Baby Led Weaning Support Thread - Part 6!

[~Sara~]

Rice cakes should be fine.  DS loves to chomp on Mum-Mums, which are basically rice wafers especially made for babies.  They look like a surfboard.

[Mrs Coops]

We give the big rice cakes, not specifically for babies but again not much in them. Hours of sucking in one of them for a smaller baby!

[Whatbit]

I tried part of one today and got the funniest faces   I think they might become a favourite.  He didn't want to put it down.  But after it fell on the floor we moved on to other parts of the meal.

[Mrs Coops]

They're fantastic snack/ emergency food when your LO is older. We rarely leave the house without a few rice cakes and breadsticks in a tub!!!

[roseola]

Breadsticks are a staple around here too! Can't wait to try rice cakes. We are going to dinner tomorrow with 14 people...a regular banquet for my LO!

[inoella]

OK, haven't gotten around to the book yet... maybe tom. for Mother's Day me time?  but in the mean time... DD doesn't gleeful suck on anything I give her - she chews quite purposefully and gets big chunks! So far hasn't swallowed anything - left a bit of chicken in there today until I saw it when she made a face and whisked it out. So... should i just give her little bits of stuff to actually eat instead of big chunks to chew on? really need to read that book...

[roseola]

Which book does everyone recommend?

[Mrs Coops]

Jaci the idea is they can pick the food up, so make the chunks big enough for her to handle. She may not be 'swallowing' the actual food but everything she is chewing she's getting the juices from!

Roseola the book I read is baby led weaning by Gill Rapley & Tracey Murkett. It's excellent, covers everything!


40+2! This baby continues to cook!

[First Time Mom]

Good luck vibes to you for baby to arrive today on Mother's Day!!

My ds doesn't really eat anything that he handles either, he will pick up everything and put it in his mouth but then makes a face and refuses to gum chew it or swallow it. One day they will, it's all about learning at this age, just keep offering it and make it fun. If you are concerned about lo getting solids you can offer puree or chunky puree on the side. As for size of solids, I would offer the food big enough so that lo can pick it up. If it's too small and you are putting it in their mouth then they are not really learning, plus, you might end up giving them something that they are not "ready" for whereas you know they are "ready" to eat it if they are capable of picking it up and eating it themselves.

[Whatbit]

DS is all about the chewing.  He got a big piece off a zucchini stick yesterday and I was nervous but he chewed, and chewed, and chewed, and then part of the chunk came back out of his mouth and he must have swallowed the other half.  And there aren't even any teeth in that little mouth yet!!  I still spoon fed him and put food ont eh spoon and let him take it and jam it into his own mouth.  He even tries sticking it in the bowl... I think he's trying to imitate me

[inoella]

Whatbit -that's what happened last night. I have her a big chunk of chicken - always for her to pick up on her own... She bit off the top bit and chewed and chewed and a while later made a gagging noise and opened up and there it still was. Also gave her rice - she hated that it stuck to her fingers - silly girl.  And she just howled to share my icecream cone - this is truly a new era!!! I'll have to have my "naughty" snacks during naps. he he 

[Mrs Coops]

I'll have to have my "naughty" snacks during naps. he he 

Oh yes! Babies & toddlers are designed to recognise and demand sweet stuff on sight! We've only now just started letting DD have the occasional chunk of our 'naughty' snacks and she can't get enough of them! She knows where the biscuits live and can smell chocolate on your breath! Evolution is a wonderful thing!

[roseola]

My DS sucked on a slice of lemon today while we were to dinner (14 of us!) and he seemed to like it...and then made the funniest face. Everyone was amazed at how he eats with his little fingers.

[Lola's Mum]

Hi All

I'm starting BLW at the moment so thought I'd join you on this thread. DD has sat on my lap and taken a few bits of food from my plate or bits I put on the table. She's happily chomped on a yorkshire pudding, broccoli, cucumber, meat ball. I've also given her a banana with the skin still on the end. She absolutely loved that. She's only 5 and a half months so maybe it's a bit early. But she can sit up with a little help and is able to take the food and put it in her mouth, so it seemed okay to start. I might have to go and live at MIL and my mum's for part of next month so wanted to avoid starting BLW in either of their houses.

I'm so exited about it but have a couple of questions, if anyone can help. Can anyone recommend bibs. I was thinking of sleeved ones, although I know Gill Rapley doesn't recommend them in the book. Also, I've got a good idea of first foods but I struggle to think of what is appropriate for breakfast, apart from Weetbix, which seems to be mentioned on babyledweaning.com. What kinds of things are good for breakfast or does it not matter what's given at each meal at first?

Have read the whole thread and look forward to now being part of this exciting process.

Sophie

[Mrs Coops]

Hi Sophie your LO seems keen to start! If she wasn't ready she wouldn't be doing what she's doing!
 As for bibs we've used long sleeve ones since we started and never had an issue, some are just like t-shirts so don't get it the way. My child minder actually uses adult sized t-shirts which work really well and cover their whole body! It is just trial and error.
 We didn't give set meals to start with as this age is more about exploring and milk is still their main diet. I think we started with a mid morning and mid afternoon snack, then added lunch. We only dropped her morning bottle two months ago in favour of a solid breakfast! Mind you in the beginning they can take forever to feed, she would be going for an hour sometimes and we thought she would never get it! She beats us now!!!