Baby Led Weaning Support Thread - Part 6!

[Lola's Mum]

Kami, the guidance in England (or certainly where I live) is to use cow's milk in cooking from 6 months or small amounts in cereal and things like that. Sometimes I use formula for cereal, sometimes cow's milk. I was told by the nurse that there's nothing wrong with cow's milk but formula/breast milk is more nutritious. We're told to use the full fat cow's milk. My mum couldn't believe we don't give cow's milk to drink from 6 months as she tells me I was drinking it and I'm healthy!! I think one thing is sure, there is no consistency in the advice that's given. I guess different medics have different opinions and experience around the world and who knows what is completely accurate.

I've not given raisins but DD loves grapes and blueberries. She loves to suck the flesh/juice out of them and then discards the skin. Guess there's less appeal with an actual raisin. I give dried apricots and prunes, too. I kind of tear them and give them inside out so L can gum away at the gooey flesh part.

[*Ali*]

The official government advice in the UK (from the FSA) is that cows milk should not be given as a drink until 1yr plus. This is not because it is dangerous itself but because it doesn't contain the appropriate nutrients a baby needs. It is OK to use it in cooking from 6mo. This should be full fat as semi-skimmed and skimmed doesn't contain enough fat soluable nutrients. I think this is what  Lola's mum is talking about.

Not sure what the official advice is but I know my nephews have been eating raisins and loads of other similar shaped foods since about 9mo without incident. BTW you shouldn't give large quantities of dried fruit as it has highly concentrated sugar levels.

[Lola's Mum]

Hey Cadie's Mum, that's exactly what l was getting at. You made it much clearer. I'll have to go easy on the dried apricots as she really likes gumming those at the mo.

[Mrs Coops]

Hi, we gave raisins and other 'small' foods before DD was one. She had the pincer grip perfected at 31 weeks so we figured if she can pick it up she can eat it! Mind you her digestive tract didn't like grapes and dried apricots for ages as they went through completely undigested until only very recently! I would say trust your LO!

As for milk we gave it as her lunch time bottle from about 9-10 months. TBH she was only drinking about 4-5oz so it was a nause doing formula! She actually dropped that bottle before she was one. I know babies that were switched to cows milk totally at 6 months and did just fine!

Guide lines are just that, guide lines! I take them all with a pinch of salt! We stopped using the steriliser at 9-10 months because she was crawling around shoving EVERYTHING in her mouth, including moss she found in the garden and seeds that birds had poo'd! Disgusting I know, I found her sucking away happily on it! The seed had been walked in the house on the bottom of a shoe!

[inoella]

Thanks Marsha - she def. can pick it up - she's very good at that already. I guess if they can eat corn, can't they eat raisins and peas too? Never tried any of those but might pick it up here.

So I gave cereal another go and what do you know? She actually ate it???!!! I wish I had video cuz she had to grab the spoon half way there and help me put it in her mouth. 

[Mrs Coops]

Jaci sweetcorn is what my LO mastered the pincer grip with & peas she discovered were funny to squish, or ping like tiddlywinks!

With sweetcorn as soon as she got some teeth at the top we gave her corn on the cob, she LOVED it! Although it roomier ages to it! Now almost a year on the can't eat it fast enough!

GTG DS is supposed to be feeding but just throwing me huge smiles! How dare he be so cute at 5am?!?

[Manueli]

Any suggestions regarding corn?

You can try finding those young shots, not sure how they are called. I have only seen some in a can with tons of added salt, so not ideal. I also put corn or peas into mashed potatoes so they get picked up with everything else.

[Mrs Coops]

I also put corn or peas into mashed potatoes so they get picked up with everything else.

Ooo what a good idea! I'll remember that when I start DS on solids.

[Lola's Mum]

I also put corn or peas into mashed potatoes so they get picked up with everything else.
Ooo what a good idea! I'll remember that when I start DS on solids.

Yes, that's a great idea! Going to be doing that too.

[First Time Mom]

I find Graydon is better at picking up the tiny foods like peas and blueberries more than the larger cut up items that seem to slip out of his hands.

In Canada cow's mik is recommended at 12 months. Few years back when my dd was 10 months and I was going back to work I didn't know what to do about bfing as I couldn't pump and dd refused bottles and I emailed Dr. Jack Newman who recommended I put her on cow's milk instead of formula. He said if a lo was eating solids then they'd be fine drinking cow's milk at that age (as she was still going to be bf before and after work). So, technically, cow's milk is fine at that age if they do not have any allergies (which my dd actually did have) and are eating a balanced solids diet.

I think I'm going to bypass raisins all together with Graydon. When my dd was a baby she loved raisins, they were one of her favorite snacks but then we had to "wean" her off them as our ped dentist told us she was seeing loads of young children with cavities from both juice and raisins! She had never seen so many cavities as she has seen in the past number of years, worse than with the older kids that drink pop and eat candy because the 3+4 year olds often refuse to have parents brush their teeth but don't do a good enough job themselves. She said raisins should be treated like candy- only for special treats, as they really stick to the teeth!

Goblin,  at the bird seed poop! Graydon tied to eat wood chips at the playground the other day and I freaked out over that! It's amazing how quick things go into their mouths!

[*Ali*]

I know babies that were switched to cows milk totally at 6 months and did just fine!

I don't mean to be rude but I find that quite shocking. And quite irresponsible. BM or formula is their main source of food and nutrients at that age and not just a drink.  Cows milk is inadequate as a source of FOOD at any age. Babies of that age are incapable of eating solid foods in sufficient quantities to get enough vitamins, minerals and other nutrients to grow and develop appropriately.
There are people I have seen on TV who live on chips and tinned spaghetti and they are not dead. It is only when you look at their insides and compare this to how big, strong, healthy etc. they could have been on a proper diet that you see the damage it is really doing.  

Guide lines are just that, guide lines!

But don't forget that guidelines are written by people who know better than your average parent because their advice is normally based on scientific research.
As is recommended in the UK, I don't sterilise feeding equipment other than that which is for milk. Milk is a perfect place for harmful bacteria to multiply due to it's wet, sugary enviroment and the equipment we use with it has many nooks and crannies that are hard to clean. Milk/bottles/pumps etc. are therefore much more likely to harbour bacteria than the floor or a toy.
Some of you might think I am paranoid but I would rather that than my child gets sick because of something I didn't do to lower the risk.  
Anyway rant over. LOL. Back to BLW specifics - If you are worried peas are a choking hazzard you could try squashing them slightly out of shape. But my nephews ate peas, corn, raisins etc. from 8mo ish. If they did choke slightly a sharp bang on the back was all that was needed to help them cough it up.

[inoella]

I also put corn or peas into mashed potatoes so they get picked up with everything else.
Ooo what a good idea! I'll remember that when I start DS on solids.

Yes, that's a great idea! Going to be doing that too.


Ooo - good one! I'll be trying that.

Question for you ladies - while visiting friends about 2 weeks ago DD discovered she liked black beans - ate them every day. then we get home - refuses them. and peas too. tried white beans - nope. So, I'm wondering if she doesn't like the "skin" Anyone else find this? Not sure what to do about that but give her time. She still eats such tiny amounts - I'm beginning to wonder if the 12 mo. fall clothes I bought on sale this spring will EVER fit???!!! 

[Manueli]

Our LO goes through stages all the time. Some days he just loves some foods, others he wouldn't touch it a bit. He also used to love peppers at 6-8 months and hasn't eaten any since then. I would keep trying to offer some beans and peas and maybe one day she will eat them again. It could have also been the fact of being away from home that made her eat it. Hayden just inhaled raw zucchini when we were at a friends house (I never got him to eat it before) and now wouldn't touch it at home.

[inoella]

It could have also been the fact of being away from home that made her eat it.

LOL! didn't know that would start so soon!

[anielasmommy]

well put Cadie's mom!

i always squish peas with a fork and DD eats them fine