DD is 6 months next week and I've tried her with solids twice now, once just before Xmas because we have had major #2 issues and I thought it might help and then I tried again late last week also. Neither time has DD opened her mouth for me to put the spoon in however she will open her mouth for her bottle and will even open it for a toy..
She does the chewing motion and seems to be figuring out how to push the food back with her tongue but I'm not sure if I should persist or wait again..
I haven't tried this as I don't think I would feel comfortable with it.
All references indicating if a baby is ready for solids say baby opens mouth when food is offered but DD does not do that and really doesn't look that fussed about food so I'm wondering if she is even ready for it.
Like others said BLS is great but yes, quite daunting at first!!!! This is our second time doing BLS and I was still a bit nervous.
DS I thought would scoff down food at 6 months but it took him a good 3 days of being offered that he actually put some in his mouth! There is no magical ticker in their little bodies that say 'hey, you are X months now, lets eat', just keep giving her a go and when she is ready she will come to the party. Remember food is fun until they're 1 so she has ages until she 'needs' to work out the moving the mouth and swallowing thing
She might not be ready. Or she might not like what has been offered to her. What foods have you tried? You could try letting her hold a super soft (ie very hard to gag with) food like banana or a piece of steamed/stewed apple. Or just some mashed or stewed fruit or veg in a bowl with the spoon there... Of course she won't know how to use a spoon but if she is ready for solids her curiosity should enable her to stick her fingers in/lick them or suck on the spoon.
Mumma, why do you not feel comfortable with baby led weaning?
My DS eard best and always has when feeding himself. He is a very independent soul and likes to do things for himself. If I try to feed him he just closes his mouth and turns away. Always has since 6 months.
Do you eat at the same time? We sit DS in his high chair between us while we are eating so we are eating together. He watches and I reckon it helps. My little man is a week younger than your little one and we have just started blw. I wanted to wait the standard 6m but he was reaching for food with his mouth moving and getting frustrated watching us eat. It's a scary approach this blw. He has had a little choke on everything we have offered but he sorts it out so quick and spits that bit out. I have offered a chunk of avo, broccoli, banana, pumpkin and carrot all on different days. He mostly squeezes and plays with it and actually swallows very little I think. He loved banana! Have you tried banana? Maybe if you want to spoonfeed, mash it and mix it with some bm?
Or if your instincts tell you she isn't ready, follow them.
When i was wanting to offer water etc from a sippy cup, i gave bub a cup to play with first. Maybe you could give her a spoon to play with so you feels more comfortable with it.
Some babies don't want food at 6m; this is ok. Milk is still the main way of getting nutrients. I'd wait for now. I remember how sad I was when Liebs got not-mama food!
It took a few days for dd to get the hang of it, but I did purees first. I found she didn't like the strong flavour (apples etc, must have been the acidity) so i just mixed a little rice ceral to make it a bit more bland and she loved it. We started at 4 months because she was following our food with her eyes all the time and reaching for it
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Is she ready for solids?
so she has ages until she 'needs' to work out the moving the mouth and swallowing thing
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