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Weaning

is blw better than purees like my sister says?

32 replies

cleoowen · 21/04/2013 20:52

If so why? Anyone know the pros and cons of both?

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PotteringAlong · 21/04/2013 20:58

I did BLW and loved it. For me the main pros were:

I'm too lazy to purée - just giving DS what we were having was so simple

BLW means babies learn to chew then swallow not the other way around which leads to less choking

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Overberries · 21/04/2013 21:01

Completely up to you, every child is different and lots of people get far too evangelical on both fronts. Ultimately it's useful if they can eat from a spoon and feed themselves!

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RenterNomad · 21/04/2013 21:04

It:s less hassle to prepare

As baby is "eating the same as family", the family might eat a bit better, e.g. with less salt

Not really more mess than with purees

My DD seems more interested in food than DS (and I think his frustration with spoon feeding turned hin off food, to an extent)

You will have to clean the floor A LOT, but that is effort saved from the actual time of eating, meaning you will be able to eat yourself, and do all the socislising you are meant to do at mealtimes, blah, blah, blah! Grin

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SilveryMoon · 21/04/2013 21:07

I found mine were more likely to gag if I put things in their mouth than when they did it themselves.
DS1 was mostly puree and I found it difficult to move him onto lumpy/proper food.
No issues with ds2 who was mostly blw

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GeorgianMumto5 · 21/04/2013 21:12

It's not necessarily better. I weaned did on purées and found it all a bit of a faff: hours in the kitchen, for we hat amounted to orange/green/beige goop on my baby's head. Then I has D's and read about blw. Decided to give it a go. It was much easier and I can honestly say, one of the things I enjoyed most about babyhood.

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GeorgianMumto5 · 21/04/2013 21:13

'Did' = dd

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GeorgianMumto5 · 21/04/2013 21:14

And D's = ds. Hmm at Autocorrect.

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cleoowen · 21/04/2013 21:14

Thanks. This might be a silly question but how does blw work in terms of the baby eating? Do you chop it,so small they can eat it and swallow? Or are they bigger bits they suck/chew on? is,it raw or cooked so soft that they can break bits off?

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gallicgirl · 21/04/2013 21:15

Babyledweaning.com will answer everything...almost.

Personally I can't see the point of purees. You add a load of water and then have to guess how lumpy to make it in stages? I think all the daft flavours on baby food jars in supermarket put me off too. Would you eat soup every day it combine pork, pear and spinach? Nah, me neither.

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cleoowen · 21/04/2013 21:15

PS. What is best to read about blw?

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AstonishingMouse · 21/04/2013 21:18

Several children down the line, I have found the approach that best suits us is to give the baby whatever the rest of the family is eating in whatever format works best.
So if it's breakfast and we're having cereal and toast then we would spoon feed with weetabix and put some toast on the high chair for finger food.
If we're having stir fry for dinner then the baby can have some as finger food, if we're having a mild coconut curry then I'll mash some and spoon feed.
Seems to work well and isn't too much hassle.

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AliceWChild · 21/04/2013 21:23

Bigger bits they can get hold of. Not little as they won't be able to manage to get it to mouth. They tend to grab in fist and eat the bit poking out the top. My son had steamed carrots, broccoli and potato wedges for tea. Bread and cheese for lunch. All cut into sizes he can easily grab and hold. The gums are able to chew even without teeth. You need patience as most ends up on the floor at the start. Look for book by Gill Rapley.

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maillotjaune · 21/04/2013 21:23

I was keen to try blw with DS3 but he wasn't having any of it. Like his older brothers he basically wanted to be fed until at around 2.6 he decided he would pick up a spoon.

He did eat finger food but nothing messy. Never found purees a hassle though because huge still ate what the rest of the family did, just had some of it mashed or blended.

My sister has stuck with blw which worked brilliantly for her first, but her second hardly eats.

I think it's as great idea but like everything else, babies and families all differ and if you try it and don't like it I wouldn't stress about it.

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Pashazade · 21/04/2013 21:24

This book is handy for explaining provided you ignore some of the attitude, I found a few bits rather irritating, but the reciepe book is good.
www.amazon.co.uk/Baby-led-Weaning-Helping-Your-Baby/dp/0091923808/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1366575650&sr=1-2&keywords=baby%20led%20weaning&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21
I ended up doing blw as my ds decided he didn't want anything from a spoon it is straight forward and does mean less work, I tended to combine both prior to that. He loved chewing on toast when he was teething. Never had any issues with choking. But it is horses for courses!

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myhandslooksoold · 21/04/2013 21:28

Hallelujah Astonishingmousse someone who finally talks sense! A little bit of all approaches is without doubt the only sane way to do it.

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JollyPurpleGiant · 21/04/2013 21:36

Spoon feeding until 2.6? I would def have lost the plot by then.

We BLWed because I'm lazy. I couldn't be bothered pureeing. And I wanted to eat when DS did rather than have to spend my time feeding him. Meal times take a loooong time which is good if you have a child who doesn't stay still, but will stay still in the high chair. So if we were at the lunch table for 45 mins I might spend 15mins eating, 15 mins cleaning the kitchen and 15 mins drinking coffee.

DS has just turned 2 and eats well. Not much veg but heaps of fruit and meat. I'm sure he would have eaten well if puree fed too though. I'm not saying BLW is responsible for his healthy appetite.

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maillotjaune · 21/04/2013 21:41

All 3 boys were the same, Jolly Grin

I am an expert in feeding myself with right hand and child with left hand though. I am also quite lazy and benefitted from very little mess!

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cleoowen · 21/04/2013 22:14

Mouse, thanks. I intend on doing both and you outlined how it can be done easily.

Don't fancy making purees for hours do was going to blend what we are having and give chunks.

Intend to start with one meal a day,lunch, but worried he won't eat much. I then offer milk as usual, is this right? Do I offer the usual amount or less?

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cleoowen · 21/04/2013 22:15

Also, are there benefits to blw health wise or for digestion over purees?

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JollyPurpleGiant · 22/04/2013 07:29

I would keep offering the same amount of milk. Baby will naturally reduce as they eat more. And if they don't reduce their intake, it is only an issue when they're nearer 1.

The 'health benefits' of BLW are, supposedly:
Improved fine motor control
More willingness to try new things
Baby will eat what they need in terms of nutrition so can choose to up protein/fat intakes if on a growth spurt
Baby will eat to their appetite rather than eating the amount you think they should

There might be more that I've missed as this is from memory. Remember, I did BLW, but despite this I would require many more comprehensive studies to be done before I believe that BLW is better for babies. BLW was simply better for our family.

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Exhaustipated · 22/04/2013 07:35

I have done both and the main thing I have really appreciated is how very very much easier BLW is! We just give DD some of what we're having at every family meal, that's it. Simples :)

I will spoon feed yogurt or porridge in principle but actually she won't really allow herself to be fed.. the main thing is I don't worry about it.
Food is fun until one is my mantra.

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Lookslikerain · 22/04/2013 10:05

exhaustipated You have said everything I was going to say!

We did puree with DS because I naively thought the HV had all the answers then blw with DD.

So much easier to make only 1 meal.

We didn't build up to 3 meals a day. At mealtimes, I'd put her in the highchair and give her something suitable that we were having. She mainly just played with it but gradually the playing decreased, and the eating increased. She then gradually reduced her milk as she ate more.

Read the Gill Rapley book. It explains everything. I downloaded it as an iBook to my phone.

We loved it. If it doesn't work, it's easy enough to move back to purees. Good luck whatever you chose.

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cleoowen · 22/04/2013 19:23

Thanks guys, will check the book out. Think going to do both as with blw I wonder how you introduce a spoon.

Also, going away for a week soon and think blw will be easier for that.

Only concern is the choking, that worries me.

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AliceWChild · 22/04/2013 19:48

I dip a spoon in my yogurt and give it to him.

Choking is a risk with both approaches. Some say it's less with blw. I'd suggest reading the book for info on what to expect re that and also do a first aid course if you're concerned. I did that before introducing any food as I was worried.

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AliceWChild · 22/04/2013 19:50

Sorry my spoon but is entirely vague. I dip it in and then put it on his tray for him to pick up if he wants to and put in his mouth all over his face

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