Starting solids? - Baby Led Solids Chatter #2

[Nelle]

I suppose everyone will have a different definition hey Hollye. I'm guessing for the purpose of this thread though, we go by the above definition, so there's no confusion?

Could you make more messy food like rice solid somehow? Like...I dunno...add egg and bake/fry it into sticks somehow? I have no idea...

[[M]umma[M]ia]

well she will be having toast, i just wanted to start her slow thats all. I dont make the rice cereal all runny like normal, otherwise it slides off the spoon before she gets it in her mouth.

[Jennifer13]

The point of BLS is not that you can't use a spoon, it is about letting your baby lead the way. If you are spoon-feeding purees and rice cereal before 6 mths and before they are capable of feeding themselves with finger foods, that is not BLS. BLS is a certain way of introducing solids and it isn't for everyone. Much like infant-led breastfeeding and no-cry sleep solutions, they each have certain guidelines. It's best to find a thread that replicates your preferred method, so that you can share your experiences with parents who are in the same situation.

Babies rarely have the coordination to spoon feed themselves at 6 mths. Most can't really do it adequately at 12 mths!

[Visitor8]

umm ashton was only 3 weeks off 6 months and it was still BLS
...

[[M]umma[M]ia]

Mia has had arrowroot biccies aswell and is MORE than capable of feeding herself. So this IS my preferred option.

better go... little darling needs to catch some zzzzz's..

[sushee]

Okay ladies,

you're getting in a tizz over something simple: the definition of BLS is when the child feeds him/herself right from the word 'go'. Spoonfeeding a child pureed foods or cereal as their first solid food is not techinically BLS. That your child later learns to feed themselves solids after this spoonfeeding happens is fine, and completely your prerogative (I spoon fed Charlie myself) but it's not, in fact, BABY-led solids.

If anyone has any further issue with this, or needs me to explain the definittion in more detail, please PM me.

[[M]umma[M]ia]

ok cool. so i am doing BLS because Mia is feeding herself.

so.. as i was saying, not sure if anyone seen.. but do you put anything on the floor under the highchair to help clean up the mesS?

[Arimeh]

Hollye - we use her muslin wraps that we don't use anymore. I collect everything and throw it over the balcony for the dogs (makes sure they are getting their daily dose of vegies!)

Then I just wash it at the end of the day with the rest of the washing.

[[M]umma[M]ia]

lol Mel, cant forget about the dogs. Ive got muslim wraps! they come in very handy with her spewing!! lol bibs and nappies just werent big enough!!

[amberj]

Hollye, I bought a cute pooh plastic mat at big w for like $10 for under P's high chair. Works well.

[Visitor8]

ASH JUST ATE A WHOOOOOOOOLE BANANA... sorry I was shocked lol
It wasn't a small one either. He almost ate the skin

[Jennifer13]

Banana has always been one of Lucy's favourites too, Mel. She still gobbles them down (one a day since about Ashton's age - goodness, I've probably supported an entire banana farm by now!). I was just browsing the web and pear was also mentioned as a good easy one to grasp at about 6 mths. I think I didn't introduce it for a while as it's quite seasonal, but she did like the taste.

[thepixie]

Well, we have had 3 solid meals completely refused today.
It's strange, she wouldn't even put it in her mouth, or she would just put it in, make a face and then throw it on the floor/ bang it on the tray. What was even stranger is when we were out she was chewing on a wooden banana and some wooden blocks for all she was worth. I only gave her foods she normally would eat so maybe she has another tooth coming through.
Hollye I feed her in the bumbo chair on the kitchen bench so I just wipe it down afterwards... Shame about the floor though

[Visitor8]

might be teeth pixie?

[1MOREPLZ]

hmmmm we had mashed potato/pumpkin with dinner..so stuck some on the bumbo tray and jack smooshed it everywhere...face feet hair...he did eat the majority of it though!!! i took piccies but will have to up load them later....

[Visitor8]

we had fish and vegies. Ash was a bit funny at first with the fish but ended up eating most of it the rest went on the floor haha

[amberj]

katones, same with us. mash potato is really, really messy....and particularly difficult to clean when it dries....

[LimeSlice]

I found baked potato chips easier for them at that age than mash. Cut your potato into sticks and drizzle with some oil and put them in the oven at about 190C... They can hold them, they are still soft enough to eat and they are easy for them to eat - and no cleaning up crusty mash of the floor! lol