[Tesseract]

Hi, my DD is 5.5 months and we are trying the BLW approach. so far she has sucked on some steak and gummed at a piece of bread.
I know this isn't proper BLW but this morning as I was having some porridge, DD was sitting in her highchair staring so intently at me that I gave her a little taste of it on my spoon. but she just pushed it back out with her tongue. Does this mean she isn't really ready for BLW even though she is interested? (she then kept looking at me waiting for more)
I have just ordered the BLW book and cookbook, so hopefully they turn up soon!
Also, what sort of cutlery do yu use with your babies? the plastic sort or straight to stainless steel?
Thanks
Kel

Hi Kel,

My DD always likes to eat what I'm eating, so if you're going to have some porridge you can always just make a little up for her (with full fat cows milk, formula or expressed breastmilk if you make it with milk). Just make it thick so she can grab clumps (and smear them everywhere!). You can also make it super thick and then roll it into little balls and chill in the fridge for a few minutes, these are really easy for bub to handle!

If you do want to give her something off your spoon then try handing her the spoon itself. This is called a 'pre-loaded' spoon. Or dip a piece of fruit in your porridge and hand that to her, eventually she will graduate to dipping it in herself. Initially she won't be able to aim it at her mouth and will probably just play with it, but that's fine.

I use a mix of plastic and stainless steel cutlery, although DD didn't get the hang of it until 13 months. Up until 11 months she just used her hands. Then at 11 months she wanted to hold a piece of cutlery in her other hand while she ate (copying us I suspect). Then at 13 months I served her risotto with a stainless steel teaspoon and she just started using it, it worked well because the risotto stuck to the stainless steel spoon. Now at 17 months she uses a mixture of spoon and hands, whichever works better for the food. Apparently a lot of BLW kids get the hang of forks quite early, and before spoons, so you can give that a go too (although my DD is still working on forks!).

The fact that she pushed it out with her tongue doesn't necessarily mean she's not ready although I wouldn't rush her, she is just trying it out and getting to know how to move her mouth. Babies play, smell, feel and taste food before they actually risk eating it, so it's normal to push something out the first few (or 30) times! If she hasn't fully lost the tongue thrust reflex yet then I certainly wouldn't rush her with solids, and the important thing is that you don't 'force' her to eat by, for example, getting her to laugh and then shoving the spoon in her mouth, which is what my MCHN suggested I do with DD

Your bub is only 5.5 months so there is no rush, just let her play with it and have fun!

[kelbelblue]

Thanks Tesseract!
Can't wait for the BLW books to arrive so I am ready for when she is

[kelbelblue]

Hi, just a quick update on our BLW journey.
DD just turned 6 months yesterday and we have been trying BLW for about 2 weeks so far, but only the last week offering food 3 times a day, when we eat, if she is awake.
After a few gag/choke issues in the first few days I was really questioning my decision, but, we stuck it out and DD is in food heaven!!!
She loves sitting at the table with us, is very social, and seems to be really enjoying her food, mainly just chewing on it then spitting it out, but I have noticed in her poos (sorry TMI!) some small bits so she is definately getting something down.
Breakfast is usually toast with something, usually banana or dippy egg. Lunch is generally a bit of bread and some of last nights steamed vegies, and as for dinner, well she loves steak, mashed potato on a spoon, chicken and all vegies, a proper little piggsie!
I'm really glad I didn't give up, and even though I'm sure there will be a few more eek! moments, I feel really confident that we are doing the right thing for all of us

[deejie]

I forgot how much mess baby lead weaning cleaning creates when starting solids with DS2.

DS2 (8 months) wakes up, has breakfast and so completely trashes his pyjama suit that I have to put him in a clean one every single night. He also completely trashes himself, so that he goes straight from the breakfast table in to the shower with me.

Lunch time he so completely trashes his suit that I have to put him in another new one. And try to wipe the smushed food out of his hair with a damp facewasher. Not a popular Mum.

Dinner time he destroys his third suit for the day and goes straight in to the bath afterwards.

I have to wipe down the high chair three times a day, pick up food off the floor repeatedly & scrub down the plastic mat under the high chair at the end of the day. Often the wall needs to be wiped down as well. Whoever thought that broccoli being flung against a wall would leave such an artistic impression?

I also think we are about to be banned from every cafe within walking distance because he makes such a disgraceful mess... and I do bring along wipes and teatowels to pick up off the floor what I can and wipe down the high chair before we leave.

DS1 was an eater with BLW. I put food infront of him, he put it in his mouth. Sure he made a little mess, but NOTHING like this. DS2 seems to be a player. He likes to bang, throw, smush, explore. What happens if I beat this piece of cauliflower repeatedly with this strip of chicken? Oh look, mush! Now I can throw the mush everywhere! Sure, it is lovely to see him smile and squeal and enjoy himself. The first one hundred times. Now I am ready for him to put something in his mouth!

Sigh.

Does anyone ever look at those babies in your mother's group who are spotless after being spoon fed and be incredibly jealous of not having to pack enough cleaning supplies for a small army every time you head out?

Ok, this was more of a BLW vent than a post.

[Tesseract]

deejie that is hilarious! I know exactly what you mean!

The cleaning the chair and splash mat three times a day gets really old really quickly.

But to keep her clothes clean I use these http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70179754/ at least it saves me some laundry (sometimes!).

[deejie]

Tesseract that is awesome! Thank you

We are heading to Ikea this weekend. DH will be thrilled (not really!)

[Shtinky]

i found these from mothercare,

http://www.mothercare.com.au/p-12425-mothe...oddler-bib.aspx

have saved my life on the cleaning front, put them on over the highchair harnesses and it keeps most of the chair, the clothes and the twins clean!

[nikki44]

Deejie - I hear you! I love BLW but OMG I hate the mess! My poor DD doesn't even get much of a chance to get cleaned up after brekkie, she gets bundled in the car for the school and kinder run still in her pyjamas with crusty food up her sleeves. Nice

The wet face washer works a treat for cleanup but she knows it's coming now. Spots me a mile off and contorts herself every which way to stop me wiping her face.

Tesseract and Shtinky - the Ikea and mothercare bibs look good but can I ask how tight they are at the bottom of the sleeves? The problem I have found with the plastic ones I have from baby bunting are that the elastic on the bottom of the sleeves is quite loose so the end of the sleeves often fall over her hands and its annoying for her (and for me because it means all sorts of squashed pulp finds its way up there!) Also, I need another bib under the ones I have because they are quite gapey at the neck. Hmmm, when I put it like that they're actually fairly rubbish aren't they, as food gets up her sleeves, AND down her neck. Why bother

[nikki44]

Removed, double post

This post has been edited by nikki44: 13/08/2012, 09:16 PM

[Tesseract]

Nikki they're not that tight unfortunately. I always roll her sleeves up past her elbows, then put the smock on, that way if things work their way up it is usually only onto her arm which is easier to wipe than changing her top. I used to have to roll the sleeve of the bib up a bit too, but now she is bigger it's fine.

I also put a normal bib with a very high neck underneath! And I used to also put a folded terry square on her lap, but she takes that off now which is a pain. Sometimes I ALSO put on a scoop bib. So that's three bibs - normal bib then smock then scoop! Don't know how the poor kid can eat with all that crap around her neck!