blw just tried to feed dd2 this way

[kreamkrackers]

dd2 is 10 months old (although she should only be 7!) anyways only found out about blw today so thought i'd try her for lunch. she's usually got a huge appetite, bf 5 times a day and has 3 large meals. i knew she was hungry so i gave her sweet potato cut into chunks. i sat her in the high chair and the first problem was she couldn't acually get her hands onto the tray as it's too high (she's usually fed in the bumboo seat) then i started to put pieces into her hands to help her try to understand and also gave dd1 some at the same time so she could see her trying to eat as well. she played with them but started to scream because she was hungry so i got a piece and held it near her. she ate fine but then started screaming after a couple of pieces and wouldn't eat anymore. the screaming carried on, i did everything i could to try to calm her down but in the end she cried herself to sleep. now i feel really guilty as i know she would have ate a good meal if i'd fed her normally and she wouldn't have been upset like that. anyone got any thoughts on what i should do, blw weaning seems really good but i'm wondering is it too late for her as she's so used to having big meals.

[hippmummy]

I would say feed her whichever way makes her happy. BLW is a really good idea, but only if the baby is happy to be fed that way.

[jetjets]

Message withdrawn

[Seona1973]

Can you not feed the usual foods but leave finger foods on the tray too? That way your lo gets a chance to practice and doesnt get too distressed by the lack of her usual foods at the same time

[percypig]

Hi, BLW takes a while to get going, and if your child is used to being spoon-fed it may take a bit longer to get used to. Remember that in terms of calories milk is the most important for the first year anyway.

Could you try to make it easier for her to get at the food - take off the tray and bring highchair to the table, or put a cushion under her? Also, it may help to try again at a time when she's not really hungry - she'll have more patience to have a go at picking up the food etc.

It's also good to put a few different things on the plate, and more than you think she'll actually eat (to allow for the chunks that don't actually make it into her mouth!) BLW doesn't mean they don't eat big meals - my DS eats loads, it just takes longer! Letting her see you and her sister eating, being relaxed and not worrying about how much she's getting are all good things too. Food is yummy and should be fun!

[NappiesGalore]

babies atke ages to get used to the idea and to develop the skills to do it.... listen to your instincts.
i would suggest doing as leona sayts and put food there for her, prob before she is desperately hungry, and also have spoon feed ready to give her if she wants.... that way, between you, you can work out what she wants and what shes ready for...

(dont feel guilty. theres lots and lots to feel guilty about as a mother, so cut yourself some slack. shes sleeping and peaceful now so try to be peaceful too. while you have the chance!)

[AitchTwoOh]

agree with what everyone's said about taking time, but i can't see how you can start from scratch at ten months in a bumbo, tbh. do you have a highchair?

the thing is, at this stage she's really used to being fed by a spoon, so if i was you i'd treat the idea of BLW as a big green light to offer loads of finger foods but i'd probably also do a bit of spooning alongside as well and be sure to offer more milk, being prepared to throw some away if she doesn't need it. hopefully as she gets better at self-feeding she'll wrestle the spoon out of your hand...

it must be tricky with a preemie, ot know when to start expecting thigns etc. how about a pincer grip, does the baby have one yet?

[kreamkrackers]

she doesn't have a pincer grip yet. she's so small in the high chair even though she's so much bigger that dd1 (dd1 has digeorge syndrome). she is a premmie and has begun to chew foods as i've been offering her bits for a while but usually with her on my lap sharing my toast and other bits with me. i just really thought she'd get on with it for some reason. i will be more patient and try to offer her lots more different things along side meals to get her used to eating this way. i had a lot of trouble getting her to bf too so i'll just take it that she'll take longer to do things because she was so early. told dp about it today and he's not convinced about it but i want to do what's best for her and i feel this will be the best thing for her when she does get to grips with it. thanks everyone for all the great advice.

[AitchTwoOh]

she'll get there. i think for the first wee while i had dd in my lap a lot, because she used to slide out of the highchair we'd been given. i got another one, the ikea antilop, the £15 one in white plastic and she could sit up fine because it's kind of like a bucket seat.

[Busybean]

I think blw is more for when they start weaning/wanting food, not for when you have already established her feeding and she is having 3 meals a day, Im not suprised she screamed, i bet she wondered what on earth you where playing at.
an example of blw- ds had milk till 9 months, started to pinch his borthers toast etc, then started eating breadsticks, rice cakes, then moved onto meals, carrots sticks, cucumber sticks etc etc

[terramum]

If she doesnt have the pincer grip yet you might have more luck with stick or wedge shaped things...basically anything she can pick up in her fist that will be long enough to stick out at either end so she can bite bits off or chew.

[AitchTwoOh]

true, busybean, it's really encouraging self-feeding. but that's no bad thing, imo. so long as it's gradual and the baby wants to do it and milk is plentiful.