baby-led weaning

monkey_pants

Anyone planning on (or already started) using baby-led weaning for introducing solids?  I just finished the BLW book and am very interested in it, but my pedi is concerned it's a choking hazard (altho the book assures it's not).

Pennilyn Novus

I'm on the fence about this.  At this point, I feel like we'll probably do a mix of purees and baby-led weaning.  I freak out when DS gags on his own spit so I can't imagine what my reaction will be like the first time he gags on a solid.

It seems like a very natural way to feed your baby.  I mean, how many cultures around the world don't feed their babies purees? And what on earth did our ancestors do before blenders existed?

 

 

TiffanyTheMom

I used a fork to mash up cooked peas, carrots, broccoli, etc. He did choke once, but that was totally my fault- I didn't mash it well enough.

Anywho, I've never read that book, but I was under the impression BLW meant letting the baby choose when to start weaning or eating solids. Am I wrong?

vflipo

We thought about it, but rice cereal was too much fun last night. We'll probably still start table foods at about 6 months, but until then, I am going to let my baby be a baby. She's already growing up too fast.

monkey_pants

TiffanyTheMom:

I used a fork to mash up cooked peas, carrots, broccoli, etc. He did choke once, but that was totally my fault- I didn't mash it well enough.

Anywho, I've never read that book, but I was under the impression BLW meant letting the baby choose when to start weaning or eating solids. Am I wrong?

It's about letting the baby feed herself, and eating whatever food you're eating (with a few exceptions).  So no cereals or purees.  It makes a lot of sense to me in many ways.  Here's a little more about it: BLW

OZZY81807

We are planning on doing this - I'm about halfway through the book.  The Attachment Parenting board talks about BLW ALL the time - there are always numerous posts about experiences of different moms.  I'd go check it out over there!

monkey_pants

OZZY81807:

We are planning on doing this - I'm about halfway through the book.  The Attachment Parenting board talks about BLW ALL the time - there are always numerous posts about experiences of different moms.  I'd go check it out over there!

Thanks -- I'll check it out!

rausch

I think this is one of those things that is going to vary depending on your own parenting style/philosophy.  Bottom line:  you know your child better than anyone else, so go with your gut and trust your own mommy judgment.  The only advice I would give (at the risk of contradicting myself) is this:  If your child can pick up food and bring it to his/her mouth, choking is not much of an issue.  The tongue/throat muscles for moving food from front to back of mouth and finger gripping muscles develop simultaneously.  Obviously don't give your kid a huge chunk of food that will easily get stuck, but something small and soft (like a cut-up banana, for instance) won't hurt anything.