Warning: This Thread Pertains to Babies;)

ExpatPumpkin

Okay, so here goes... I read an article about baby-led weaning (BLW) the other day and was intrigued with the idea. Basically, BLW means that you skip the whole spoon-feeding purees and get right down to business with solid foods at 6 months of age. You present the baby with regular foods at mealtime and they take it from there. Steamed broccoli, asparagus, a piece of chicken, half an orange, etc. The choking risk is actually lower... You continue to breast/formula-feed until solid foods replace milk at around 12 months. The benefits of BLW are that the baby: - weans at his own pace - participates fully in mealtime - gets to eat real food and therefore develops a more mature palate The benefits to the mom and dad: - no purees - no spoon-feeding - you get to eat while the baby feeds himself Here's a link to a BLW site: [url]http://www.baby-led.com[/url] Thoughts?

jamm2019

When my daughter was 6 months old, I would mash up, or blend up food for her from the meals my husband and I had.  She didn't get to much solid (chunky) food because she didn't have teeth until she was 10 months old.

ac_in_dc

Huh. I haven't thought about that. I'm just trying to get through the next couple of weeks without puking.Sounds fine. But the puree thing sounds fine too. I don't thing it seems like too big a deal either way as long as your kid's getting nutrition.

calle28

I'm not a mom and probably won't be for a while, but it sounds like a good idea. Wouldn't you still have to feed the baby though until he was about a year?

laurenclaire1386

I like the idea.  As long as baby can get the solid food down and not choke, I don't see a problem at all.  This reminds me of that thread awhile back concerning "kid food" vs. "adult food" and how some kids will only eat certain things.  I think this concept would eliminate that problem for some families.  I think "kid food" is ridiculous concept anyway.

kkchisholm

I'd be too nervous. But I've never been a mom.. but my fi's niece has choked/almost choked quite a few times and shes almost 2.

SarieP

I did this with my daughter, but I wasn't aware that this was a common practice.  I just thought she was ready to start trying things.  She did fantastic with it.  She has never been a picky eater at all because she has always been encouraged to at least try what is on her plate.  I think part of that stems from her being so curious about what I was eating when she was a baby.

louisvillebride21

I think this is your third baby post this week...are you trying to tell us something...?

kdcwedding

My parents did this with me, but not by choice. I refused to eat the pureed jar baby food, so I continued to breast feed and started eating solid foods from there.

jamm2019

I would just use my Bullet blender so she could eat it. Somethings you still have to spoon feed them, others they can eat with there hands.  But it is a good idea to teach them how to use utensils...Kid food, and adult food does not exist in my house.It's food and we all eat everything...

mandysmear

It's a good thing you're hot expat. ::runs out of thread::

ac_in_dc

I think this is your third baby post this week...are you trying to tell us something...? :DI was thinking the same thing.

ExpatPumpkin

The choking risk is actually lower this way for several reasons... And yes, you do have the feed the baby, but not spoon-feed: you just give him food and continue with regular breast/bottle feeds until solids make up his diet. At first, the baby will gum and suck on the food, or just play with it. But he'll start really eating it in a month or so... I think the idea is awesome - what a relief to not have to lug around jars of Gerber and just let the baby eat Another benefit is that it helps with teething - since the baby gums on real food, that helps the teeth come in. And I definitely agree that "kid food" is ridiculous... If a kid will only eat chicken fingers, that's the parents' fault. If you're curious about the idea, there's complete info on the link.

louisvillebride21

Oh, and to answer the question, I probably will. After doing more research, I will probably make my own baby food. That stuff is so damn expensive and it has all the preservatives in it. Id like to just make my own carrots and smush them up and freeze it. I just have to figure out how to get some of the nutrients that they might add, in another way.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

I have a friend who does this. At first I thought there would be a huge choking risk, but as long as everything is okay... well, then okay.She does complain that some of the food is a bit bland for her taste. But I know in other countries, babies are offered mildly spicy foods, so I think that's a problem she can solve herself.I've really never thought about the difference between them, or if one is better. But the WHO recommends breast feeding for at LEAST the first year, and recommends up to 2 years, I believe.

ExpatPumpkin

Hahaha, no, I'm not pregnant, but I'm [i]thinking[/i] about it... Shouldn't have any big news for a year or so LVB - If you're considering making your own babyfood, you should really read up on this. You can skip the mashing and freezing, and just give them the real deal once it's steamed

louisvillebride21

Are you sure you're not? lolI will read up on it for sure. I'm just worried about losing some of the extra nutrients that they put in there. But if I'm simultaneously breast feeding for awhile, they should get everything they need.

kdcwedding

Ugh, our neice and nephew (3 and 6) will only eat like 5-7 foods, one of which is chicken fingers. Some items like fruits and veggies rotate as to what they like, but basically they live on chicken fingers, grilled cheese, yogurt, and frozen waffles/pancakes. It drives me nuts.

lpstl

Definitely interesting, I'll have to read up on it. I think I'd be pretty paranoid about the baby choking though, or not getting enough nutrition. We'll be making our own baby food anyways, so it might just be something we'll try as we go.

georgia_bride09

I'm not a mom, but this sounds like a great idea to me. My husband is a picky eater, and I totally think it's his mom's fault for not making him try new things growing up (his entire family has a limited palate). I will definitely be a BLW mom. I also like that it makes it easier for me since I wouldn't have to carry baby food around. If I do puree food, it'll be straight fruit & veggies from the produce dept.

louisvillebride21

Lpstl, where did you get your info on making your own baby food?

lpstl

LVB, I've heard that a lot of parents swear by [url]http://wholesomebabyfood.com/[/url].I'm not sure how many recipes we'll follow, since most aren't so much recipes as steaming whatever veggie or fruit and mashing it. We'll probably just keep an eye on what food is OK for the baby at his age, buy or grow what's in season, and that's what he'll eat.

jamm2019

I nursed my daughter for a year, but after 6 months it becomes a little less because you are starting to introduce regular foods.

louisvillebride21

Thanks! I'm not sure I'll be able to grow my own before the baby is ready for that. I imagine we're going to try to get a house right before we start trying and I don't know how long its going to take for me to get a handle on having my own garden. I will eventually though! Do you grow anything yet?

lpstl

Oh I can't grow anything, seriously, I can kill a houseplant in about a week by just looking at it funny. Pete is going to do the garden. I don't know anything about the details, as far as I'm concerned it's magic .

louisvillebride21

I'm convinced that I can do it. I've never been in an ideal situatioin for growing things. I have a balcony, so no full light for my flowers, and they died. My office Orchid lasted almost all summer, but I didn't have any holes in the bottom and the water just stood in the soil. I'm going to wish my garden into existence if I have to!

goheels05

That's funny; I was just reading about this yesterday in a magazine (they weren't calling it by a specific name, though).  The article said that kids who do this are less picky eaters than their peers, because that period from 6-12 months is the perfect time to introduce them to new foods--they are curious about everything at that age and are more likely to try it.  They acquire a taste for "real" food earlier.

kdcwedding

Heels, as evidenced by how many things I have to force DH to try, I think we are living proof that this theory is accurate. I went through a period when I was younger that I was picky about certain things, but I definitely try and enjoy more things than he does.

goheels05

Yeah.  MIL tells me that all DH would eat as a kid was hotdogs, cheese crackers, and hot pockets.

andyandhillary

My brother would eat pork chops.  When we was a baby my parents gave him a bit to see if he liked it and he ate two.  I never thought of doing this but maybe now I will.  hmm.

ExpatPumpkin

Oh, for the record, I definitely plan on doing this... If anything, just so I can bug my MIL Just kidding, kinda...