bit silly to claim its exactly the same as BLW in terms of how much control ur LO has...u can't tell for sure how full ur LO is or isn't, or how much/what ur LO needs...thats y there r so many post on this forum abt how feeding rotuines and how much LO is eating at what stage etc...and that is y BLW came abt. with TW u have to 'guess' somewhat which can lead to 'issues'.

i don't think u should b offended by that or pretend thats not the case. its one of the cons to TW but then there r also pros (which i'm sure r the reasons people opt to TW obviously)

there r pros and cons to BLW too...it just so happens that some of the pros have come from learning from the TW meathod and improving on elements of it...thats just modernisation, its not a dig.... its nothing to get upset over

 

[Lu28]

I am also not saying TW is a bad thing in any way at all. But I think with TW there can be more of a danger of LOs being cajoled into eating more. I have seen a number of people on this forum and in real life trying to trick LO into opening their mouth for the spoon, doing the airplane, doing the just one more spoonful for mummy thing. And I started doing TW with Aisling, we only did BLW when she was 7 months old. I very much wanted to do BLW from the start and was advised to do purees to get her weight up. I had all the BLW theories in my head and I'd read the book. And I still one day found the phrase 'just one more spoonful' coming out of my mouth. I was sick with myself and have no idea where it came from and I was someone who was so dead set against it. I ditched the purees soon after because I was so scared of the slippery slope I had gone down without even realising it. Since doing BLW I haven't even felt tempted to get Aisling to eat more and that has set my mind at rest. I doubt that would be the case if I was still doing TW.

Obviously maybe I'm a nasty mother in the minority of those who have done TW but it shocked me that I managed to slip into that way of thinking while being so dead set against it in theory. I find it hard to believe that others avoid it completely. If people do then great, as I say I might be in the weak willed minority there.

 

[TigerLady]

Wow -- I was gone sick for a couple of days and this thread has started to degenerate into a battle. I find that sad.

I would hope that we could just agree to disagree to some extent and move on. I really don't think anyone meant anything as a personal attack. Full stop.

Everyone makes different choices for their babies. As long as they are healthy, great. I really DO think there are pros and cons to each method. It is a matter of what YOU, as a parent, choose to prioritize.

For example, from what I have seen, I honestly do believe that BLWing TENDS to produce a baby that is more willing to explore and retry many foods. That doesn't mean all TWed babies will be bad eaters. But I DO think that BLWed babies TEND to be more likely to be adventurous eaters.

I also believe that TWed babies are more likely to eat more solids (pureed or otherwise) faster than a BLWed baby. Many parents (and for good reason) prefer that.

Personally, I am glad Otter chose to BLW (he absolutely refuses to be spoon fed, but eats like a monster when BLWed). It happens to fit with the priorities I would like to have. I hope that Meerkat chooses the same. But I won't force her into anything.

I also think it more likely that TWed babies are encouraged to eat more. Hate me if you will. I absolutely believe there are parents out there (and on this thread) that DON'T encourage eating more, but there are just as many that do. I've seen it. Time and again. "C'mon eat your carrots. Just one more spoon. Open up. Vrroooom... here it comes!" I've seen them put the spoon to the baby's mouth and hold it there. Baby turns head, spoon goes down, baby turns head back to look at parent, spoon goes back up.

I'd be willing to bet most TWed babies get this at one time or another. Why? HABIT! I would bet this because, even with BLWing, I have caught myself encouraging Otter to eat on more than one occasion. It is how I was raised and all I have ever seen. I do it without thinking about it. I have caught myself putting the food back in front of him (that he pushed away) and saying "Here, baby, eat some more." I try not to and I hope to break that habit in me... but for now it is there. They only thing that saves me is BLWing requires you DON'T put food to their mouth. So, I don't go further than a comment he doesn't understand yet.

If TWed parents are honest with themselves, I'd bet they can think of a couple of instances where they have done something similar.

None of us are perfect. We only do the best we can for our babies. And hope it comes out right in the end.

 

[ryder]

But... if TW is adapted to include alot of finger foods etc, I dont see how it is alot different then BLW... Based on the comments about BLW being good for textures and trying new foods etc. I just know how I have fed my baby personally. She has never been forced to eat something she doesn't like and she isn't forced to eat more then she wants too.

I really dont know why people have to put a label on everything. Labels and divided groups are what end up driving people to get into hurtful arguments.

I also think good eating habits are produced when people offer variety and choice etc. I can see how some people who use purees etc could get "stuck" on the same types of things for a long time. I know my SIL's neices ended up having texture and food issues. But they were twins and her mother did alot of bottle proping and other things I dont agree with

 

[ryder]

ummm ya sorry jayleighann some of your posts were really fucking insulting and are uneducated assumptions.

You dont know how I, or anyone on this board has "TW" their baby so you have no right to tell us were force feeding our babies to a timed scedule and bribing them.

I hate the assumption that bottlefed babies are always on a scedule too. Just cause the arsehole down the road is a poor parent and does shit like that doesn't mean everyone does.

 

[Komatsu]

We've decided to do Baby led weaning with Willow . It's what we feel is the best choice for her . We put plenty of thought and research into our decision . So far it's been great , Willow loves it . She's enjoying exploring new textures and tastes . I have nothing against traditional weaning , that's how I was raised and I have healthy eating habits and am not picky in the least . We all do what we feel is best for our children and their needs .

 

[adzuki]

Had questions about how to combine TW and BLW, but backing away from this thread - I think it has outgrown its helpfulness tbh.


Will post a different thread, if anyone wants to come and help me over there. Thanks!

A