Baby Led Solids Chatter #4

[Georgi]

STERLA I only give a piece of each at a time. Then, when he finishes one piece, I replace it with another. So, I may have a chicken tenderloin, a piece of broccoli & a piece of sweet potato, then replace them as they're finished. Once he stops eating that particular food I know he's had enough of it. BJ also leaves the small bits. I also thought he was unable to pick it up, but now he's older, he still leaves the small bits, unless he's really hungry then he'll eat the lot. Once I know he's had enough, I'll then get the second course, which is fruit. He'll always eat his fruit even if he seemed to have had enough of his meal. This is then followed by yoghurt at dinner time. We've had this little routine since we started BLS at 6months. It works for us!

[Sterla]

Thanks Georgi - that's really helpful and has given me a few ideas with my DS .

How do you all go about giving your bub foods that can't be given as finger foods, or that aren't easy for them to eat - like yogurt, porridge, etc. DS loves yogurt, but I don't quite think I'm ready for the mess that would result from me letting him lose in a bowl of it!!!

[MummyTummy]

Messy foods like that can be eaten with a dipper or on toast. For example, spread yoghurt on a weet-bix... or what we used to do is put the yoghurt with the weet-bix instead of milk. If you get the ratio right it is pretty easy for them to eat without being too messy.

But generally we just let him loose!! He does surprisingly well with his hands, and of course this is how he learnt to use a spoon.

[Megan]

Hi We have only just started solids here but I have decided I would like to try full time BLS. We have done a little bit, but mostly have been spoon feeding.

DS hasn't quite figured out yet that he can feed himself. If I put a toast soldier in front of him he will pick it up and bang it on the tray like he would with a toy. I moved his hand towards his mouth and then he lets go of it, and starts screaming because it's gone and he wants to eat! This goes on for a while and then he gets frustrated and I end up holding the toast for him so he can eat it. I guess he will figure it out eventually, but should I start BLS when he hasn't figured out that he can actually put food in his mouth?

[Heaven]

Thanks for the tips on eating out girls!! I checked out those bib things from mother's direct and remembered I had seen something similar at ikea. But who could be bothered walking through ikea just for that! So then I found some cute ones on ebay! 2 for $13, bargain! So that should solve our problem!

Sterla- I spoon feed things that come on a spoon, e.g. yoghurt and porrige. And I also give DD a spoon so she can try and use it if she wants.

Megan- I would just leave him with it and let him play and he will work it out

[MummyTummy]

Hi Megan - Welcome!

I would leave him with the toast and let him explore it in his own good time. Give it to him when you aren't in a hurry for him to eat and just make it part of his play time. It can be hard to sit next to him and see him get confused and frustrated by it, but it really is the best way for him to learn. Once he figures it out he won't look back. And picking it up and flinging it around, banging it on the tray is all part of it too. So, just sit back and enjoy the show!

[Sterla]

Welcome Megan .

And picking it up and flinging it around, banging it on the tray is all part of it too. So, just sit back and enjoy the show!

I love watching DS as he works it all out! Recently he has worked out that if he picks up a smaller bit of food inside his fist. then puts his fist inside his mouth he can get to it . Looks so funny!

Thanks for the ideas for those runnier foods, etc. A dipper is good - I actually sort of did that this morning - dipped some rice cake in yogurt.

I think I'm going to need to slightly rearrange DS's routine for when he eats. At the moment he ends up eating around the time he is starting to get tired - and when he' s tired he loses interest a lot more quickly. Anyone else found this?

[ElleJay]

Hi all, I thought I'd pop in here because we'll be starting DS on solids soon, as he is going through a tin of formula a week and our CHN said there was no harm in letting him start a very small amount now.. Can anyone give me any information at all on starting?? Thanks ladies

[MummyTummy]

Hi LJ! BLS probably isn't the way to start this young. See my post a couple up. They can only do BLS if they are physically ready, ie. they can pick the food up and suck/chew and swallow it by themselves with no assistance. At your DS's age it would be highly unlikely that he could do this, which is why it is recommended from 6 months up. I'm not much help with feeding the other way though as we never did. But you can certainly do BLS as soon as he is physically able to though . What did your CHN recommend doing?

[Heaven]

Hi girls! Just came in looking for some inspiration, out of food ideas! We need a thread with BLS recipes! Or is there already one I'm missing??

LJ- there's some articles on kellymom about starting solids and how to tell if they're ready if you're interested. I would suggest not starting early as that is the recommendation these days. If you do though you will have to do the puree thing rather than BLS as he won't be able to feed himself yet as MT said! I love your sig pic!