Baby-led solids: Where on earth do I start???

[MantaRay]

LS, it's not that there's NO chance, but it's very unlikely. There is less chance of choking on finger foods than on spoon fed mush. And you should always supervise them when eating jic, but it not likely to be a problem. Certainly neither of my boys have ever choked.

If you haven't done a first aid course for parents/carers, it is a good thing to do for a variety of reasons, including learning what to do if they choke. St Johns and Red Cross run them, and mostly likely other organisations too. Might give you some peace of mind?

[Janie]

LS, MR is right, it's not that there's NO chance, but it's less likely when they are feeding themselves, rather than you feeding them from a spoon. When they feed themselves, they are in control, rather than having an unknown quantity of unknown food shoveled into their mouth, IYKWIM?

We do a mix of spoon feeding, and DS feeding himself, whatever works at the time (I only heard about BLS when DS was 10 months ). We very much follow his lead. It works really well for us all, particularly when DS is feeling a bit fussy, instead of it doing my head in I just steam him up some vegie fingers, and some pieces of pasta, maybe a stick of tasty cheese, and let him go for it, he loves it! And that way, if he's not particularly hungry, I don't stress, because I don't really know how much he's eaten LOL. Otherwise I tend to get a bit worried and wonder why he doesn't want to eat Even though I know it's perfectly normal. I do wish I'd known about this when we introduced solids, though it hasn't impaired his self-feeding in any way. Oh well, there's always next time

[LimeSlice]

Thanks girls!
I think I'll have a chat to DF about this, now that Im feeling confident about it...cheers!

MR: have thought about doing a first aid course, will have to do one in the mext few weeks I think. Havent done one for about 5 years!

[QueenMab]

I am starting to read up on BLW - not for us just yet mind you, but it's great to be prepared!! It seems just so... obvious, doesn't it??

Everything I've read so far just makes soooo much sense & definately seems like the way to start once Punky looks like she might want to have a crack at eating a thing or two.

You'll have to let us know how you go starting Charlotte with finger foods LS. (and how your first aid course goes!!)

[Willow]

LS - just wanted to say that BLS hasn't quite worked out as I'd planned for L. We gave it a go but he was choking/gagging far too much for my comfort. So we've decided to stick with coarse mashed vegies and fruit for now and will try again in a month or so.

There's not right or wrong way I don't think - we've skipped the rice cereal and purees all together but looks like finger foods aren't right for us just yet either. Just give it a shot and see how she goes, but don't be disheartened if she's not ready straight away, I'm hoping if I leave it a while, we'll do better next time!

[LimeSlice]

Well we have just given Charlotte some farex and some pumpkin soup... Havent 'started' solids yet though. She really doesnt seem very interested, more interested in just chewing on the spoon! lol
So will see how we go over the next few weeks. Gave her some mashed carrot last night and she spluttered and coughed a little...not used to it yet.
DF is unsure about the finger food...he is worried about her choking, understandably, but I think I have managed to get him to let me try it with her. So in another couple of weeks hopefully she will be ready for food.

Will let you know how we go though

[chepie]

Thank you thank you THANK YOU ....................

This post is just what I needed to read!!! This is how Aiden has been going with his solids! He prefers to feed himself, and play and discover his food......... I posted in another thread about my visit at MCHN and how she made me feel like a useless mother.. She was concerned as he hadn't put much weight on and that he should be eating 3 meals a day and one must be meat .... well some days yes and some no - so her idea was that I should go to a feeding clininc...... I walked out of there feeling like all my confidence was gone and I was a terrible mum because I couldn't feed my boy properly, which then led onto a shocking week for me because I felt like I had failed...

NOW reading this thread I know that I am going ok and my boy is enjoying the world of solids and still enjoying his Boobie ... SO THANK YOU