hi guys just thought id join in as i have started BLS with my daughter about a month ago after she hates pureed stuff...
she has eaten a bit of everything, she is a human garbage disposal and despite having no teeth eats every scrap of food i offer her with no gagging incidents so far. she has tried
xmas ham
chicken
avocado
potato
sweet potato
carrot
scotch finger/arroroot biscuits
hot chips (naughty i know)
bread/ toast with spreads
cheese sticks
geez alot more probably but i cant remember
im avoiding eggs cause ive been told to, as was gonna avoid peanuts but XP gave her bread with peanut butter (not knowing not to) and she has been fine since with it. cant believe she likes everything i give her and eats it all!
Just popping in to say hi... have been lurking for a bit now
AR started solids this week, a bit earlier than I planned but she definitely seems ready.
So far just pumpkin, broccoli & cruskits... not too fussed on the purees.
She did have some pureed fruit last night & DH said
'oh, I'd much rather her have that than the pieces of pumpkin...she was gagging!' she actually wasn't gagging really at all, I've seen her gag worse on her own fingers. I just said nah, it's normal ....
Hi Ladies, thought I would join in. We've just started DS on solids on Christmas Day. He had a carrot, I didn't think he swallowed any but when we changed his nappy the next day there were definately a few little pieces in there. The next day I gave him carrot and zuchini but he didn't want to put in his mouth. Same the day after so I offered him some avocado on a spoon which he loved! He must have ate 2 tsps of it all up and I mixed a little carrot in with it which he enjoyed. I guess we'll keep going, but at the moment I must admit it seems he is more eager to eat with a spoon (I let him feed himself, just put stuff on the spoon for him) than with his hands, so I suppose I will just keep giving him both finger foods and mashed foods and let him do it the way he likes.
Would love to hear ideas on others early foods. Today I was going to offer him carrot, avocado and zuchini, then tomorrow I thought we might try broccoli. Also, what sort of bread do you give you LO?
miss e - i've been wondering about the whole putting food on the spoon for them & letting them feed themselves myself. that's the way i've been giving DS yoghurt but was wondering whether it's still considered BLS?
jas - hi! how did the cruskits go? i bought a packet today but haven't tried them out yet!
tattoo_mama - sounds like your DD is loving her food!
moi - they are pretty good, aren't they. i didn't realise you could travel to a different council, that's great
after giving DS things hapahazardly, we've started giving him breakfast each day for a few days - just yoghurt, which he's loving. i poached some pears this afternoon so thought i might try them tomorrow. i'm thinking we should do maybe another week like this & then maybe introduce another meal? or would that be too soon? would love to hear what others have done
Sloane - Follow your baby's lead! If you think he is ready for another meal then introduce it. He will reject it if he doesn't want it. Jett very quickly moved to 3 meals a day. They don't have to be large meals either. Basically what we did is offer him some food every time we were eating. Sometimes he would eat, sometimes not, and it would be varying amounts each time. But that is the whole point of BLS - let them show you what they need. They won't overeat if they are feeding themselves, and at the same token they won't starve themselves either. Just so long as you are keeping up the milk feeds they will be getting enough of what they need right now.
Food on a spoon - not an issue at all. Most people doing BLS do this. But remember that it is also about experimenting with texture so allowing them to feel the food with their hands and perhaps feed themselves this way is also important. DS now can use a spoon and a fork quite proficiently but still often chooses to eat yoghurt and custard with his hands. But he is quite skilled at it, better than I would be so again this is following his lead. So when it came time to start offering the sloppy foods I would load up a spoon and allow him to take it and feed himself, but he would also want to touch the food and suck it off his hands. It was certainly a very messy experience, but one that every child has to go through when they learn to use cutlery - no matter what age they are! Eg - how are you supposed to know that sloppy food falls off a spoon when you turn it upside down unless you've had lots of chances to experiment?
Alot of people don't like the idea of the mess of BLS, but they really become less messy as time goes by and by the time most of those people start trying to offer messier foods with cutlery they have to go through the messy stage anyway. Better to get it over and done with I say!
Miss E - Early foods - anything you like! I know that doesn't give you specific ideas, but honestly, if what you are having for dinner is healthy offer it to your baby at the same time or offer leftovers the next day. And as for bread we give wholemeal bread. Just avoid seedy bread as they can be a choking hazard food.
Tattoo Mama - we didn't avoid nuts or eggs or dairy. It is a personal choice here - depends on which school of thought you subscribe to. I personally subscribe to the thought that neither DH or I (being the only direct relatives of his - there are no siblings yet!) have any food related allergies so there is no need to hold off the introduction of any of the foods in the hope that he doesn't develop an allergy. I did also heard recently that they are no longer advising the delay of allergy food introduction as they are having no less incidences than before they advised on the delay so there is no scientific reason for holding off. But that of course is a purely personal choice and only you can do the research and decide which path is the right one for you and your family. Honey however is still a risk and shouldn't be introduced until after 12 months.
Things are moving pretty slowly here with DS and food. I'm trying my hardest to trust my instincts and follow his lead, I guess I get a bit disheartened when you hear so many others rave about how quickly their kids caught on, and were shovelling food in. I know he'll catch on when he's good and ready I guess fielding questions about why we're doing BLS was hard enough, let along the questions like "but aren't you letting him starve?" or "shouldn't he be getting food to grow?" Its a tough job this mum gig LOL!
We've put a variety of veg options out for DS each night, we've just gone with dinner times. So far we've tried potato, pumpkin, sweet potato, carrot, cauliflower and beans. We've also tried watermelon, pear and banana and also some yoghurt. DS is a funny little thing. He's more engrossed in the bowel, spoon, the high chair tray, the straps on the high chair, or just banging things around. Most bits of food he does pick up and put to his mouth, but the whole texture thing isn't really working for him right now. He sorta looks at me as if to say "WTF what on earth is this mum?!?!" Any bits that he does get in he moves around his mouth and just pushes them straight back out again. Not much is going down thats for sure. He has a great time squishing it all between his fingers, and most of it goes south and he ends up sitting in it all. I have mushed up a few things for him just to see if he'd do anything different, and it certainly goes in but he still spits it out.
I guess I just needed some encouragement to know its ok to just continue like this until he really decides he's ready. He's nearing 7 months so I guess I just need to put all of those conventional expectations aside and remember its up to him.
mummytummy: XP has irritable bowel syndrome and i have severe hayfever allergies ( get hives when the pollen count is extreme) so i wanted to avoid allergy foods, but XP had no idea and DD is still alive, lol! and she may have had a bit of my omlette so theres eggs i spose...strange how honey is a risk, ive never heard of anyone being allergic to honey? just bees?
MT - thank you for that! i definitely think DS is ready - he had breakfast today & then later in the morning i was eating cruskits with avocado & gave him some & all that was left was a tiny bit of soggy cruskit and thank you re-spoon feeding as well. i was hoping that it wasn't wrong to just give him the spoon with food on it at this stage. he does love running his fingers over the spoon but most does seem to go in his mouth
lollybaby - it sounds like your DS is really enjoying the exploring side of the whole experience. i reckon at 7 months there's no need to stress about him eating yet. i know that even though my DS is going along okay with some foods, he def still struggles with others (like pears which he found hard to pick up) & he really wasn't into pumpkin & sweet potato. what about if you changed to breakfast or lunch? i just started with breakfast cos it fit into my day the best & it's also when DS is probably at his most alert...i thought that might make him the most receptive to the whole experience, if that makes sense?
Sarah, I think we might try breakfast here too, dinnertimes are too hectic atm - we need to get ourselves sorted & in a routine. But to start with while we are introducing food, mornings will work I think.
Tattoo_mama I think the problem with honey is the bacteria that can be in it? I've never heard of anyone being allergic either
lollybaby, I don't get what other people's problem is with BLS - if they aren't getting it down by themselves, they won't get much more (if any) down by being forcefed he's only young yet, he'll work it out...trust yourself & him, sounds like he's doing fine
You can be allergic to honey - but it's rare. The reasoning behind not giving it until 12 months is because it has a lot of bacteria in it (or the risk of having a lot is there).
I haven't been in here for a while, but visited to see about finding the recipes for DS who is having far too much salt for our liking. We want to make some mini muffins or slice or something as his favourite foods are cheese and tomato sauce
He won't eat fruit at all and most veggies are ignored or just mucked around with. The only time he'll eagerly eat veggies is when they're mixed into a curry or a pasta sauce. Curry is actually his favourite! But I want him to eat the veggies in their plain state - but he's just not interested. Any hints??
AliMoy - have you seen the SA thread? We had a meet-up in Adelaide today. If I'd known about you - I would have invited you!
lollybaby, things are also moving slowly here with DD being 7.5 months old. Somedays she is shovelling food in and reaching for it, more often than not it is played with, and other times it is ignored completely. I am going by the saying that has been used in a lot of the BLS threads...'food is fun until they are 1'! To be honest, there are some days where I don't give any solids...sometimes her mood just doesn't seem to want to sit there and eat. I don't think her weight has suffered at all...she is still having her full formula feeds, and her clothes are getting on the tight side.
I have a MCHN who was horrified when I mentioned that DD has tried wheatbix (she opened up a cupboard with boxes of farax and said that is what I should be feeding her, and it is available at any supermarket, in the baby aisle!). I have the 8 month check up in a couple of weeks time...do I mention that she has tried all sorts of different foods and be prepared for the argument, or just say that the feeding is going well?
tattoo_mama - Sounds like you are doing really well with the BLS. I wish Maya would eat everything I gave her but I know that she is less fussy than babies who have had pureeds so I know BLS was the right way to go.
jasp - Yeah they do tend to gag a bit at first but then get the hand of it. Now Maya is much more likely to choke on her water when she drinks too quickly than any food.
Miss E - I also started Maya with a spoon by putting things on it and giving it to her. Then at some point she got interested in using the spoon herself and now she's getting better and better at using a spoon on her own. I give Maya wholemeal bread.
sloane - I didn't know you could change councils either at first and I can't remember how I found out. But I had to change when the MCHNs in my council were telling me that Maya was too small and I had to fatten her up with chocolate and cream. The new MCHN has been so supportive of me and Maya is very small for her age but she's also very healthy! With introducing foods we just introduced them whenever, we didn't follow a plan.
lollybaby - Your DS is still so young in terms of food and the majority of his nutritional needs would still be coming from milk. Part of introducing solids is about exploring at this age.
elliskirsty - What about finding a new MCHN who is supportive of what you do? That's what I did and it made a big difference to me.
Maya is doing really well with a spoon now. Still having trouble but actually scooping food on to it and getting it to her mouth every now and then. My only concern with her still is that she doesn't really like meat. Even mince meat! So I worry about her iron content.
Jasp I agree, I don't see why its such a confronting concept for people. I tried giving some mushed up stuff to DS on a spoon and he still didn't get any of it down so I don't know what people want me to do.....no way am I jamming anything down. Clearly, his just not ready from a developmental perspective. I went back to Gill Rapley's book last night (after some choice comments from MIL) and its really given me a lot of confidence back.
Elliskirsty, thanks babe....we have a MCHN who also poo-poohed the idea of DS self feeding so I'm choosing to just tell her what she wants to hear and be done with it. I don't need that stuff from someone who hardly knows me or my baby.
I'm thinking about trying food with DS at brekky and lunch times for a few days instead of dinner times just to see what happens. He's really unsettled at nights ATM (I think we have some teeth on the way).
MOI - Have you tried making rissoles with Beef & Pork mince mixed together? Pork is higher in iron than chicken. You can add some pureed apple in to make it sweeter. Add some grated carrot, zucchini, breadcrumbs and an egg, mix together & shape into thick fingers. Put onto a baking tray (best to line with baking paper) then bake in the oven for 20 - 30 mins. Very nutritous and really easy for them to eat. You can even spread them with avocado before serving. This is one of BJ's faves.
Tattoo_Mama - sorry I thought I mentioned that the problem with introducing the honey is actually the bacteria in it, rather than it being an allergy food. Fair enough on holding back on the allergy triggers. But I just mention it as it is a personal choice that only parents should decide as to the right path for them.
Nettie - yay! you're back! We need more long termers in here!! I feel like I am the only one!! I don't know what happened to everyone else!
Lollybaby - Hang in there! I can't remember who but when I first started BLS there was a long termer in here who said her DD didn't really start eating until (I think) 10 months but then one day she realised that half the food on the plate was missing!! So it can take them a while, but like EK said "Food is for fun until they are 1". But I understand that it is hard when you have parents or PILs or MCHN that are breathing down your neck telling you you are a terrible mother and are starving your child blah blah blah etc. But yep - keep reading that book. It is the best confidence booster, gives plenty of ideas and expectations that are realistic. And of course we are always here for you!
EK - Hard one... I don't know. When I made the decision to do BLS I went to my MCHN full of facts and ready to defend my decision, only to find that she was very supportive and cheered me on!! I know other people that went to their MCHN and got told to do BLS and they came away going "Really? I think I should get a second opinion". No wonder there are plenty of confused mothers out there with so many varying opinions coming from the MCHN! I think that you know your MCHN, so follow your instincts on which path to take with her. I would personally probably tell her as little as possible, and only what she wants to hear.
Moi - Not sure what else you can try with Maya and meat. Maybe she is a natural born vegetarian? I have a distant cousin who is one despite the rest of her family eating meat. Never liked meat and so never really ate it (except when she was forced to as a child). The only time she wanted meat was when she was pregnant herself. I'm kind of similar, I don't eat red meat, I can't swallow it. Weird, because I can eat chicken, but lamb and especially beef will not go down no matter how much I chew it. What do vegetarians do to keep up their iron content?
Georgi - Great recipe! Might have to try that one!
NETTIE I've got heaps of recepies for you! What about Zucchini slice? 3 grated zucchini's 1 grated carrot, 1 onion (chopped or grated) 1cup of SR flour (i always use wholemeal), 1 cup grated cheese & 5 eggs. Combine all & bake in oven for 40-45mins
Carrot muffins -
2 & 1/2 cups SR flour (I use wholemeal but if you use white, sift it 1st)
1tsp bicarbonate soda
2tsp ground cinnamon
1/3cup sultana's
3 medium carrots grated
2 eggs
1/3 cup milk
2tbs oil
225g can pineapple pieces
You can add some honey or soft brown sugar for sweetness
cook at 180 for around 15 - 20mins, depending on the size of the muffins
Hey - i seem to have stopped getting the email updates - thought it had all gone quiet! so have just done a quick read to get back up with it all!
Georgi - i make exactly the same zucchini bake - it's DS's FAVOURITE (for now at least!)
I'd never heard that about honey - DS has had honey on toast a couple of time, think i'll take that off the menu options for now though.
Nettie - ah cool, i'll stick my head into the SA thread, always great to catch up with other mum's
I never went to any MCHN appointments - we had the first couple with our GP (who was also the Ob who was around for the birth - or she made it shortly afterwards anyway!) I get cross just looking at the CYH website so thought it best to just avoid them, although i did almost make an appointment a while ago because i was in a particularly argumentative mood and just fancied having an argument - but i always prefer to take the road of having the research on the top of my head for the times people question BLS rather than not saying anything - you never know who you might inspire to look into 'alternative' ideas.
I'm a firm believer in the fact that I am the only expert of my baby and i don't need somebody telling me that his healthy by what numbers he pulls up on the measuring tape and scales or checking his milestones on a chart - i know he's perfect and if i have any concerns i go to the GP that i know and trust.
that being said - around what age have people's babies started reducing BM feeds? and do they just do that on their own accord? and is that when monthly cycles are likely to kick back into gear? is it more likely to be later if you do BLS? not that i'm keen to get it back again but it'd be nice to know that everything is good to go back to normal again one day.
Oh, one more thing - big news. Edward grew some teeth for Christmas - he's so clever, two little chompers, bottom front - didn't seem to affect his solids at all - he's just eating his way through the world, thank god for vegie patches or i'd be broke.
that is all... hope everyone had a great Chrissy and New Years
We are still going here. She is now mostly eating what I am, sometimes a lot and sometimes barely anything. We cut our 7th tooth over the weekend and the 8th seems to be following closely behind... she is going to have a full mouth by one at this rate haha.
Infinity -- DD wasn't interested until about 8months and even now it is a bit hit and miss. Try not to stress
We are still having heaps of breastfeeds... at least 6 a day, most times up to 8 including a few overnight. I'm thinking of starting to offer less and letting her tell me when she wants as she never refuses an offer haha.
Last edited by Jellyfish; January 4th, 2010 at 12:12 PM.
Registered User
she actually wasn't gagging really at all, I've seen her gag worse on her own fingers. I just said nah, it's normal
....
Good to see you in here!
he's only young yet, he'll work it out...trust yourself & him, sounds like he's doing fine
or a pasta sauce. Curry is actually his favourite! But I want him to eat the veggies in their plain state - but he's just not interested.
Any hints??
Sounds like you are doing really well with the BLS. I wish Maya would eat everything I gave her but I know that she is less fussy than babies who have had pureeds so I know BLS was the right way to go.
Fair enough on holding back on the allergy triggers. But I just mention it as it is a personal choice that only parents should decide as to the right path for them.
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