Baby-Led Weaning

Baby led weaning is something i had never heard of before having Nyla. I think the first time i came across it, was when she was around 3 months old and someone asked me how i planned on weaning her. 

In my head, babies had baby food. I didn't know there was any other way to feed them. 

When i saw pictures and videos of little babies eating proper meals, and read about choking etc, i said that it wasn't for me. 

How wrong i was. 

When Nyla was 4 months old, i started weaning her. I know that the guidelines say wait until 6 months, but she was showing all the signs of being ready. She was sitting without support at 5 months old, and as she wasn't drinking much formula anymore, i was worried about her getting enough. I started giving her a little baby rice or porridge in the morning and then blending my own veggies into puree for her. 

At 6 months, meal times were getting a little harder. She did NOT want me to feed her. I would place the loaded spoon into her hand and she would feed herself, but if i tried to help, she would scream. It was like i couldn't feed her fast enough, because she was basically drinking it all off the spoon. Even when i thickened the puree for her, it was going down too quick. She was also crying for what i was having. 

Preparing for BLW?

From what i could see online, this was going to be a messy journey. Where other babies were being fed, the idea with this was that she would feed herself and explore everything about food including how it feels in her hands. 

I got her a highchair, apron bibs, suction plates, and some sippy cups and cutlery. 

How many meals?

We had breakfast and dinner at first. Then around 8 months introduced lunch and by 10 months also snacks. 

She is 15 months now and has breakfast, lunch, dinner plus 2 snacks. Water is given at every meal time. 

Her first experience

One day, i decided to just give her a bit of my toast. She ate it like she had always been eating food. So i had a look at baby led weaning. 

The idea is that you let them feed themselves, and they have whatever you are having (or you can do it new foods at a time). It was skipping the puree stage, and giving them real food. 

The second time i gave her some toast, she gagged, i panicked. I thought she was choking. She wasn't. 

Gagging, as scary as it is to see, is how the body learns how to eat. She had to work it back up herself, and the next time she ate it slower and smaller bits. If your baby is gagging and you intervene, you run the risk of them choking. 

I had another look online, and watched some videos on choking v gagging. This really set my mind at ease, and i relaxed a little. 

Her first "big girl meal" was tuna and pasta with sweet potato and she loved it. 

Favorite meals

Breakfast: 

• Peanut butter on toast
• Scrambled Eggs
• Fruit and Yogurt
• Dry cheerios
• Weetabix 
• Porridge
• Coco pops

Lunches: 

• Tuna mayo sandwiches
• Hummus and pitta/flatbread/cucumber sticks
• Cheese and crackers
• Popcorn chicken
• Fish finger sandwiches 

Dinners: 

• Tuna and pasta
• Fish
• Pizza
• Chicken curry and rice
• Shepherds/cottage pie
• Chicken and rice 

Snacks: 

• Fruit (orange, banana, strawberry, grapes, watermelon)
• Cheese and crackers
• Cucumber sticks
• Yogurt
• Breadsticks
• Cheese
• Ella's' kitchen crisps
• Corn on the cob

How is it going now?

Nyla is 15 months now, and such a good foodie! She will eat almost anything put in front of her. She eats all her meals with a fork or a spoon, and knows when she is full and will stop eating. She doesn't just shovel food in her mouth and make a mess, she eats really well. 

She enjoyed food so much that she started to drop milk feeds in favour of food, eventually weaning herself off formula just before her 1st birthday. She drinks water with every meal, and in between.

Must have items for BLW

Bibado Bib - worth every penny. Makes cleaning up after meal times so easy! She can eat an orange or a curry and come away with clean clothes! No more stains and they cover the whole highchair tray.

Munchkin 360 cup - Great for helping them learn how to drink from an open cup but without the mess of them spilling it. 

Munchkin Straw Cups - Before getting the hang of the 360 cup, this was Nylas preferred cup for her milk/water.

Toddler Cutlery - We found these to be much easier for her to feed herself. They are stainless steels as well so they look more like ours and can pick up better than plastic types we tried in the past. 

Don't stress yourself out over cute plates, and suction plates/bowls, because in my experience, they get them off either way.