i agree with sara and jen!! DD2 has only just clicked about wanting food and is now trying lots of stuff, not that much gets in, but its all about trying and tasting
Printable View
i agree with sara and jen!! DD2 has only just clicked about wanting food and is now trying lots of stuff, not that much gets in, but its all about trying and tasting
Take a plastic drop sheet with you:
Dollyroux - I use to take an old baby wrap with me and put that under the high chair.
I didnt have one friend that ever had a problem with it - even the ones without kids.
I have forgotten once before and just use a bin bag opened out.
Hi all
I'm a lurker here....DS is not ready for solids yet but I'm trying to get some reading done. I'm sure its been asked before, but I don't have the time right now to scroll through the previous posts :redface: velcro baby today. Can anyone recommend a few key quality pieces of literature or evidence around BLS i.e. the why, how, benefits etc. I am predicting resistance from the "know it all" people in my life so I would love to be armed and confident with the right information and use it as an opportunity to educate others that are open to it at the same time.
TIA
Hi Lollybaby!
Good idea - there are lots of naysayers out there! The book I have which gave me athe confidence to jump in wholeheartedly with the BLS is called "Baby-led Weaning" by Gill Rapley and Tracey Murkett. I got my copy through ABA but I have seen it in Borders too. I think my friend got her copy from another bookstore. It isn't a really common book though, so you may need to order it in as a special order through a different bookshop. There is also a DVD and a website to take a look at too if you can.
I heard from a friend the other day who's second baby is approaching solids age who was told by her MCHN to do BLS. She instantly thought of me, because I was the first person she knew who did this. Her first child was mush and puree all the way!! I know my MCHN told me the about the other way and when I told her about us doing BLS she was all for it and absolutely rapt with me. Turns out they agree with this method on a personal level, and try to encourage other Mums to try it but so many just don't think it is right! (Mainly because it isn't the 'norm') so they always spout off the standard!! I also heard another Mum being told about it from her nurse and she didn't trust it and so sought a second opinion.... I think she ended up doing half and half in the end.
So I think it is becoming more normal and more accepted, but people just don't understand why this way is ok, being that it is so different from the old-school puree and mash. They aren't given the facts and research behind it so never allow themselves to fully trust it. So good on you for preparing yourself early! :clap:
Thanks MummyTummy, that's awesome. I will definitly get a copy of the book somehow!
My MCHN is pretty much sprouting the standard puree and mash view, but I know she is very open minded and approachable, and I wouldn't be surprised if she's open to learning more about it too.
I don't know if I should run and hide after my next question :redface: so someone please let me know if this is not an appropriate topic in this space....DS is formula fed. To cut a long story short BF just did not work out for us much to my grave disappointment and not for lack of trying, heartache, pain and illness for all involved. So, do the same principles apply for BF & FF bubs when it comes to BLS?
Thanks all
They sure do lollybaby.
You don't have to run and hide from us hun :hug: You are doing a great job of nourishing your DS, please don't feel bad.
:yeahthat:
Same principles and BF or FF is not an issue or topic of debate in here!! So don't go hiding!
Thanks for your kind words MR and MT,
I knew in my heart it wouldn't be an issue, I just wanted to triple check I guess.
We can't wait for solids....learning about food, especially where it comes from is really important to us for DS. We grow our own veggies at home, and I can't wait until Will is old enough and on the move to get stuck into the patch with me. I don't care how messy it gets! He was even 'helping' me get our seedlings planted today.
Ooh that sounds great. In fact you have just reminded me that now that spring is here I really should sort mine out again (I neglected it over winter :redface:). And yep, mess is half the fun!!
Hi all - I'm just popping in here to ask if there is a book or something I can read about baby led solids. DS has been on solids for a couple of months now, and loves it - but I am also wanting to give BLS a go :).
Lol - don't worry. I'm blind - just saw a book recommended a few posts back! :)
Me again :redface: - I have a question. As I've been doing 'normal' spoon feeding with DS so far, do you think I'd have any problems doing BLS. Should it be a gradual process, or should I just start it one day?
Sterla, you could just try putting some toast, fruit or a piece of steamed vegie in front of him and see what he does - or even offer him some from your own plate. Also, meat is really important as an early food so if you haven't introduced it yet, that might be another good place to start. You can do this by giving him a safe bone or big piece of steak to suck on, or scraping some meat with a knife.
Let us know how you go!
I am a bit curious and anxious about the meat thing. I let DD suck on a piece of beef I had the other day but was a bit terrified to let it out of my hand. What is the best (safest haha) way to introduce meat? I was thinking maybe some mince? What is considered a safe bone (that might be a dumb question)?
I used to be quite nervous too jb - I think it's normal!! A "safe" bone would be one they can't swallow, so quite big. A chicken leg bone without the little bit that you can pull off or even a chop or cutlet bone should be ok. I introduced mince quite early and the boys were fine with that. Or you could scrape the meat with a knife into mashed potato or cereal or something like that. Letting them suck on a piece of beef is fine - if it's quite a big piece they can't swallow it, so maybe you would feel better with a bigger piece - if in doubt remember the film canister rule that's used for toys - if doesn't fit in a film cannister they can't swallow it LOL!
My DD is going really well with BLS! I have her eating just about everything! I really am trying to get her to eat off my plate, yesterday she had mushroom & bacon quiche and peices of capsicum from the salad. I gave her a big slice of the mushroom when I was cooking the mixture and she loved it!
Baked beans are a hit, cheese is also a fave, broccoli is still the winner though.:dance:
I made her a chicken & broccoli pasta with big stips of chicken she could hold onto in it and she enjoyed that. Got a fair bit of chicken in. Not fussed on the pasta though. Have made her mince with peas and she ate a bit of that too, had to spoon that in though.
Porridge for breakfast has taken a while for her to get used to, but toast gets sucked on so I put different toppings like avocado & banana on it.
I think I even have a couple of the ladies at Mothers Group intersted too!!
Might give it a go soon! She seemed to love it and I was really fighting to keep hold of it because she wanted it so badly haha it was cute but scary. Everything else has been going great, she still isn't having a lot of solids but is breastfeeding lots and lots so not concerned, she enjoys playing with it all so that is a step in the right direction!
We moved into our new place yesterday and finally have room for a dining table... will make family meals a lot easier :D
JB - Jett's first experience of meat was a big chunk of steak which he sucked and sucked until it was white. He was a good eater too but really didn't seem interested in actually chewing and swallowing it. It sounds like you are doing really well, and one day it will all just 'click' for her.
And I know what you mean about the dining room table, we didn't have one until April this year. Jett started solids in January!! It does make it a lot easier and nicer to have family meals!
Winter - can't complain about Broccoli being the winner! Jett still isn't a fan!
Sterla - Just start BLS whenever you feel ready. If you still want to spoon feed, I would suggest putting the finger food in front of him first, seeing how he goes and then when you think he's had enough, spoon feed. But it doesn't have to be a gradual process either, you can just swap him over cold turkey if you like. You'll know what you are comfortable with and that will be the right thing to do! Good luck and let us know how you go!
MantaRay - yeah, I think I will try that. I have actually tried a little in the past with things like that, but not very consistently. I haven't tried letting him eat off my plate - but I bet my DS would love that :). Meat! Yes, I should try DS on meat.
Thanks MummyTummy, that's a good idea for how to go about transitioning to BLS. I think my main concern is, because I've been spoon feeding and he does eat quite a bit - I'm worried he'll be a bit hungry going straight to BLS, cause he won't have the skills straight away to consume very much, and he's been used to getting a fair amount, iykwim?
I found a copy of Baby-led Weaning at the state library, but it looks like I won't be getting it for a month or two cause a few others have holds on it. Is there anywhere else I can get a good basic run-down of BLS?
Yep - there is a website by the authors of the baby-led weaning book. Also I think just googling baby led weaning or baby led solids can send you to some interesting sites.
Are you not wanting to buy the book? Because I know Borders has it, or you can order it online from the Australian Breastfeeding Association. It is a great reference book, I still look at it every now and then, and it is also great to pass it on to anyone else that asks you about it.
I just ordered a copy of the book! Can't wait to start reading. Her website is pretty good too Sterla to get an intro.
Hi. I haven't been on here for a while and changed my name, which will just add confusion (I was formerly *Tanya*). Anyway, I was having trouble getting my DD to eat meat and she's doing better now. I think she hates onion actually. I made meatballs recently without onion and she gobbled them up. :) I want to try slow cooking a stew without onion too and see how that goes.
I have a question about cups, not sure if this is the right place to ask though so feel free to point me somewhere else. I am trying to get my DD off bottles and onto sippy/straw cups. She does drink from both sippy and straw cups but only little sips. She'll drink a lot more from a bottle. I think the problem is that the milk/water doesn't come as quickly when she has to suck a straw or drink from a sippy. Can anyone recommend a fast flowing cup?
TIA
Moi my DD loves her Nuby sippy cup!
When did everyone give raw Apple? Is it too hard for her? Will she choke? Or is it ok?
Last night she ate chicken schnitzel and LOVED it!!
sara maybe grate the apple instead of giving her bigger pieces
ooohh good idea Jols. I'm paranoid about Apple, I think bc my mum was, lol, she never let us have it with skin on for ages.
i didnt give DD1 raw apple for aaaaaaaaaaaages til i knew she was ok with it, i started steaming segments for less and less time so they slowly got firmer but still not in that raw state
I'm one who did things differently. While I cut the apple into quarters, I never took off the skin and I never made any effort to soften it. She was having it from about 7-8 mths. DD loved and still loves raw apple. I stopped cutting it into quarters when she was about 18 mths so she would wander around eating a whole apple at that young age. She never, ever choken on apple. The one and only time she had a real choke was on mandarin pieces. She got a stringy bit lodged and after a few hearty splutters she brought it up, held and looked at it for a minute and then stuck it right back in! Went down the second time without any problem. :D
As long as you're around and know how to respond in a choking situation I can't see any problem with giving her apple just as it comes. That's part of the fun of BLS! ;)
We also did raw apple in quarters/eighths with skin on and have never had a problem. I don't think it is too hard at all. And as for the skin, Jett used to use the skin to nibble the apple away from but now he is happy to eat it as is. I haven't given him a whole apple yet, not because I wouldn't, but because I know he will only take a couple of bites before dropping it. But then he would want more..... so less wastage if it is cut up IYKWIM!!
The only raw thing we have avoided is carrot. That I think is a bit too firm and a choking hazard. So he gets them lightly steamed instead!
Heaven - I've been thinking about trying a Nuby sippy cup. I'm just getting sick of buying cups that don't work for my DD. :rolleyes:
As for apple my DD wouldn't eat cooked apple so I started with grated apple, then moved to thin slices and now I cut them into small pieces. After reading other responses I might try cutting them into quarters.
Oh, I forgot to tell you about our sippy cup experiences.
Like you, Jett just didn't seem all that keen on sippy cups. Little sips and that was it. I bought all sorts of styles, with sippers, straws etc to give them a go. Finally we found one - I think it is a Nuby Sports Bottle, it doesn't have a straw, but has a silicone tube - kind of like a bottle (not a pop-top style) and he seemed to like this one. It is taller than the ones for his age, I think more for toddlers, which means he struggles to hold it up by himself but I don't mind. Once he learned to drink well from that we have tried all the others again and he is happy to use all of them except one. And it was literally one day to the next where he didn't like water, to loving it. So I say just keep persisting, because one day it will jusst click. I have heard a few stories like this.
Another piece of advice I was given - when I was at my wits end, was to take the valve out of one of the cups (I think Avent Magic Cup) so the water was free flowing. It will no longer be spill-proof, but it will give bubs an idea of what to do. I tried this and we had a few splutters, but it may be something else for you to try.
We used the Tupperware cups with the spout thing that attached to the top. The water has no valve to come through. Never had any troubles.
Hi there... Another one that hasn't posted in here for quite a while. I still read your posts, just happy plotting along.
I would love to hear your experiences with cutlery. Jennifer I know your LO has been effectively using it since a young age. I am wondering how to get BJ to use it properly. I have been trying to teach him how to use a spoon, though today, I used a plastic fork which seemed to be a little better. When I left him to it he would pick up his food with his left hand & try to put it on the fork before putting it in his mouth. Is this a good start? It was very cute to see.
Also, I still put all his food on his tray. I have tried to put a plate down but he just picks it up to look under it & waves it around.
At what age should I expect this to come together?
HEAVEN - I really only started giving DS raw apple a couple of months ago. I did, and still do, peel it, core it, and cut it into wedges. He has never gagged or choked on it
Hi Georgi,
Jett is used to the spoon. He was given one at most meals right from the start. He got the hang of it really well maybe around 8 months, but still preferred to pitch it overboard and just use hands. We have brought out the fork on a number of occasions (we actually have stainless steel childrens cutlery so they look quite similar to Mummy and Daddy's ;)) and he has always just ignored it and then pitched it overboard until 2 weeks ago. Suddenly the fork is the best thing ever! He doesn't tend to stab, but scoops really easily with it and anything eaten with a fork is instantly tastier! :rolleyes:
I just looked at my book on the subject for the same reasons as you. It says to give them a fork and spoon when they have been eating for a while and just leave them to it. If you are eating meals with them, then eventually they will want to copy Mum and Dad and experiment with the cutlery, which includes experimenting with gravity!! But the more time they are allowed to experiment the better they will get with it.
And I thought this quote from the book (Baby-led Weaning by Gill Rapley and Tracey Murkett, p 178-179) was especially useful
"But don't be surprised if, the first few times, he turns the spoon upside down and loses everything on it - or flings the food across the room when he waves his arm. Your baby doesn't know this is going to happen until he's done it a few times - and even then it will be a long time before he understands that it actually matters if food is thrown around! So expect some mess - or, if the weather is fine, let his early experiments with spoons happen out of doors! When your child does start to use cutlery (rather than just play with it), he'll be very slow. So take a deep breath, and be patient. It can be agonising to watch a young child attempt, time after time, to get a piece of food on to his fork or spoon and then, oncehe has managed it, to see it fall off on the way to his mouth. Your baby will do this many, many times before he masters cutlery. Try not to interfere or 'help' him too much - however hard it seems to be for him - he'll learn faster if he is allowed to work it out for himself. Your baby's personality will dictate how quickly he gets frustrated and goes back to using his fingers for the rest of the meal, but if he's the patient, tenacious type, meals could take a really long time."
It sounds like you are doing just great and for the moment there is nothing you need to do further. Keep allowing him to put his food on the fork (at least he knows that is where the food is supposed to go before getting it to his mouth!!) And enjoy watching him learn these new skills!
I've been giving DD a spoon the last few days when having yoghurt and yesterday she actually dipped it in. I didn't think they could use utensils for ages but reading your posts maybe she will get the hang of it sooner.
What does everyone do when out and about?? Not sure what to give DD when we're out coz it's so messy and she ends up with food all over her!! Any ideas??
Well, after lurking here and occasionally posting, I have finally taken the plunge and have started my DS on BLS (mostly) full time. Because I was spoon feeding him three meals a day, I have started off gradually. At the moment I give him food to feed himself before breakfast and dinner, then spoon feed him afterwards if he's interested, but lunch is all food he feeds himself. Eventually I'd like to cut out the spoon feeding altogether.
DS is doing really well feeding himself. This morning I gave him half a banana, and from what I could tell he ate 3/4 of it - not a bad effort considering we've only been doing it for a few days.
I've also started offering more foods than I was with spoon feeding. This week he's tried lots of new foods, and has loved them all!
I haven't really been feeding DS what DH and I usually eat, cause we don't always eat the best foods :redface: - but have been offering him a few different foods at each meal.
I'm still sort of getting my head around BLS, and still want to get a copy of 'Baby-Led Weaning' - but am happy with how we're going so far.
Any tips for a BLS newbie? :)
Depends where you are out and about!
At restaurants and cafes I always give Jett some of what I am having. Otherwise I take things like sandwiches with me and whole pieces of fruit.
Even though it is messy, I have never encountered a problem while out. At cafes etc I spread out a few napkins on the floor and just let all the food drop to the floor. Then at the end wrap it all up and gather a few extra napkins and scoop up all the debris that missed and put it on the plate. Most waiting staff tell me not to worry about it, they'll do it and don't be silly that is what they are there for etc. I do often wonder if they are so nice about it because I do make the effort to clean up.
If you are more worried about clothes etc we have a few 'puddle feeders" from the ABA. They basically look like an art smock with a catcher pocket on the front. They protect him completely from the mess and then when I take it off him I just turn it inside out and wrap it up containing the mess on the inside. They wash and dry really easily and pack down nice and small for going out.
Time to start a new thread - here it is.