You know about it now though and that is the main thing. Your DD1 sounds like she knows what she wants. My mum tells me that I wasn't a big eater, she struggled a lot to get me to eat anything (I was started on "solids" at 6 weeks old). I love my food now!
BellyBelly Member
That she does, she is a very strong willed child. The dr was more concerned with the fact that at one stage for almost 2 months, she didn't consume any fruit, vege or dairy (exc a small cup milk) and that her nutrition might be lacking. She improved a bit and we have her back on dairy, with occasional bits of fruit, still no veg. But gp happy with this at the moment, she is still growing, might that be slowly but she is generally health and a very happy child, developing nicely. It would just be nice to be able to explore the joys of food with her (we love good food and I love eating hehe), I am waiting, one day it will just happen.
Grrr to my GP!
I had DD at the GP today and she was asking how her solids intake is going. I was telling her about BLS and that DD has varying degrees of interest. My GP told me that I need to be more "forceful" with her.
Dude, seriously? I aint forcing DD to do ANYTHING at this stage thanks very much.
Anyway, this morning we had some crumpet and peach for breakfast. It was going well and then she vomited up the crumpet
I'm actually offering her meals, but also snacks too - when I have fruit at morning and afternoon tea I make sure and offer her some too so that she is at least getting loads of practice. She'll just do it one day won't she?
BellyBelly Member
To much emphasis is put on how much they consume I think, when its not necessary. She's only 7 months and its purely experimental at that age. Just keep offering it to her and when her requirements increase, so will her appetite and interest. You will come across a lot of skeptical people, just nod and agree and then do as you please, I've found its not worth the debate (a recent experience with a very forceful MCHN and I've since learnt).I had DD at the GP today and she was asking how her solids intake is going. I was telling her about BLS and that DD has varying degrees of interest. My GP told me that I need to be more "forceful" with her.
Dude, seriously? I aint forcing DD to do ANYTHING at this stage thanks very much.
Anyway, this morning we had some crumpet and peach for breakfast. It was going well and then she vomited up the crumpet
I'm actually offering her meals, but also snacks too - when I have fruit at morning and afternoon tea I make sure and offer her some too so that she is at least getting loads of practice. She'll just do it one day won't she?
Yeah, i just really need to remind myself to trust my instincts on this one.
I've said it before - there is no way that DD lets me near her with a spoon anyway unless it is to dip it in whatever so that she can feed herself. So being "forceful" is just going to be awful for the two of us.
Registered User
Hi everyone
Just want to join in on the BLS fun! My DD is getting closer to 6 months now and I want to start BLS with her. I don't have time to faff around with purees. We are also moving to the UK imminently so are in transit before we move. She seems to want to put everything in her mouth...I tried to give her some baby rice (which DS hated) and she just wants to grab and suck the spoon....I don't think she wants a bar of the food that is on the spoon.
What do you do first, carrots? or is it just anything? How soft does it have to be....so it turnes into little chunks or so it really smooshes up!?....I have no idea!
Hi Yules, do you have the Baby led weaning book? It's awesome and tells you all that you need to know!
As for the veggies though, anything that you can give them to hold themselves and cooked nicely, not too firm, not too mushy. Eg. carrot sticks, broccoli, baby corn cobs, zucchini, apples, pears..... you get the idea. I make them into quite big sticks so that DD can handle them and chew on them.
I've also been giving DD rice cakes, toast, sticks of cheese, crumpets, pasta bows, porridge, yoghurt.
BLS is so much fun!
Registered User
Hi ladies - it's great to read how you are all going with the BLS. We have been going for a week or two now and have already tried DD on lots of foods. I actually popped in here to see if I am doing it wrong. I've got the book and have read it cover to cover but it doesn't say anything about what foods she shouldn't be having. I know there are a few mentions, but you know how if you do purees it says pasta should be introduced at 10 months etc etc? Well, we already gave her pasta and she loved it. She's had spinach leaves, pasta, toast, broccoli, cauliflower, cheese, watermelon, red meat, mushroom, capsicum, beans, pumpkin, potato - lots of things. We really are doing the whole give her what we are eating thing.....obviously with some tweaks. She seems to be eating a bit but it is SO messy and we are now using a drop sheet on the floor. Her poos also changed really quickly and have gotten heaps chunkier. She seems to be improving every day with her co-ordination and while we've had a few gags, she's really gotten good at handling it. We gave her yoghurt tonight and she let me load her little spoon but took it from me straight away and aimed for her mouth. SO CUTE!!
No one I know IRL is doing BLS and we have heaps of babies similar ages around so it's great to have this forum.
Registered User
Sounds like you're doing just fine with it Starangelk! It's great to hear it's going so well already!
In terms of which foods are ok when, i can tell you what I did. I only avoided too much salt (still do), honey (up until 12 months, although there are differing guidelines on the age for this, and I've also tried to cut out anything with preservatives that look a bit dodgy, thanks to the help of the chemical maze iPhone app, which has been fantastic! I tried to leave a few days around introducing anything new that was high allergen, so that I could see if there was a reaction, but other than that it's been a blank canvas.
Keep enjoying!
BellyBelly Member
Sounds like you are off to a roaring start Starangelk. We did the same as Swoop, we avoid all additives, salts, extra sugars etc, keeping it to fresh fruit and vege, and homemade foods. We avoid honey and nuts (peanut butter etc). And other things that sometimes have allergies associated we just watch the next 24-48 hours after introducing, like eggs, seafood, strawberries. But apart from the DD2 has exactly what we have, we offer 3 times a day, plus snacks but she still isn't highly interested in one of the main meals and mainly plays with her snacks. Yes it is messy to begin with, but they get much better at it, and more goes in the mouth than on the floor. Personally would prefer to spend the 2 minutes cleaning than all the time preparing purees. I think gagging is good (once you get over the freaking out about them choking) cause it means they are learning how to chew and swallow properly.
Registered User
Does anyone find that their family dont get them on the whole gag reflex and BLS. we were out at dinner the other night and my little one started to gag a bit and my SIL was busy telling us to "make sure shes ok and get the food out with your finger". Ps she WAS fine
Registered User
Hi all just got reccomended to check out this thread.
What age do you generally start BLS??
My DS is 6 months and I started him on pureed solids about a month ago but now hes decided that its more fun to blow raspberries and spit it at me everytime I put the spoon to his mouth. What finger foods can be introduced at this age, if any??
He is also on a lactose free diet
BellyBelly Member
Mrs P, I'd just persevere with the skin, they get the hang of it eventually, otherwise you will find you might be peeling everything still for a 2 and 3 year old (like my DD1). DD2 now has stone fruits cut up, like the 4 sides cut off but the skin left on, because of my scare with her eating down to the seed I won't give the whole thing to her anymore. The same thing with it sticking to the roof happens with stuff like lettuce as well.
We tend to take fruit when we go out cause its quick and easy, and sandwiches for eating out. Usually tuna and salad or egg and salad etc (well except lettuce cause its a pet peeve for her). Otherwise if we eat anywhere that's buffet she gets whatever they have on it, I try to clean up as much as possible, but I see older children who make just as much mess, so I don't feel so bad. And most restaurants tend to expect it anyway.
Hi Eliselouise, welcome, the time to start is when you think they are ready, so when they are interested in what you are eating, want to grab at food etc. The theory behind BLS is that when they are capable of getting the food to their own mouth, they will have the ability to chew and push the food to the back of the mouth to swallow. So to begin with they won't have the ability to pick up small bits of food, meaning they can't swallow and choke on them. There is also a different between choking and just gagging, gagging comes with a heaps of awful sounds and faces, and is the body preventing the food from being swallowed. Choking is silent because it has become lodged in the wind pipe. You can start with anything that has convenient little handles, like carrot, brocolli, cauliflower. To being with we steamed it rather soft and slowly brought the texture back to how we eat it. But basically anything goes with BLS, anything they can pick up, except some people prefer to delay allergenic foods such as strawberry, egg (about 9 months+), nuts (1 year), honey (1 year). DD2 is now 1, she is still on a lactose free diet since she started (and before I was to bf), which we trial occasionally to look for improvement, she is slowly getting better. It hasn't really been an issue, we cook with lactose free milk and cream, her yogurt is lactose free, and she can tolerate cheese as its low lactose, and she doesn't get butter anyway. Gill Rapley has a great book, I just hired it from the library http://www.rapleyweaning.com/
Registered User
Studymum - thanks, we will persevere with the skin on
Welcome Eliselouise - we're just starting BLS too and loving it! Definitely read the book, it's awesome.
Just did a baby/kids first aid course last night to brush up on my skills, particularly regarding choking & CPR. Very glad I did! Feel a lot more confident that if choking occurred I will know what to do.
COuple more questions I forgot the other day:
What kind of yoghurt do you all feed your bubs? I tried some of the natural stuff, no fruit etc and DD was literally spitting it out, ha ha.
Also - hummus and custard - do you make your own or use pre-made stuff? What about the baby custards??
Registered User
with yoghurt I use a natural one (pot set) with fruit in it. Tried the plain yoghurt (same brand) and added some pureed fruit thinking it might be cheaper if DS would eat it - the munchkin spat it out everytime we tried it.
Registered User
I've found if DD has something stuck, if i help her sit up straight then she will just cough it out. I also say 'cough cough' and she will spit it out.
DD will now cough out the skin of tomato and fruits etc
My little one likes the natural yogurt. She dips pieces of pear in it and then sucks the yogurt off. Haven't had any baby custard.
DD still gags alot on bread so i don't do sandwiches yet. Will be easier when she does. She is almost 10 months.
Registered User
DS hasn't gone through that yet sorry, starangelk ... [btw: what's your username mean?] but DS will always go for banana, avocado, or sushi ... cooked tomato ... yeah, any of those I'd be pretty confident with
HTH
andyour bub is feeling better super soon
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