I hadn’t really given Baby Led Weaning much thought before. I have a toddler (Red Ted) and now 4.5mth old (Pip Squeak) . Red Ted was weaned “traditionally”, as I needed to follow instructions and advice given in books – I didn’t have a clue and I didn’t have the confidence to go with my instincts.
When I then saw a friend’s “baby” munching on a piece of croissant it got me thinking. And how often have you heard a mum say “oh I started weaning as my baby was watching every mouthful I eat” or “I started weaning as my little one started “stealing” my food”.
Mmmh food for thought indeed.
When a friend of mine recently visited and told me of her”formal” Baby Led Weaning approach, I decided to investigate and have a good think about what I want to do with Pip Squeak. So…
Mellow Mummy worte a fab post on her approach and has given me lots of confidence to be a bit more “relaxed” with Pip Squeak. MyDaddyCooks is another well know vlogger that has taken the Baby Led approach. So it is on the rise. When Red Ted was 8 months he went through a phase of refusing to be spoon fed, surely that says it all? I have ordered a book on Baby Led Weaning, as I like to feel informed (and it is easier to “defend” your position if you have a “book” to back it up), but I think I know I have made my decision already.
I will probably do a combination of traditional and baby led. . watch this space on further thoughts and decisions and what I will actually do!!
PS Pip Squeaks has already tasted a tiny bit of banana and Red Ted fed her toast this morning, which she happily sucked on and then spat out…
I thinnk we kind of did this with mini. Maxi was 20 months old when I started to wean mini and my best thing ever was the mini bowl and masher that came from Jojo Maman. I masged a lot of the things I cooked for us all and fed them to mini nad also he had lots of finger food.
Kind of a mixed approach. He never ever did a puree in his life and went staight from milk to lumps at 6 months
I think it is easier with the 2nd, as you (me!) aren’t as worried and you know a little more what you are doing. Plus you can’t cook 10 different meals a day for everyone! My main “pProblem”, is that as my kids are in bed by 7, we don’t have many meals together (which is good for learning/ socialising/ copying), so they end up having our evening meal for lunch – which isn’t quite the same in my eyes. Need to look at at least eating together more at weekends!
Hi, Baby-Led is definitely the way to go as it just seems so natural and fuss-free. You probably know, having read my post, that I don’t think you need a book… I think it is programmed into us as babies and kids. But give it a go, its really worth a try and I look forward to reading your tales.
I know I dont nee a book – but “need” it to “persuade” hubby and family… funny how those things work. I think your post was all I needed. Will do a mixed approach (one “full meal -mashed- a day” with lots of finger food – and as she gets good on finger, get rid of mash)
Hi Red Ted Art,
As mine are so much older (7 and 5) just wanted to add my thoughts on the socialising thing. Don’t beat yourself up about the eating together in the week. I, like the ‘English Man’, always struggled to get home from work in time to join in the feeding-time-fun when they were tiny (P being the SAHD).
SAHD has delayed supper time now, as they are older, we have supper on the table when I get in just before 7pm on week nights, so we all eat together. 5yo is always a bit tired at this stage so it can be a bit of a struggle getting through to pudding, but we all enjoy a chat together at the table before bed.
Saying that, on Fridays and weekends, we try to get them to eat at 5.30pm – 6pm, so they have a more leisurely wind down before bed . . . keep up the brilliant work, you’ll get it to work for you one way or another! x