We talk about blw starter foods, reasons for trying blw, choking and even the comments other people feel they need to make! Pretty much everything you need to know to get started with baby-led weaning.
If you're looking for more info, I've written a couple other posts on the topic:
Before we get too far, I just wanted to mention that Jayne is living my former dream life! She has two babies, 10 months apart, and is expecting their 3rd, making it 3 under 3! I always wanted a huge family with our babies 11-18 months apart each. Now that we have a girl and a boy, we've decided we're good with that. However, I do still envy the bigger families!
ANYWAY, let's get back to the real life baby-led weaning talk!
1. You've successfully weaned 2 babes with BLW, why did you decide to go this route?
J: When my first baby arrived I did masses of research on weaning babies and came across BLW which I thought was fantastic, I love that it gives them some independence at such a young age. Also BLW was by far the easier choice as I soon fell pregnant with my daughter. She was born just 10 months after her brother so while he was enjoying BLW I could feed his sister!
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K: I did research on the subject, of course (it's the scientist in me). I was intrigued by not having to actually feed a baby, while still teaching him/her to eat and develop reflexes of his/her own. Gagging is normal. Choking is actually uncommon and less likely in children who were taught to eat on their own.
The benefits of BLW are really outstanding.
Also, I'm just lazy.
2. Do you find it easier or harder than purees?
J: I find that there is less prep than with purees, we did start with purees but both of my babies were soon ready for BLW. For me real life baby-led weaning has been far easier, and I think it looks so much nicer than a bowl of mush!
K: Definitely easier when we're out at restaurants, other homes, etc. It just takes a bit of fore-thought as what to make for meals, but I've always been a meal planner, anyway, so it's not even a slight difference for real life baby-led weaning. WAY easier than having to blend everything up or buy baby food (do people still do that?).
I've experimented with different “cookie” recipes, too. It's nice to have some quick snacks for when there's no easy-to-hold baby foods.
3. Do you use any spoon feeding at all?
J: Breakfast is usually a spoon fed meal, purely because some mornings we need to be out of the house quickly! I am still spoon feeding my daughter, but my 21 month old son feeds himself with a spoon.
K: Rarely. The odd time we'll have oatmeal, yogurt or soup. Rice is a spoon dish only because it would be on the ceiling if we let Pip have free reign with it. Most foods we just dump on his high chair tray and let him go at it.
4. What kind of comments do you get from other people and how do you respond?
J: People are amazed when they see them both eating. They often ask me if there is anything they don't like or if I had any issues with texture.
BLW for me has been an absolute breeze, no issues with fussiness, no issues with texture. They both pretty much eat what my other half and I eat, from mild curries to roast dinners!
I am also often asked if I had any worries about choking. There is always a possibility they will choke, after all they have to learn to eat. We did have a couple of heart stopping choking moments with my son, but he likes to shovel his food in!
I think that if you start with foods that they can easily mush in their mouth this minimizes the risk slightly. As a trained nurse I knew exactly what to do if they did choke, so if you are really worried about this, find out if there are any first aid courses either in your area or online that cover choking.
K: We've heard it all. Most people are just amazed at how a little baby can eat half a hamburger, or 5 pancakes. Then there's the ones (mostly family) who don't believe what we're doing is safe or right. We strongly believe in what we're doing and would never do anything to jeopardize our children.
Dealing with negative comments can be tough. Sometimes the best thing to do is smile and nod, even when you want to rip that person's head off!
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5. BLW makes for great memories and photo ops. What was the first food your kiddos tried?
J: I have some amazing real life baby-led weaning photos, my favourites are their messy food faces! Sebastian's first food was a handfull of raspberries and Ophelia's was avocado chunks!
K: I also have some great pics! They really are priceless.
Sweet Girl's first real life baby-led weaning food was a chunk of roast beef, Pip's was pork chop.
6. What age did you start your babies on BLW? Did you find they weaned off the breast/bottle really quickly?
J: So I started with purees at 4 months old. Sebastian was ready to try BLW at 5.5 months and Ophelia was ready at 6 months and we have not looked back since.
As soon as my babies started BLW I found they wanted less and less milk. By 10 months old they had both gone down to 2 bottles of milk a day. They both still have 1 bottle of milk before bed, and sometimes they ask in the morning .
K: All the research I did said to wait until the baby could hold his/her head up and sit well to start foods. My pediatrician said to start pablum at 4 months. The public health nurse said at least 6 months old.
We just did what we felt was right. With Sweet Girl, we gave her some pablum at 4 months old. She loved it, but we knew then we wouldn't do much of that. I then held her off til about 5 months at the recommendation of the health nurses. At that point, she was full-bore into solids and we never looked back
With Pip, I was less concerned with what anyone else was saying and just did what we felt was right. He started showing signs around the same time Sweet Girl did, and had his first food at 5 months.
Both my kids weaned very quickly afterwards. Pip even quicker than Sweet Girl. He's 8 months now and only has milk in the morning and before bed, and only a few ounces.
Wrapping it up
Real-life baby-led weaning can be intimidating. Not everyone is comfortable with it. However, I do believe that if you trust your baby and feed him/her safe foods while supervising, he/she will grow up to eat more than any other child and try any food given to him/her.
That's my fave part of real life baby-led weaning.
Have you tried BLW or looking to start? I'd love to hear more about your experience! Drop me a comment or shoot me an email!
Be sure to share this with friends and family who have little ones at home!
