Thinking of starting BLW?

[Lisel]

My LO Daniel is 6.5 months old. I've been trying for a month to feed him solids. He will sometimes take small bites, and lately he won't open his mouth at all for solids. He's never been too keen on opeing his mouth. My question is how to start, what to start with etc. When do people usually start BLW?

[Mimi 2]

Hi Lisel,

Personally I think BLW is a GREAT way to introduce solids to babies.  Have you read this?  http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=92560.0

There's also a support thread for moms currently doing BLW.  http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=136091.75

You can start introducing solids as soon as your lo is showing signs of readiness.  http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=36922.0

The BLW approach is a very relaxed way of introducing food as you only control what you feed him.  How much he eats will be up to him but that is fine at this age.  Food is just for taste and fun until one.  Bm/formula is still more important as it provides all the nurtients, fats and calories that he needs for optimal body and brain development. 

I think that our first BLW food was broccoli.

HTH and good luck. 

[mum101]

My little one was anti spoon-feeding from day 1. He went through about a week of accepting a small amount off a spoon since 6 months! Otherwise he's quite easy going, just independent I guess.

I haven't read the BLW book or know much more than the basics. But have to say he's so easy to feed. I can go to the cupboard, and grab a few things for him and keep offering bits and pieces until he's had enough.

I've gotten creative with ways to give him things with iron etc. and worked with him.  So I make him what I call steak sandwiches.  I give him things like zucchini and carrot fritters and homemade burger patties. He even has his own mini hamburger with us.

He also feeds himself in his high chair while I cook dinner or do dishes, time saving. He can also take a few things off our plates while we eat out, makes it very easy. 

Never had an issue with choking etc by starting on finger food type foods and he's really good at grasping and devouring things. I was surprised to early on find nothing left behind.

[smck]

I cant recommend blw enough.  We started with Lewis at 6 mths, he is now 16 mts and a great eater unlike some of my friends lo's who started on purees and are now really fussy with food.

We too started with broccoli, basically anything chip shaped that they can grasp.  Its amazing what they can eat at that age.  The blw support thread is brill.  You should check it out. I got loads of support from there and probably wouldnt have succeeded without it.
There is also a blw book by Gill Rapley. I havent read it as it came out too late for me but apparently a great resource.

So go for it. its fab!!

Sharon
x

[Lisel]

Do you still introduce diff foods every 3-4 days. What can they eat at 6.5 months. I`ll check out the threads too. Thanks. Do you give them raw vegs.

[smck]

I didnt introduce new food every 3-4 days.  I gave Lewis cooked and raw veg and let him eat what he liked. There is also a thread with ideas for finger foods somewhere too - good for ideas!

[Mimi 2]

There are lots of ideas in the section.  http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?board=10.0  YOu can give him anything just make sure that he can mush it up with his gums if he has no teeth.  BLW is basically offering him what the family eats but softer so he can mush it up.  There's no need to cook anything special for him.

I didn't wait to introduce new foods unless it is something that is a possible allergen (strawberries, nuts, eggs, shellfish, etc.)

Do check out the BLW support thread.

[Lisel]

Thanks girls! I gave him rice rusks yesterday and he really seemed to like it. So do you only start with one meal a day or do you offer it for all three meals?

[riuliani]

I don't know anything about BLW but I have found DD extremely hard to start on solids as well.  What I have discovered is that she can't stand purees.  She needs something with texture and bite to it.  I still spoon feed her as well as let her play with stuff but she goes totally against the recommended route of starting with puree etc.  Just thought I would offer that up as well as your BLW methods.  She is really into minced stuff, not so happy with mashed.  She doesn't like it to be runny.  Dry chicken is one of her favourites.  Yuck I know.  I think it is easier for her to move food around her mouth and to the back with her tongue than the purees.  Purees just confused her.  I think she thought she should be drinking it, so she wouldn't wrap her lips around the spoon.  Then whatever got in just dribbled out if she didn't raspberry it first.

[smck]

I think I started with 2 meals, breakfast and lunch.  I agree with the pp you can do a mixture of blw and some puree. I did do just blw but i know some others who did a combo.

If you havent already, jump over to the blw support thread. 

[Lisel]

So I just give him whatever I feel like. Just stay away from allergens?

[mum101]

at 6 months I started with some fruits like pear, ripe banana, I also gave rusks as he was teething.  I gave those in isolation, so a few days apart. Then as he seemed fine with it all, I extended out to other fruits, root vegies and then kept adding things.

Having said that someone mentioned something about dairy and whole wheat bread causing problems, you might want to look into it. But as we haven't had any issues and DD had no issues I haven't been to worried.  His tummy and bm's have been OK.

After a little while I just tried lots of things, if he refused to even touch it (like broccoli spears) I just put one on his high chair each meal until he tried it. He did eventually then start eating it. So then I added more foods.

One thing I avoid is cucumber, learnt that one the hard way with Rory, she vomited immediately after she had it 2 times as a toddler. I think the acidity bugs their tummies. That's the only I avoid now.

[Lisel]

Thanks. I was wondering a little about breads.