This week we started Baby Led Weaning. And this week I learned what Baby Led Weaning (BLW) is! I thought it was all about weaning babies off of milk/formula but it’s about weaning them onto solid foods (not necessarily purees). I’ve been feeding Elle solids (or trying to anyway) since we was 5 months and it’s not going so well. It’s not terrible but she takes MAYBE one bite on her own and the others I have to make her laugh, cry or yawn to get the spoon in her mouth. When I let her play with the food on her tray she just smushes it around and it’s probably the ONLY part of the day where she doesn’t try to put her hands in her mouth (which is kind of confusing?) But anyway, I used this awesome book, The Big Book of Organic Baby Food (thanks Michelle!) to make a bunch of great purees (again, feeling fortunate that I have the time to do this!) and I was so excited for Elle to try the cool combos but she just wasn’t into it. I know “food before one is just for fun” but when I speak to so many other moms it seems like everyone’s babe is enjoying solids and I wanted Elle to be the same.
So a couple of friends suggested BLW as an option and we’re currently on day 3 and it seems to be going well! One thing I’m learning about this baby girl is that she is quite the independent lady. I learned this once in the beginning when I was having trouble nursing and realized she was able to latch herself and wouldn’t nurse unless she was given the opportunity to do it on her own. I should’ve thought about that when trying to force feed her purees! When it comes to food, she’s got to do it on her own! I think that means Will and I are in biiiiiig trouble with the years to come!
I didn’t want my purees to go to waste so a fellow mama suggested I order reusable Squooshi pouches which might allow her to feed herself. I have not tried them yet but I imagine they will be similar to the pouches you can buy in the store and babies seem to love those!
I still have a lot to learn with BLW but I’m excited to learn. It seems like a more natural way to introduce food to babies and they can see you eating the same things. I’m not recommending one way or the other because it takes a certain level of comfortability (which I’m not certain I have yet) because they can still gag on the food you’re feeding them no matter what method you choose. I’ve already fed her cut up blueberries, quarter of a banana, carrots, plan to try avocado rolled in rice flour for dexterity, pears, sweet potato. I even cut up small pieces of the chicken from my salad today and she LOVED that probably the most out of all the foods she’s tried. As with anything, you find your own methods but this one seems to be working well for Miss Elle. If anyone else is interested in BLW my friend recommended this book: Baby Led Weaning: The Essential Guide which I’m definitely considering!
I’ll make sure to update next week and let you know how it goes! Has anyone else had a babe who’s not been into purees and went straight to solid food? I’m desperate for people to share their tricks and experience. I learned so much talking to a few friends yesterday when I offhandedly mentioned Elle’s disinterest in eating! So please share!
