Hey Eloise-I am by no means an expert bc I have just started doing this with DD, but I did pick up the book from the library and have started reading it.
So basically what you are thinking does not really align with the "true" BLW philosophy. In short-you are not feeding them at all so the get a chance to experience the food and learn how to judge how much they want/need from the beginning. This also lets them explore how food works in their mouth to prevent them from choking on bits you give them. The way the work the food in their mouth is different in purees, they kind of slurp it which sucks it to the back of their mouth. Then as they eat more solid food, they do the same slurp and then choke and sputter and might put them off to food.
Also, they suggest starting when your baby is NOT hungry bc they are less frustrated bc of hunger and will better be able to explore food at the right pace (I have already learned this) So basically still having BF or FF as main source of food. I think they said they will get to the point of really using fodd for food around 8mo (correct me if I am wrong) and they will do this in their own time frame if let to explore.
From my experience, I did not know what to expect. I had been giving EL some puree and cereal, but I have stopped that completely. We have been doing it for a week or so now and she went leaps and bounds even the first day. She is able to pick up all sorts of stuff and she is actually eating WAAAY more than she would have with the purees. She will eat a whole banana for breakfast, a half a nectarine and 2/3 an avacado for lunch, and just a bunch of carrots or potatoes for dinner (or whatever we set on her tray) at first she wasn't getting much but in a weeks time she eats and swallows almost all of it!! It is really amazing what they can do if you let them work through it...just be patient.
I know you have food concerns, but honestly I think you could just go straight to BLW exclusively and get the same results you are looking for.
I have had to work on getting my supply back up bc she is not depending on the rice or purees anymore, but honestly I kind of like it better that way anyhow. Just me though...(but it also may be due to GS, still not sure why she wants to nurse all the time
)
HTH-hope I explained it clearly enough...someone else can fill in what I did not put in or get right!!