So what is so great about Baby Led Weaning? Why are so many mum's raving about it? Is it just a "fad" or is it really a fantastic alternative to puree baby food?
Real Mums, tell us what they think. If you would like to add to this section please email us at mail@babybanana.biz
We've been feeding our son from our plates for just a few weeks now and since he's eating vegetables and fruits, it makes us want to eat more of those things, especially for the purpose of demonstrating.
Also, it's great that we can just put him next to us and let him play with his food, and eat altogether while still keeping an eye on him.
I even convinced my mom that it makes sense, after she said to me earlier that it's "mean" for me not to feed him the food. She gets now that he's just practicing with the food.
Molly D May
I think the reason I like BLW so much better is that it is just so easy and Sam clearly enjoys it. He seems to revel in all the different textures/tastes he's having whereas he wouldn't touch the purees! It's a real pleasure to sit down for a family meal with Sam sat beside us in his highchair tucking into the same as us (but stick shaped!) I wish I'd have known about it for my daughter Zoë.
Ali
Mum to Sam, 6.5 months
There are several reasons why I think BLW is better:
1. It encourages mum's to wait to the 6 month mark as advised by the WHO.
2. The emphasis is on trying new tastes and texture rather than the amount of food the baby takes, and there seems to be a greater awareness that up till 1 the weaning is just fun.
3. Most importantly my son likes it and it has the added benefit of helping his hand to eye coorindation.
4. I don't have mess around batch cooking a ton of purees and then freezing em.
5. Watching my son trying to feed himself and him then looking up to grin at me with with a mouthful of whatever he's just bitten off is marvellous!
Mx
What I love about BLW is the obvious enjoyment Matthew gets from food. He gets to completely explore it instead of just eating it. It is much less stressful than weaning with purees as you just let baby eat what they want instead of worrying they haven't finished what you've made. And it is amazing to see how quickly he has learned to chew the food.
What I am hoping to gain from it is a baby who doesn't become fussy about their food (as my dd was when weaned the traditional way).
Jo
Mum to Katie 3 yrs (puree) and Matthew 7mths (BLW)
You dont have to pack your bag full of jars and spoons - I just go out for the day and have meals out with friends or just to two of us and Nat either eatss bits of my meal or has a children's meal if he's *really* hungry. So, for the mega trendy yummy mummies amongst us (errrr not me!) you can get away with a tiny handbag ;)
Nat is the only BLW child in my group of friends and it showed today! He's tucking into a packed lunch of ham and philly sandwiches, cucumber sticks, whole peach and they're eating spoonfed annabel karmel (spit!) pasta and grapes cut into teeny pieces and individual cheerios. Whats that all about? And they're 4 months older than Nat. And they look miserable! A BLW baby's a happy baby :)
BLW is much more fun for little ones than the passive reality of spoonfeeding. They can really get to grips with colour and textures and tastes rather than just sit there and be fed by mum.
I could go on and on - but other contributions much needed!
Vix, mum to Nathaniel aged 10months
Nat is the only BLW child in my group of friends and it showed today! He's tucking into a packed lunch of ham and philly sandwiches, cucumber sticks, whole peach and they're eating spoonfed annabel karmel (spit!) pasta and grapes cut into teeny pieces and individual cheerios. Whats that all about? And they're 4 months older than Nat. And they look miserable! A BLW baby's a happy baby :)
BLW is much more fun for little ones than the passive reality of spoonfeeding. They can really get to grips with colour and textures and tastes rather than just sit there and be fed by mum.
I could go on and on - but other contributions much needed!
Vix, mum to Nathaniel aged 10months
The thing i absolutly love about BLW is the easiness of it! Olli can sit next to Alex and they eat their meals and have their snacks together, which means i get more time with them both, together and individually, since i'm not slaving over a hot stove or trying to ram a spoon into Olli's throat! It causes less tension for that exact reason, Alex see's Olli as an equal instead of a competitor. It's the way brother should be, the way a family should be! Also means i don't have to take a circus out with us, I have two smallish rucksacks (one for each boy) and in that is a snack each (Olli, generally carrot sticks or fruit and Alex, fruit, fruit and more fruit) plus their bits for the day, if we're out over lunch I buy an approriate meal for them to share! Simple, no fuss, and i get to treat my children the exact same!
Thanx Hannah!
Love Kai, Alex (2 years) and Oliver (7 months!)