Baby Led Weaning Support Thread - Part 6!

[huby]

thanks Manueli, that's helpful and reassuring to know they go through the same thing too.
Will try those options for lunch today - just worried she isn't getting enough food? I was getting very stressed and she did pick up on it and started to cry, so as of yesterday just chilled out about it all. Played a game when we ate - watched cartoons if need be, and then she didn't really notice what I was offering her. Sometimes she spat it out, so i'd give her something else, and then try that thing again and she'd eat it. It's progress and you're so right, if it's relaxed and happy, she's happier to eat.
I will spread some purees on toast and see.
BTW - she's 9 months, can I give her pineapple and orange and things like that now?

[Whatbit]

DS is 7.5 months and has had pineapple and loves it (we give him half of a ring at a time)!  Haven't tried other citrus fruits yet.

[Jiinx]

I find that citrus fruits may give my lo a tummy ache. Hwever, my lo is quite sensitive

I noticed, also, huby they eat well when they're distracted. Not necessarily a tv but with other people for sure. If it's just me and her she tends to eat less. She tends to eat more in front of another toddler or another adult!

Just food for thought But yes, don't stress. Breastmilk is all she needs until 1..and she definitely knows when she's had enough to eat.

[inoella]

huby - this might sound bad but I'm glad to know there's someone else out there who's LO won't eat much. She looks beautiful! 

DD is 7.5 mo and won't eat a thing - sometimes banana and that's it. She wants to nurse every 3 hrs and I know that BM is all she needs for now, but feel like I'm drying up - anyone thots?

[huby]

Hey there inoella, it's strange, she's just switched from being someone who LOVES food to someone who cries when its put near her. Gave her her favourite rice pud last night and she just cried when she ate it. Something isn't right, but I have no idea what and how to tackle it.
She's just spitting everything i give her out now and crying. She's only sipping at her milk, but otherwise seems fine and happy. It's a mystery.
Thanks everyone for your support - will let you know how we get one

[Manueli]

Didn't you say that she was possibly teething? We never really had a bad issue with that but it is possible that her teeth are really bothering her. Have you ever tried giving something for the pain before feeding? Just an idea.

[huby]

hi there,

Yes, but can't figure out why she's able to eat toast, but spits almost everything else out. Tried watermelon (no), pineapple (no), apple sauce (yes), yoghurt (yes) and egg (yes, as always) this morning....everything else gets spat out or played with and then she gets angry.
Shes very very spirited and knows her own mind, but can't figyre why she used to LOVE her food and hates it now. You're right, the teeth might be a bigger issue than I first thought.

[Manueli]

Ah, I love when my answers are getting lost after submitting. Ah well. It seems to me that she is still eating fine, just maybe not all the things she used to, am I wrong? I would just give her whatever she likes and mix in some new foods or those she refuses now. Just keep trying, don't get too disencouraged. Babies have so many phases, hopefully this is over soon. Just don't force her or push the food she doesn't want. That can end up in a real aversion and picky eater. Hope this helps.

[Vicku]

Didn't you say that she was possibly teething? We never really had a bad issue with that but it is possible that her teeth are really bothering her. Have you ever tried giving something for the pain before feeding? Just an idea.

I was going to say this too. If you give pain meds and let them kick in before a meal, does that help? Would be a way to know if it's teething related... Hope things improve soon and try not to stress about it

[huby]

thank you....she only eats things when distracted or when it's mixed with shop bought purees, hey ho

[Lola's Mum]

Hello BLWeaners...

Firstly, congratulations Marsha on your new addition. Hope things are going well and it's not too tiring.

Things are going well feeding DD. She loves everything and her poop has gone hard, so I'm assuming she must be consuming. Or could that just be from sucking the juices out of everything. I've got a few questions that maybe some of you might be able to help with. I've been giving lots of fruit and veg and sometimes a bit of toast, breadstick or rice cake. She doesn't seem to consume much of the rice cakes etc. I'm feeling like I need to start giving something more than just fruit and veg but don't really know where to go from here. My mum has made the 'don't you think she needs some cereal' comment because she's woken a few times at night (I'm staying at my mum's for a week and the routine is all messed up). But I do agree that she needs a bit more beyond fruit and veg.

So, those that are further down the line, what did you do once you had introduced fruit an veg. Also, I seem to end up steaming/boiling veg for each individual meal. It's taking ages. Of course, the eating process takes quite a while too and I need to think about getting more organised and do things more quickly. Should I steam a few of everything and use it the next day. How long can cooked veg stay in the fridge?

My next question is about brown bread. I was giving it as toast and she seemed to like it but then she got constipated and I remembered the low fibre issue, so have given white bread toasted. This just goes into a disgusting doughy mess. Any tips here. Is a bit of brown bread okay. I'm holding off of the bananas for a bit.

I've given her some meats actually and she's enjoyed sucking/gnawing on those but it is only if I've had meat the day before or I've cooked her some of what we're having. I'm going to search the recipes and the babyledweaning.com blog for recipes and think about little things I can make to supplement the vegs but any recommendations gratefully recieved.

I'm going on holiday in a bit over a week and to save time I'm wondering whether to do a few purees for lunch to be quicker. When I overcooked some sweet potato I mushed it and gave it but I just kind of waived the spoon near her and let her show me when she wanted it. I've given some of my porridge like this too and some yoghurt. She will take it but much prefers feeding herself whatever is on her tray. I really don't like the idea of shovelling a spoon in her mouth. She takes a loaded spoon but just chews on it and the food doesn't tend to come off but I'm happy for her to have a go. It's just can't rely on it being quick

Sorry for such a lot of questions. Hope things are going well for everyone and the babies that were a bit off their food have rediscovered the joys....

[Mrs Coops]

Sophie, thank you I'm doing well. Only tired because my tantruming toddler is trying my patience!

I'll try and answer a few questions.

Firstly your LO is still very young and milk, be it breast or formula, is a large part of her diet. If she has started waking in the night again she's possibly having a growth spurt, so maybe she just needs the extra milk at the moment.

Mothers and in laws don't trust this way of weaning at all the 'don't you think she needs some cereal?' comment infuriates me! I ALWAYS got 'she needs a little extra...' She's probably from the generation where babies were weaned at 12 weeks on to that wall paper paste gunk that big food companies peddle out! Sorry high horse moment!

The fact that your LO's poo has started to solidify shows that her body is starting to digest it properly. That's amazing so early on, my LO's didn't do that until about 10 months old! I'm not sure on the constipation as she only had it once post illness. Does she have water with meals? Have a cup handy for her throughout the day, especially in this weather! DD has the cheapest Tommee Tippee cup with a little flip up spout that she has open access to! Not sure if you're aware but as she's over six months old it doesn't need to be boiled!

Not sure on recipes to try. Just give her what you're having. You have to improvise like soak bread into stews and soups.  We give shredded wheat bite size for breakfast, let it soak in the milk then pour away the excess milk. Make porridge quite lumpy or give her toast to dip in it!

We've had no problems with bananas, it was the first food she tried! She couldn't eat them fast enough!!!

I hope that helps a little. I need to try and catch a nap now! If I think of anything else I'll let you know. xxx

[huby]

just a quick one to say thanks for all the suggestions and support. It seems i discovered a few things...she doesn't like highchairs, and likes to eat on the floor, when we're eating. As a social thing really. She hates being constrained at the best of times...prams, chairs, car seats and so on.

And the other thing was teething - can see two top teeth making their way out now...explains a lot

Thanks again....we're back to purees but are now giving some soft finger foods and its slowely getting better.

[Lola's Mum]

Thanks Marsha. Hope you got that nap you needed and your toddler isn't testing you too much.

I have started giving water at each meal. I had a Tommee Tippee 4 month cup but she just chewed the teet/spout part and never actually drank water. I've started using a Doidy cup and she loves it but I have to really hold the cup for her at this stage. When I'm out I take a regular bottle with. I'm going to get one of the cups you mentioned too as she could start to use that on her own. I didn't know they could have tap water at 6 months. That's handy to know. Today the poops were much looser and I wonder if the hard poo was a part of the constipation. She loves bananas so really don't know if that was causing a problem or it had been lack of water.

I have wondered if she was having a growth spurt or preparing for one. I think the routine mess up has contributed a lot to her NWs. She's spirited and really needs her sleep but doesn't sleep well out and about. I've had a lot of pressure to 'not let Lola dictate what I do' and go out and see people. At home I get her to have both naps at home more than half a week to keep her on her routine. Down here she's been getting so OT, needing early bedtimes and kind of only having a limited BT feed. She also doesn't feed well out in public. At home I have to BF her in a dark bedroom as she gets so distracted otherwise. Sorry, getting a bit off topic... Tonight she's woken twice since BT and fed, so could be a GS.

I do need to get into the habit of giving her what we're eating, or at least what we had the night before. I find lunches more tricky. I started at 5 and a half months so I just felt like I should be adding/varying what I give but maybe she's fine with what she's getting. As for those old fashioned views about giving cereal, I've been trying to come up with the right response but don't really know what to say. I had thought to say that if LO is hungry and needs the nutrition that milk provides, being filled up with cereal may stop her hunger but won't provide her with the all round nutrition she needs. Is that accurate?

Did you give white or brown bread at this stage? One final question, how long after a BF would you give solids at this stage. I've been doing it about an hour from the start of BF to start of solids. As it's quite a long process (DD will keep eating for ages and ages, returning repeatedly to whatever is on her tray), I wondered whether I should start it sooner than an hour, especially the dinner feed.

Sorry again for such a long mail. x

[Mrs Coops]

I had thought to say that if LO is hungry and needs the nutrition that milk provides, being filled up with cereal may stop her hunger but won't provide her with the all round nutrition she needs. Is that accurate?

Yes, or I politely ignore them!

We gave any bread. Usually lightly toasted as the soft stuff would get stuck in the roof of her mouth!

I used solid meals to space out the breast feeds. So she would bf at 7ish, solids from 10-11 then bf at 12ish. But that was when she was 8months old. Each LO is different, she actually started crying for solids not long after we started her on them!

We use a Doidy cup too with meals and the other cup is left for her to use freely. By time she could crawl (9-10 months) she would go to it and drink when she wanted too!

Oh and yes, you do let Lola's routine dictate you, to a certain extent! Why upset a spirited child that needs her sleep? A happy baby=a happy mummy! Obviously there are times when she has to suffer, but that should be the exception. We bring these little people into our lives so we need to look after them as best we can! They drop naps soon enough! Oh, another high horse moment!