Derryanther we gave DD cheese in any form, melted in a pitta bread and cut into fingers (difficult without teeth) or plain old cheddar sticks, but the favourite was cheese triangles, she would gently take each little chunk that was offered and eat it. She had the pincer grasp mastered at 7mo! DS has constipation issues so limited dairy is given, but when tried he LOVED cheddar and happily sucked cheese triangles off my fingers!
Anyone tried Sainsbury's 'Free From' bread as toast sticks? I need to avoid giving DS dairy and wheat and other allergens, so this should be a better option. Not sure when to introduce it though as he's only had 3 days of carrot and 2 of cucumber so far... should I wait until he's had a couple of weeks of veg & fruit first?
That bread sounds fine. I would say toast it VERY lightly, too crunchy and they have to work at softening it for ages, but too soft and it gets stuck in the roof of the mouth!!!
I've never done the one food every three days thing with either baby. Even DS and his more delicate bowels. So I don't know the best option for you.
I've read in Gil Rapleys book that offering every three days is more important when giving purées as you're basically starting the digestion process by mushing everything up. By time it hits the baby's bowel it has already been 'chewed and pulverised' so the body absorbs the nutrients maybe before it is actually ready to do so IYKWIM?
With BLW the baby has to do it all, pick it up, swallow it, digest it and so on. As you've already seen in the nappy they don't do it very well to start with and most of it comes out completely unchanged. Therefore allowing their bodies to learn and adapt to the process in their own time. This also reduces the chances of allergic reactions. I know with DD we had a selection of fruits that her body took for ever to handle, things like grapes, raisins and dried apricots would pretty much clean her out. So we offered them every month or so until her body got used to them. She's making up for it now by eating all three in large quantities!
I know you have a history of allergies so I understand your concern, but I do think this style of weaning is a much more relaxed approach.