BLWing help!

Jbosarge85 · October 2013

I've been trying to do more BLWing foods, instead of purees. DD loves it, but she refuses to feed herself. I'll put the food in front of her and she'll look at it and sometimes play with it but when she wants to eat it she will whine until I put some in her mouth. I've tried putting the pieces in her fingers and bringing it to her mouth to teach her how it's done but she still will not pick up the food. Is there anything I can do to help her learn to pick the food up and put it in her mouth? TIA

=Lee=B · October 2013

All I can think of is to sit facing her and do over exaggerated eating yourself so she sees what to do.

I think the whole premise of BLW is that we are not to put it in their mouth (higher chance of choking). If they have been eating purees it will naturally take a baby longer to figure it out as they ahve been a passive eater and now need to run the show!

I'd stop putting it in her mouth for her...she will just whine more till you keep doing it as she expects it to be done for her and may be confusing her. If oyu went from spoon feeding her to placing stuff in her mouth for her, but only some of the time, she may be sitting there thinking what the heck is mommy doing I want more without realizing it is now her job!!!

Good luck!

blu-eyedwife · October 2013

I think @=Lee=B hit the nail on the head. If you're just switching over to BLW from purees she probably has no idea she can feed herself. For the past 8 months she's been given either breast/bottle/spoon and all she's had to do is swallow.

I'd make a point to eat with her, so she could see what I'm doing, and not put anything in her mouth. FWIW, we started BLW at 6 months, but my son was sitting at a table with us during mealtime since he was 4 months old, so he could watch how DH and I ate.

pixieprincss · October 2013

Sit and eat alongside her. Model how to do it while the food is in front of her. Babies learn muscle memory from watching others. Make meals social and pleasant, like normal, and not about her eating or not. If you are following the adage of "food under one is just for fun," don't focus on what she actually consumes or not but rather the time together at the table with food in front of you. Every time you eat and she's around, offer her some of the same (if appropriate). It will come with time. Enjoy!