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

[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

[Janie]

Glad you're feeling better about things Kez My DS has almost always preferred to mostly self-feed, and meal times became a lot less stressful once I decided that was a good thing Now we can eat happily while he eats, and throws food on the floor or to the dog LOL.

[sweetpea678]

Kez, neither of my kids were eating 3 meals a day till they were 12 months old i went of their cues, i let them attempt to feed them selfs yes messy but worth it. I would have one spoon and they another. I am glad you are feeling better about what you are doing.

To me if they are happy and healthy it does not matter how they eat.

[jackrose]

I too am grateful to find this thread!

We are just about to start solids after exclusively breastfeeding for 7 months. My girl is just so happy as is, and has steadfastly refused any attempt at cereal and puree for the past week. I revised this approach when I realised that it was silly for both of us to be unhappy as we enter the exciting world of food and that so far, she is very happy to simply play with sticks of veg.

I'm back on the baby-led band wagon and feeling very happy about it!

Thanks for the wise words and encouragement guys... all so logical.

[MantaRay]

Good on you jackrose. You sound very sensible and I think you are doing a great job.

I realised that it was silly for both of us to be unhappy as we enter the exciting world of food

Spot on!!

[LimeSlice]

So we are doind really well here!
Charlotte has taken to food amazingly well and now just seems to eat more and more every day lol I dont know why I am so suprised by this!?
After 7 months of exclusive BM I wasn't sure how she would take to food, and with DF a bit hesitant about the whole finger food thing, we started on farex initially for breakfast a few days a week.
now there is no stopping her! Anything and everything she can eat, she does. The bread is a real hit, even tried a piece of roast lamb the other night at dinner.
So all going well here...
My only concern is that she has dropped to about 4 BF a day....first thing in the morning and las thing at night and a couple during the day....Is that normal? She is eating a fair amount of solids, breakfast and dinner, and starting her on lunch as she is getting hungrier...should I be offering the BB more often?