Baby Led Solids chatter #6

My DD also hasn't got the hang of the spoon yet. If we load it she can get it to her mouth and eat but if we just give it to her she makes stabbing motions with it towards the bowl and then licks the spoon as if there was something on there anyway LOL

I'm getting a bit worried we are giving her too much sugar. This morning she ate almost a whole hot cross bun (woolworths are still selling them can you believe) and then some mandarin. So I tried to give her some vegemite on toast but she threw it on the floor, then DH tried some jam on toast and she ate it all up. Hmmmm

Hi everyone, its been awhile since I was in, actually wasn't getting email updates, oops.

Hope everyone's bubba's have been learning well. DD2 is now 16 months and eats like a trooper. She has finally learnt to spoon feed herself properly and loves eating with a spoon or fork now. People are still amazed at the skills she eats with and the variety that she loves. Her second day at day care they actually thought I had accidentally given her the wrong lunch, it was only a tuna and salad sandwich, but they are very much used to jam or vegemite, or jars with the other children. And they are very much impressed with how much different foods she eats.

It's just so convenient. Now that DS has started on milk and we're slowing down his formula, when we go out to eat we don't even need to pack food really, other than some cruskits in the car. Yesterday, we just bought him eggs on toast with tomato and a hash brown, and he was fine :)

messy, but fine!

I've got to say, I love the showing off factor of BLS. LOL

me too star :) she ate vegies the other night at my mums and she was impressed

jazzy had tuna casserole tonite feeding herself as i type :) i hope giving her milk is ok does anyone know

Joshua is fine with milk :)

Hi all, I'm new in here. My DS is 7.5 months and not very interested in food. He hates purée so I'm going down the BLS path but I'm just wondering what foods you gave your little ones early on? So far we just do toast with avocado, steamed veggies, soft pear etc. He doesn't seem to eat much, more just plays and spits it out. He's bf and still wakes once or twice a night for feeds, so I'm keen for him to eat a bit more to hopefully sleep a bit more! Is it normal for them to not actually eat much at this age? My older DS was a guts and ate everything so this fussiness is all new to me! Any advice would be greatly appreciated :) thanks girls x

Hi Kelly!
Those were all foods we started with too. You can also try giving him a spoon of yogurt (try Jalna or Mundella) to feed himself with. So load the spoon and pass it to him. Or let him try it from the bowl with his hands!
At 7.5 months he might also like pasta eg penne or spirals.
Our DD is a great eater and she caught onto BLS very quickly. But I know other girls who post in here have bubs that go up and down with their eating, so hopefully someone else can give you some advice.

TJ - Milk is fine as long as there is no allergy or intolerance and it isn't their main source of nutrition. Just think of it as a serve of calcium, it could be cheese or yoghurt, but instead it is milk.

KC - Sounds like good foods to start with. Just try to remember that it isn't important how much they eat until after they are 1. Food is for fun until they are 1!! Up until that point while they are BF (or FF) then they are getting the nutrition they need and it is all about experimenting with as many different tastes and textures as possible. My DS was a great eater from the word go but DD took a little longer to catch on. They are all different, just like when they learn to walk or talk!! Just follow his lead and it will be just perfect for him!!

:hello: everyone! I've been MIA for a long time, but I'm back, so thought I'd pop back in here and join the party!

hi MT!! welcome back :hug:

hi, kelly!

we give DS basically anything unprocessed. breads, veggies, fruits (though we avoid the really sweet ones, in the hope that he won't get too sweet a tooth!), pasta, plain yoghurt, meat, cheese, etc. whatever!

but we definately found that there was more playing than eating for the first while. but we tryed to make sure that we didn't stress over it ... the puppies were pretty spoiled eating the left overs for the first couple of months :p

Hi Kelly - we're trying BLS too, and I've tried to stick with sharing our meals with DD as much as possible. I found that she loves some veggies more when they're roasted (especially carrot & zucchini is good too), and also loves toast, baby corn spears are great, watermelon, banana (ha!), pear, orange, broccoli, scrambled egg (cut into fingers) etc. I also give her baby mum mums. To start with I think I was very conscious of giving her "softer" stuff, and she did do some gags to start with. Now she doesn't gag at all & just chomps away on everything! And I'm getting much more confident with her food. She also loves yoghurt and from the first second it was offered, grabbed the loaded spoon from the bowl & shoved it in her mouth! I was gobsmacked! Now I just have two loaded spoons in the bowl for her and she does the rest herself. She also has been trying to load them herself, whcih I didn't expect to see her doing at 8mths old! I think when we give them the opportunity to show us, it's amazing what they can do. And might I mention.. thoroughly enjoyable!

TripleJ - my DS has allergies, so i've been watching very closely everything I give to my DD and also trying to introduce foods earlier as research is showing that it's more beneficial to do that, than to delay introduction. So my DD has had plenty of dairy within products whilst not actually drinking milk. I'd be quite ok giving her something with some milk in it (in fact I think I already have). So saying, she's also had a wide range of nuts and eggs too (my DS's allergens), so as you can see, I'm going with a very inclusive approach :).

starangelelk - your comment re the showing off factor... aaah yes! I feel ya!

we've tried and tried with loaded spoons, but DS will for neither love or money put the loaded spoon in his mouth ... the spoon, absolutely. after twisting it so everything falls off. and then picking up the food, and shoving it in!

We're getting lots of comments on spoon skills too, and yep I love the fact she is eating such a variety. She sat down and ate most of a whole apple the other day, skin and all. Now at dinner time DD refuses to start eating until she has been given her fork, she will literally just sit there are wait to start until she's given it. The fact she picks it up in one hand and then starts eating with her other hand doesn't matter lol After a few bites she tries to do it herself or hands it to us to load for her.

Hi Kelly, my bub was not really interested in eating for quite a while. He just preferred to play with it, but now there's no stopping him (most days anyway). He still loves to play, but also loves choosing different pieces to put in his mouth and actually eat.

DS is getting much better with the spoon! We use two at once, I load one up for him, while he is putting it in his mouth I load another one. I also found a very thick natural yoghurt, so no more problems there :)

I can't remember who suggested I try roasted pumpkin and carrot, but thank you! He absolutely loved it.

I'm going overseas soon and just stressing slightly about food while travelling. I was thinking I might have to resort to buying some of that pre-packed baby food for the flight days, has anyone used this before? Are there any natural ones you can get? I don't really want to buy baby food, so any ideas on what kinds of non-messy food I can keep in my handbag for him? How do you do BLS in a restaurant or public place?? I've given him food at the park and at a cafe, just toast with soup or just dried bread, but I can't just give him bread the entire time I'm away. I would love for him to try noodles and rice and vegie stir fries, but I'd feel awful leaving a mess, and I don't want to do lots of clothes changes either.

Thanks for all of your quick replies! I feel reassured knowing we're doing the right thing. He is absolutely loving experimenting and doing it all himself. Hopefully soon he'll actually start swallowing, haha.

Bec no advice I'm sorry, but Goodluck!

Belfie thanks for the advice. Ha, our kids with expensive tastes. DS1 is gobbling up bananas too! Shame they're so expensive right now.

Mummy tummy, thanks. I do always forget the food is fun until 1. It's amazing how different 2 little boys can be, i guess coz DS1 was eating so much by now I got worried!

Anyway I have some boys who need me so I'll be back later xx

My DD increased her swallowing of food between 8 and 10 months, before that it was mainly play.

Hi Bec

When we travel with DD, we pack lots of dry things - dried fruits and biscuits and things that won't spoil easily like vegemite sandwiches. Sometimes I'll boil and egg in the morning and take that too. I use separate containers and chuck them in a fridge bag with some ice blocks. When we went OS, we just took all of this sort of thing including cheese sticks and then chucked it before we went through customs at the other end. We did have to advise it was food for the baby when leaving Aus but everyone was totally fine about it.

As far as BLS in a restaurant, so easy - just choose whatever is on the menu that seems the simplest to eat and also the quickest to get to you so your LO doesn't get bored waiting. I also suggest buying an art smock or long sleeved big for travelling to protect clothes and putting on a bib with a catcher (we got ours from Ikea but Tommee Tippee do great ones too) as a double protection. To clean we just take a stackload of baby wipes or wet facewashers in a bag and clean everything before we put DD in it (highchair and table) and then afterwards. We put all the bits that go on the floor in a serviette and leave this on our plates. Everyone is always so grateful that we clean up after her but I think it's neccessary!!

Things I keep in my handbag are baby mum mums, cheese sticks and dried fruit bits. She's also just gotten into plain biscuits so I've been putting vegemite on them and she loves them.

GL and enjoy :)

Bec - good thing for travel is disposable bibs! You can get a pack of 10 for about $3, even has the little scoop section at the bottom which is great for catching food!! Ours were brilliant when we travelled last.

Also you could take some Raffertys fruit pouches, just in case - these are 100% fruit and you can use it straight or mix with yoghurt or weetbix. DD sucks it straight from the pouch! It's the only 'baby food' we use but I find them handy if we're low on fresh fruit and I always keep one in the baby bag.

thanks so much for the travelling tips! Mrs P, where do you get the disposable bibs from? Sounds perfect, usually I don't use disposable anything, but two weeks of rinsing out and washing bibs by hand in the hotel bathroom doesn't seem very appealing, so I think I'll give them a go!

Starangelk - thanks for the tips, I'll put those things on my shopping list! Do cheese sticks have to be kept cold or are they ones that can be kept room temperature? Probably silly question, but I've never bought them before. Will also look for the baby mum mums, googled it, they look perfect for travelling.

Kelly - was it you who said you'd like your baby to eat more so he starts sleeping longer? I'd like to hear how you go with that. DS is now eating so much more than he used to, three proper meals a day, and is very active (crawling around everywhere and is just into everything all the time!), and I thought with all that food and all that energy being used he would start sleeping longer.. but he still wakes 2-3 times a night, just as he always has. Food has made no difference here.

funny you should say that bean - tonight DS just cried in his high chair, mostly ignoring his food, until we gave him a spoon. he still can't really use it properly, but he was holding it and alternating between feeding himself with his hands, and chomping on the spoon ... we loaded it up for him several times, and he got it in his mouth with food periodically, but mostly just ate with his hands. but was only happy when in charge of the spoon!

bec: we do BLS all over the shop including restaurants and cafes. we just pick places with hardwood floors, and pick up the worst of the mess before we go. And ask for LOTS of extra napkins, and take our wipes, to wipe down the highchair tray before putting his food onto it! Other handy foods for travelling are grapes, olives, mandarins, cucumber and capsicum sticks, baby corn spears, and bread rolls. And we take a couple of primas to freeze, and to use and reuse as ice blocks. much cheaper to replace, you can drink them if needs be, and because of their foil lining, they stay frozen for AGES! I used to use them in a travel bag to keep my EBM cold on the way to and from work :) happy travelling!

Bec I got them from a chemist, maybe call your local one to ask? One that has a decent baby range! We also don't use disposable stuff but I didn't want to wash bibs either when we were away!

Thanks Mrs P, the chemists around here don't stock a lot of baby stuff but I think I found an alternative! I bought a silicon/rubbery bib from Big W today, the bottom clips up into a bucket type bottom and the best thing is when you unclip it, it lies completely flat so it only needs a quick wipe over. It also rolls up pretty small so won't take up much room. It looks great, and in theory it is perfect for what I need - only problem is I used it tonight and he thought it was a toy, and also tried to eat it! Haha. oh well he might be used to it by the time we go away :)

Peanutter - Primas! What a fabulous idea, thanks so much for the tip!!!

Bec - just those ones that need to be kept room temperature, I think they are kraft brand??

Yep, shelf cheese sticks - a saviour in our household!! Aldi also has them and they have more in the pack so you don't have to shop as often!! Other things we take with us are just plain biscuits. Vitaweat have a round wholemeal one and our latest favourite is a cheese flavoured biscuit. I can't remember what they are called, but they are just like an ordinary cracker but have a soft enough texture and enough flavour (cheese) to keep them interested. I keep some in a container in the car for those little food emergencies! Sultanas are also good, as are any dried fruit. If you have the means to keep something cold we also get the yoghurts that come in a pouch. Vaalia is one brand but there are a few different brands. It just tends to be that little bit less messy which is always good while out and about.

Otherwise when we go to cafes I order something that both of us can eat and let them go to town. But I also just grab some wipes or serviettes and clean up most of the floor mess. I think it is polite, and I would hate to give BLS a bad name! I can't remember what else I do while travelling. Pretty much the same as at home. A bit of fresh fruit, cheese stick, some crackers, sultanas and sandwiches if they're easy to make and otherwise supplement with whatever I eat during the day.

yup, and when stopping en route to eat, I look out for places which do "all day breakfast" so Josh can have healthy, reasonably straightforward things (ie: avoiding preservatives, salt etc) like poached eggs, tomato, spinach, mushrooms, etc.

Bec that bib sounds good! The disposable ones we have are Babies Choice brand (I think). Think you can get them online, but probably only worth it if you're stocking up on other bits n pieces.

ah, DS yesterday and today doesn't seem to want anything much other than fruit!

we don't et him have too many sweets ... usually has bread and fruit for brekky, then veg and meat and pasta and rice and whatever for lunch and dinner, and cruskits and fruit or yoghurt or cheese sticks as snacks during the day.

but yesterday and today he hasn't really been interested in much, and will whinge or cry in his high chair and not eat his food! but if we give him grapes, he'll ignore his food (this evening was pastabake which is normally his favourite :() and eat them, then go back to crying!

do they just go through stages of this? I know that he's not about to fade away - he's a boofa boy and a good, healthy weight. but I don't like him not eating!

but it would defeat the purpose of BLS if we just went to pressing him to eat, or just giving him sweet things ...

and in other matters, we're trying to transition from bottle to cup.

ideas/tips for both of these?

TIA

:D

ummm not eating is a phase they all go through it more than once lol

Peanutter DD goes through fussy stages when she throws more than eats, unless it's grapes too. The all magical all delicious grape is a sure fire winner when nothing else is being eaten. I try not to stress too much and find within a few days she is eating a bit more. How are his teeth? I always find she get's alot fussier when they are bugging her, and cold fruit is about all she'll have. It's hard not to worry I know.

hmm, really good point, bean - he does have a tooth pushing through at the moment (his second front tooth) ... maybe that's the problem.

or just a phase, like tripleJ mentions ...

How's everyone going? DD got scrambled egg and some spag bol with lots of vegies for dinner and she basically ate only the egg. I think she's teething again atm, lots of drool, a funny cough, slightly red bottom and biting on everything. I'm still finding that she eats a ridiculous amount of food at daycare. Here is what I packed for her today:

1 spinach and tuna muffin (I made this recipe up myself - yay me LOL)
1/2 tuna and mayo sandwhich
1/4 fig jam sandwich
baby sized apple muffin
6 cubes of cheese
fruit salad - half a mandarin, quarter of a pear and half an orange
piece of vegetable bake - probably the size of 3 matchboxes
2 pieces of pumpkin
big rice cracker with vegemite

And when I picked her up she was eating an arrowroot biscuit as she was still hungry apparently! I have asked so many times whether she really eats all of this food and am told absolutely yes and her eating is amazing. Honestly, at home - she probably eats about half of this in the same timeframe.

Bfast is going well, toast and spreads and raisin toast, usually 1 - 1.5 slices.

Dinner is getting to be a bit of a disaster........I think she's just too tired to eat? Not sure.

I'm starting to feel the pressure now that she's 1, that whole "food is fun" thing can't be used as an excuse anymore.

How's everyone else doing?

turned out DS had a nasty fever from his 12 month shots ... he was ok within about 48 hours, though.

he sleeps so beautifully that it's really hard to get 3 meals into him! DH normally only manages 2 bottles, 2 meals and a snack. I'm worried ... or is this ok?

DD eats like a horse - she gets so full her little belly sticks out like budda and goes rock hard!
Tonight she had chicken breast, broccoli, corn, cheese, bread and a huge pile of rockmelon that she wolfed downed!
I am finding that she doesn't drink much milk. She has self-weaned completely now, so I offer milk in the morning, after each of two naps, and before bed. She's not really drinking the nighttime one, but I guess she's eating so much that it's ok.

Peanutter I guess your little one wouldn't sleep so well if he was hungry, so he's probably ok ;)

Hey ladies,

New in here, but have read up a bit!

So, our little story is that for two weeks from 6 months DS was fending off spoon food as though he was the karate kid and choking it down as though it were the spiciest indian curry (yeah, right - just rice cereal or pureed apples!). Handed him a stick of avocado in frustration and he ate it!! He still refuses anything by spoon and wants to be independent and eat himself. I was concerned that he's not really getting any of it, but have been reading that this is all ok! And besides, his horrible nappies are proving me wrong. Only thing is that I'm worried we're doing lots of starchy bread and biscuit things, but fruit and veggies are difficult, they just seem too soft and he mushes them everywhere. Look forward to reading some advice on this today. Am going to try avo spread onto a cruskit tonight followed by possibly some yoghurt - I'm sure that will be messy!

Also, contrary to most of what I have been reading DS is more of a savoury boy than sweet. A beautiful finger of cooked pear was met with distaste and he's not a fan of apples either. Has dealt with some banana and kiwi ok, but this is all so different from feeding DD who loved everything off a spoon and mushy!!!

Despite DD's adamant insistence that she was totally ready for food, she's still a spit-and-vomiter. DS ate from 5.5 months, so just wondering if your little one started out playing, sptting out and vomitting any food they came into contact with, how long before they actually ate anything?

MadB - I thought DD was spitting everything but then I found bits of food in her nappy so figured she was getting more than I realised :)

Welcome star :) Until recently we always finished dinner with some yoghurt, I found it a really good way to make sure she had a little bit extra food before I put her down for the night.

heys ladies :) thought I'd come in here and :lurk: a bit to get your combined wisdom! How *exactly* do you start with BLS? Is holding a piece of corn to DS2's mouth the way? or something else?

put stuff in front of him or let him choose from your plate Kaz. It's self serve :)
The basic principle is that they feed themselves - so they start eating when they're ready and they eat what and as much as they feel they need to. Just keep anything you feel is unsuitable for him out of reach.

so even stuff like meat?

:

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Despite DD's adamant insistence that she was totally ready for food, she's still a spit-and-vomiter. DS ate from 5.5 months, so just wondering if your little one started out playing, sptting out and vomitting any food they came into contact with, how long before they actually ate anything?

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DD was keen to play from just before 6 months (taking food then and we offered at 6 months) but it wasn't until 8 months that she started swallowing and we saw evidence in her nappy.