BLS - some questions from a newbie

[buliej]

DS is only 5 months old and cleary not ready for solids yet (only just started exploring toys with mouth; no interest in food that I eat etc.), however I went to an ABA session on BLS today and it really made sense...so I am interested in learning more about it.

I am wondering how to fit it into our life - DS goes to bed at 7pm each night and DH and I eat dinner very late - well after his bedtime. Does this mean I'd do BLS with DS eating dinner by himself (of course I'd be there with him, but not eating and DH would probably just be getting home)? And when DS is about 9 months old, I'll be going back to the office two days/week. We plan on having in home care, so would I ask the nanny to eat breakfast and lunch with DS? If I had breakfast at home (assuming DS keeps his current wake up time, I'll never make it into work).

Does DS HAVE to eat what we eat? Like, if we have tuna (not canned, fresh), I don't really want DS to have it yet because of the mercury content. So, can I make something separate for DS? Also, I plan on buying organic for DS but really don't want the expense of buying everything organic for DH and myself.

With BLS is it possible to prepare food in advance and freeze it (may seem like a dumb question, but I am new to this and not much of a cook either)?

Is there a "schedule"...i.e., wake/BF/BLS breakfast; midmorning BF; BF/BLS lunch; afternoon BF snack...etc?

I'm sure I'll be back with more questions.

[MummyTummy]

DS is only 5 months old and cleary not ready for solids yet (only just started exploring toys with mouth; no interest in food that I eat etc.), however I went to an ABA session on BLS today and it really made sense...so I am interested in learning more about it.

I am wondering how to fit it into our life - DS goes to bed at 7pm each night and DH and I eat dinner very late - well after his bedtime. Does this mean I'd do BLS with DS eating dinner by himself (of course I'd be there with him, but not eating and DH would probably just be getting home)? And when DS is about 9 months old, I'll be going back to the office two days/week. We plan on having in home care, so would I ask the nanny to eat breakfast and lunch with DS? If I had breakfast at home (assuming DS keeps his current wake up time, I'll never make it into work).

Does DS HAVE to eat what we eat? Like, if we have tuna (not canned, fresh), I don't really want DS to have it yet because of the mercury content. So, can I make something separate for DS? Also, I plan on buying organic for DS but really don't want the expense of buying everything organic for DH and myself.

With BLS is it possible to prepare food in advance and freeze it (may seem like a dumb question, but I am new to this and not much of a cook either)?

Is there a "schedule"...i.e., wake/BF/BLS breakfast; midmorning BF; BF/BLS lunch; afternoon BF snack...etc?

I'm sure I'll be back with more questions.

The point of BLS is to relax and go with it! So I'll attempt to answer your questions but it is all going to come back to you just relaxing and going with it.

"I am wondering how to fit it into our life - DS goes to bed at 7pm each night and DH and I eat dinner very late - well after his bedtime. Does this mean I'd do BLS with DS eating dinner by himself (of course I'd be there with him, but not eating and DH would probably just be getting home)? And when DS is about 9 months old, I'll be going back to the office two days/week. We plan on having in home care, so would I ask the nanny to eat breakfast and lunch with DS? If I had breakfast at home (assuming DS keeps his current wake up time, I'll never make it into work)."

If you want to stick to your normal dinner time and DS is going to continue going to bed early then you could give him his dinner at the time that suits you and perhaps you could have a snack at the same time, so at least you are eating together. But plenty of people do feed their LOs without eating themselves. It is good to eat together though because they pick up table ettiquette from being included. As for when you go back to work, it doesn't matter who eats with them, it is just about role modelling and supervision.

"Does DS HAVE to eat what we eat? Like, if we have tuna (not canned, fresh), I don't really want DS to have it yet because of the mercury content. So, can I make something separate for DS? Also, I plan on buying organic for DS but really don't want the expense of buying everything organic for DH and myself."

DS does not have to eat what you eat, but if he isn't then you are starting to set yourself up for more work and stress. The organic thing is up to you, and how you want to work with it. But you could always cook a full meal for yourselves and DS and then give him his portion the next night. Or cook for all of you and just give him his portion earlier. But really it isn't important. All that is important is that he gets to explore as many different tastes and textures as possible in whatever fashion takes his fancy, including smearing it over his face and seeing what kind of splat it makes when dropped from the high chair!!

"With BLS is it possible to prepare food in advance and freeze it (may seem like a dumb question, but I am new to this and not much of a cook either)?"

Yes, as above. Whatever works for you!

"Is there a "schedule"...i.e., wake/BF/BLS breakfast; midmorning BF; BF/BLS lunch; afternoon BF snack...etc?"

Only if you want there to be. Most people do a BF and then follow up with solids for play time. I personally just followed my babies leads and BF when they wanted/needed it and just slotted BLS in where normal mealtimes would be (unless they were asleep). The mantra is "Food is for fun until they are one" so just think of it as "tasty playtime." By the time they are 1 they have usually dropped feeds and food is important but just like you already have a gentle rhythm to your day now, this will just evolve and doesn't need to be forced.

I have a great BLS book which I got when I was researching it and I recommend it to everyone to have on hand for reference and confidence boosting. It is called "Baby-led Weaning" by Gill Rapley and Tracey Murkett. I got it from Mothers Direct, the ABA store.

Feel free to ask any more questions, or drop in to the general discussion thread. I think it has been quiet but it always gets revived when new people drop in!

[Fleur]

I agree with MummyTummy, I think BLS is pretty relaxed. You do it however it works for you.

We did mostly BLS but I still had a few pre-prepared jars etc for nights when we were having takeaway, or so busy that there was no way she was getting dinner at a reasonable hour lol. On those nights we would give her a heap to feed herself as well. I didn't ever do purees, and if you do ever go with prepackaged baby food, keep in mind that the age guides are verrrrry conservative - she was having 10 & 12 mth old jars right from 6 months. I had a friend who fed his baby mostly from jars & would change him over on the dot - 'right he's 10 months today so he can have this jar' - but I figure if they can eat what we eat, there's no need to follow labels.

I am wondering how to fit it into our life - DS goes to bed at 7pm each night and DH and I eat dinner very late - well after his bedtime. Does this mean I'd do BLS with DS eating dinner by himself (of course I'd be there with him, but not eating and DH would probably just be getting home)? And when DS is about 9 months old, I'll be going back to the office two days/week. We plan on having in home care, so would I ask the nanny to eat breakfast and lunch with DS? If I had breakfast at home (assuming DS keeps his current wake up time, I'll never make it into work).

You can still do BLS with him eating by himself. It's helpful to have someone else eating with him, but not essential. We did lots of meals where Pie was eating on her own because we were busy - older kids with sport etc, often there was only one parent to sit with her while she ate.

Does DS HAVE to eat what we eat? Like, if we have tuna (not canned, fresh), I don't really want DS to have it yet because of the mercury content. So, can I make something separate for DS? Also, I plan on buying organic for DS but really don't want the expense of buying everything organic for DH and myself.

Nope, I used it more as a guideline to think 'well if she can have this then she can have that' ITMS. I still give her different dinners sometimes, if I don't think what we are having is suitable, I will mix a tin of tuna with some mixed veg & pasta or cheese for example. The nights when she could have what we did were a bonus.

With BLS is it possible to prepare food in advance and freeze it (may seem like a dumb question, but I am new to this and not much of a cook either)?

Yep no reason not to. Some foods will freeze better than others. But that can be really helpful for those nights when he can't have what you're having.

Is there a "schedule"...i.e., wake/BF/BLS breakfast; midmorning BF; BF/BLS lunch; afternoon BF snack...etc?

Whatever works for him & you.

HTH

[HotI]

I am wondering how to fit it into our life - DS goes to bed at 7pm each night and DH and I eat dinner very late - well after his bedtime. Does this mean I'd do BLS with DS eating dinner by himself (of course I'd be there with him, but not eating and DH would probably just be getting home)? And when DS is about 9 months old, I'll be going back to the office two days/week. We plan on having in home care, so would I ask the nanny to eat breakfast and lunch with DS? If I had breakfast at home (assuming DS keeps his current wake up time, I'll never make it into work).

My partner is a shift worker so sometimes he is home for DD's dinner, sometimes he has leaves for work at 5pm and sometimes he is getting home at 6.30pm. I try to keep her dinner time consistent but sometimes life happens. Now that my DD is eating more than just playing, i often give her steamed vegies to snack on while i am cooking the main meal (it also keeps her in one spot). On good days, the 3 of us will then sit down together. Others day, it might be jjust me and DD (i eat earlier with DD when DH is on night shift). Sometimes, DD will eat her dinner while i am cooking and we just chat at the same time.

I work one day a week and DH is usually home with DD. On these days, i try to BF DD just before i leave because she won't drink EBM and goes without during the day. DH will have breakfast with her a bit later. On days that i am home, i now give her solids breakfast first thing. (she still feeds overnight). DD is 13 months now, so i'm trying to encourage solids a bit more.

Does DS HAVE to eat what we eat? Like, if we have tuna (not canned, fresh), I don't really want DS to have it yet because of the mercury content. So, can I make something separate for DS? Also, I plan on buying organic for DS but really don't want the expense of buying everything organic for DH and myself.

He is your son, and it's up to you if you want him to eat what you are eating. Especially as DD gets older, it is making us more aware of what we are eating because she wants to share, and so our diet has probably improved too (at least while she is awake).

With BLS is it possible to prepare food in advance and freeze it (may seem like a dumb question, but I am new to this and not much of a cook either)?

I don't freeze meals just for DD but meals we freeze for us she has, so no reason why you couldn't. Dinner from the night before often becomes lunch the next day. When they are little, it's pretty easy to just cook some pasta, steam some vegie sticks or cut up some fruit to keep them amused.

The best bit about BLS is watching bub figures out things for themselves. Working out how to eat something, or what the different tastes are and which are their favs.

[buliej]

Thanks everyone - the replies were really helpful and I'm pretty excited to start this when DS is ready...although I may have to do some rearranging - our dining table is pretty close to a cream colored sofa!

HotI - DS will also not take a bottle of EBM (haven't tried formula or water) - I'll be able to BF daily until he's about 10 months, then I'll be away from home at work 2 days a week - leaving home around 7:30am and returning home around 6pm - that's a LONG time without BM...what do you do on the days you are gone? water? formula? How old was your DD when she started going without BM all day long? I'm hoping a sippy cup solves this problem but I'm waiting until he is a tiny bit older before trying.

[onthefly]

At 10 months your baby may be fine to go without for 2 days per week, especially if he's having other food & drink during the day. He may make up for it when you're home A sippy cup may be the answer too

[HotI]

HotI - DS will also not take a bottle of EBM (haven't tried formula or water) - I'll be able to BF daily until he's about 10 months, then I'll be away from home at work 2 days a week - leaving home around 7:30am and returning home around 6pm - that's a LONG time without BM...what do you do on the days you are gone? water? formula? How old was your DD when she started going without BM all day long? I'm hoping a sippy cup solves this problem but I'm waiting until he is a tiny bit older before trying.

When i am away, she just drinks water and eats solid foods. it wouldn't be enough if it was every day, but she makes up for it when i am home and slowly she is increasing her food intake. We try to offer foods with liquid in them too, watermelon, yogurt etc.

i think she was around 11 months when i left her for the full day. I still sometimes leave ebm but she only took a little bit once when my Mum spoonfed it between spoonfuls of something else.

[Tegam]

I have done BLS for all 3 of my kids and plan too with Molly.

To me the BLS means no stress....you seem to still be stressing LOL. But i understand why you are asking those questions. Biggest thing for me with BLS was bubs always had fresh food, not anything processed or frozen. So really finger foods.

Sorry i really am no help am i?

[starangelk]

Hiya - BLS one of my all time fave topics Welcome to the fun!

I'll just respond to your questions above:

We don't eat dinner with DD very often because of her bed time. Generally, I am cooking dinner while she is eating hers and DH sits with her and has a snack while she has her dinner. We all eat breakfast together though and try and eat as many lunches together as possible. It's not ideal and I wish I could change things but we'd end up eating baked beans every night because that's all I'd have time to prepare if we were all to eat together. Basically, DD gets last nights leftovers every night.

DD doesn't always eat what we eat. She's had a fairly bad cold for a while now so I am trying to get even more fruit and vegies into her. If we have bolognese, then we give her the same but add some extra carrots, broccoli etc to her part. We don't buy organic for her but we are careful with the types of foods we buy. Eg - we check the yoghurt we give her and I also try and make her snacks like muffins and savory slices instead of buying processed foods.

Yes - the freezer is your friend. I often freeze DD sized meals into tiny tupperware containers and then just defrost for her. It's sort of like pot luck - hahahah. I just make sure she has some fresh vegies or some cheese and fruit pieces (something fresh) to go with the frozen meal.


The schedule is whatever works for you and your DS. It is seriously so easy. We do bfast with sippy cup of milk/morning tea/lunch and then milk/afternoon tea/dinner and bedtime bottle but DD is almost 12 months. When we started, we were just doing 1 BLS meal a day but she loved it so we pretty much went to 5 meals a day within a month or so.

Good luck - most importantly, have fun.

[*Belle*]

We only did BLS with Tara she started with banana and steamed veges, they were a good hit. Also finger toast was good too. She always ate dinner with Julia at 5pm, hubby and I eat later around 7.30pm or so.

[MummyTummy]

My DD started CC at 10 months and straight away went without BM all day. We still do the same, early morning BF ( around 6 - 7am) followed by BLS breakfast. Then while at CC it is just solids, water and only recently cows milk. The cows milk is not a replacement, just another serve of dairy for her. Then when I pick her up around 6 I give her a BF. We then do another feed at bedtime and usually an extra one overnight, but not always. This is the routine she chose because I have CC onsite at my work and so could go and feed her whenever she needs it during the day. I have only had to go over twice, once in her first couple of days and the other when she was sick. So you see, not BF in the middle of the day may not actually be such a big deal.

[buliej]

Wow - thanks ladies - I feel so much better knowing that not having any BM during the day can be OK - this has been a huge worry for me. Just curious though, what did your little ones drink their water out of? Did you go right to sippy cups or did you need to give them bottles with water?

I'm also thinking that if I do some coarser mashes, I can mix some EBM in with them - if he likes them great, if not, no big deal (I'll pump at work to maintain supply, so I'll have the EBM to give it a go).

[onthefly]

you can use a sippy cup or straw cup - many babies can do that from 5-6 months (or younger even). Easier to skip the bottles if you can.

[MantaRay]

My boys refused bottles so they drank from sippy cups. They both started with sippy cups at about 3 or 4 months old. It can be really stressful for mums going back to work when babies won't take bottles but it does work out. It's great that you already have some other ideas to try.

[Tegam]

My boys refused bottles so they drank from sippy cups. They both started with sippy cups at about 3 or 4 months old. It can be really stressful for mums going back to work when babies won't take bottles but it does work out. It's great that you already have some other ideas to try.

Mine have all gone to sippy cups to MantaRay, Just the $1 ones from coles or kmart! easy!

[MummyTummy]

Yep sippy cups here too. Don't even bother with a bottle. We tried a number of different types too, so if it doesn't work straight away feel free to try a different style. Also don't feel like you can't use a 9+ cup either, that is just for the companies to sell you another cup later on! They also tend to work up to drinking water too, so if you are still BF then just offer after a meal until they get the hang of water and sippy cups.