FAQs for BLW 1. When should I start? If baby is healthy and was Not born prematurely, current evidence suggests that weaning should not begin before 6 mths of age. In addition to this your baby will show you signs that he or she is ready, these include; *Taking an interest in your food/ eager to participate in mealtimes. *Perfected pincer grip- not neccasarily be able to let go though, hence squashing food in hands. *Able to sit upright in a chair/on your lap *Have lost the tongue thrust reflex. NOTE- signs that your baby is ready for solids do NOT include the following, contrary to popular advice. They are are all normal developmental changes. Waking more at night/ putting everything in their mouth/ taking more milk/ reaching certain weights ie bigger babies. 2. My baby is 6 mths old and showing all the signs of readiness, but has no teeth, is it still ok to start? Sure it is, babies dont need teeth to eat solids, they can grind up & mush food very well just using their gums and saliva. 3. How do I start? *Continue to offer milk feeds as normal, at this point solids are not replacing any milk feeds and they remain the source of your babys nutrition. *sit baby upright! supported if necessary and dont leave them alone with food. *Pick a time when your baby is alert and happy. *Offer solids at a different time of day to a milk feed. *Offer large chunks of food that your baby can hold easily. *Always leave your baby to pick the food up by him/her self, dont pick it up and try and put in their mouth. *It can be good to introduce solids to your baby during your mealtimes if he/she is alert and happy then. *Try to offer baby the same food you are eating as a family, providing it us safe with no added salt. *Re offer foods your baby didnt like previously. *Offer baby water to drink alongside the solid food, but dont be concerned if he/she doesnt drink it. *Remember Babyled is all about the experience, rather than the actual food- your baby may not eat anything, he/she may squidge the food , throw the food, mash the food, anything but eat it- thats ok, its normal, baby is learning about the food, texture, feel, smell etc *Babyled weaning is messy, theres no getting away from that, try to relax and follow your babys lead, dont rush him/her to eat. 4. What type of food can I offer? These suggestions are common first Babyled weaning foods to start with, whether large chunks or strips: *Cooked carrot batons *Toast sticks *Broccoli florets *Banana chunks *Advocado strips *Pear chunks/quarters *Melon strips *Lightly cooked apple segments *Large cheese cubes *Cooked green beans *Cooked potato or sweet potato wedges *Cucumber sticks *Large chunks/strips of meat such as chicken *Cooked pasta shapes Always make sure any pips, stones are removed beforehand. Once baby is a little older and used to large chunks you can move onto smaller pieces of food such as halved grapes, blueberries etc. 5. Are there any foods that are NOT safe for Babyled weaning? *Foods that are with added salt / sugar *Honey *Nuts *Cows milk as a drink(under 12 months) 6. What do I do if Im out for the day? Lots of food make perfect on the go BLW food, Bananas coming right to the top of the list as they re in their own packaging. You can chop some fruit/ vegetables/cheese and put them in a small container inside your bag you use. You can offer baby food from your plate, providing its of a healthy choice and safe. Babylede weaning is much easier when out and about then heating and feeding purées 7. My baby goes to Nursery whilst Im at work, can we still BLW? Yes you can,just explain the concepts of BLW to the staff/ baby s caregiver. Give them a copy of this if needbe or provide BLW friendly book/s. 8. If we BLW how can my baby eat food like yoghurt/ fromage frais? Ideally you will give your baby a spoon to allow him/her self to feed ( BLW babies often grasp self feeding with a spoon pretty quickly) you can wait until your baby is a little older with more dexterity before introducing food that needs to be eaten with a spoon, or you could help your baby by feeding him runny foods from a spoon yourself. 9. What should I do if my baby wont eat? Keep repeating the mantra food is for fun, under one, dont loose heart, keep offering new foods, make sure your offering them at times when your baby is happy and alert and at different times of day, not necessarily close to a milk feed. Re offer food even if your baby didnt eat it the first time. Stay relaxed yourself and consider having a family mealtime if you dont already. One of the hardest parts of BLW is learning to trust your baby, particularly if all of your new mum friends are weaning using more traditional methods and their babies are eating 3 main meals a day! IMPORTANT NOTE- When to go to see your GP or Healthvisitor: * please always seek advice from your health professional before weaning if your baby has any medical conditions or was born prematurely or you have a family history of food intolerances or allergies.
Posted on: Tue, 04 Mar 2014 11:21:04 +0000
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