Help with BLS Please

[UntoldAngel]

Okay so I'm going to invest in the Baby Led Weaning book, but until then I need some help. DS is just over 6months and has been introduced to solids for the last few weeks.

He eats carrot, pumpkin, potato, sweet potato, broccoli, peas, corn, capsicum (roasted and raw), avocado, rice, cucumber, watermelon, banana, plain biscuits, vita-brits with EBM, and tried chicken for the first time yesterday.
We don't puree them but leave them quite lumpy if we smash them, or just break off a small piece for him to eat. But I have pureed apple and banana for him which he loves.

My question is, although he eats some of it in finger food form i.e. carrot sticks, broccoli, biscuits etc, he seems to prefer to be spoon fed. Could this just be he isn't quite ready to feed himself? I don't have an issue with it, as I am serving him what we are eating and leaving it quite lumpy and textured (so about the 9-10month mark when you look at the progression from purees).

Also, I'm confused as to what I am supposed to feed him? Most guides say no meat before 8months, but others say yes? Is it just a case of when he is ready?

Sorry if it is all over the place and doesn't really make sense just trying to work out how to do things, especially when the ILs feed him baby food from a jar even when I take over food and then say I should give him the jar food cos he eats more

[ss_storm]

I did a mix of BLS and spoon feeding with DD (things like yoghurt, cereal, stewed fruits, i also used the Rafferty's Garden pouches for a short while). Just go with your gut hun, if he likes being fed with a spoon then give him a few spoonfuls and also give him something to eat by himself. At this stage, if he doesn't eat it, it doesn't matter, it's more about the experience of eating and getting used to solid food rather than actual consumption.
Meat is fine, not that he will actually be able to chew it up and eat it, but even sucking on strips of meat or bones (as long as they aren't sharp and small) is a good source of iron for them.
sounds like he is doing fine though, you'll hear the saying "food for fun until they're one" and it is so true

[studymum]

With DD2, we just put everything we had for dinner on the tray in front of her and let her go. From 6 to 9 months they don't require any nutrition from the food, or to be filled up by it, so its the perfect time to let them learn and experiment with it. Then from 9 to 12 months they will transition from milk as their main source to food. The concept with BLS is that they have to pick the food up themselves, meaning they are then capable of chewing and eating it. Fruit and vege is the easiest, its not necessary to smash or puree any of it.

I don't think it doesn't mean he isn't ready to eat, it probably just means he isn't to interested in experimenting with it. It will come with time, and before you know it he will be scoffing food before your eyes. If he is happy to be spoon fed atm then it wont affect the BLS process.

Feed him everything, just stay clear of known allergy foods for a little while, then when you do introduce them, just watch for a reaction. We avoid nuts still and honey (till about 12 months), eggs she started about 9 months (well cooked), and just paid attention to strawberries etc.

DD2 is eleven months and she eats exactly what we do, and will finish the whole bowl, she can pick up everything herself and eat it. BLS is amazing for you LO. DD2 gives literally everything a go, even happily chomped a raw carrot stick the other night, eats all fruit and vege whole, loves tuna, salmon, steak, chicken, sausage and any meal I make. Especially loves spag bog, she looks like a little italian pro, she can get the pasta in her mouth and then she sucks it up. And now there is hardly any mess, my 3 yr old neice makes more lol.

It takes a bit to convince family and friends BLS is okay, eventually they will start to see the progress for themselves. Just explain to them that he doesn't require anything from solids at the moment and you want him to learn to enjoy and select his food himself. Maybe they could read they book also.

[MummaSue]

You've been given some great help by Studymum and ss_storm. DD is 8.5 months and she's still showing varying degrees of interest. I never used to be able to get near her with a spoon but now she'll happily let me "help" her with yoghurt which I am reluctant to do as I like her to be able to do it herself.

We've seen so much progress in the past few weeks alone - her hand eye co-ordination is amazing.

It's so much fun!! But definitely invest in the book as it ha awesome suggestions!

[Jennifer13]

I gave my DD exactly what we were having, with the exception of honey and nuts. She took about a month to be interested and it was literally like one day she suddenly started eating everything she could get her hands on! I did spoon feed her yoghurt (not really something you can use your fingers for...), but I would give her a spoon herself. There were a few other spoon things, but I don't remember them off the top of my head. DD could competently use a spoon herself well before she was one (very motivated to get that food in her mouth!).

The idea of BLS is they eat family foods and there's no extra preparation or fuss. Baby has the ability to choose what they eat, how much they eat and when they've had enough. But there's nothing to say you need to do exactly x, y and z if you've found something that works for your baby!