conflicted about BLW

[mrstanimal]

My son is 8 1/2 months, and for the last month or so, we have just been giving him whatever we're eating (baby friendly, of course). So far, he hasn't done a whole lot as far as consuming, mostly playing with it. Tonight we were having homemade chicken noodle soup, so we gave him some of the big noodles, carrots and chicken, which he squished and dropped on the floor for the dogs. I decided to see if he'd like any broth. He went nuts for it. This was really the first time I'd ever spoonfed him. After this, I was eating some peach yogurt. I thought, hell, why not try again ? Spoonfed him some, and he went wild. Almost ravenous for it. Acted like he had been starving.

So now I'm wondering if I should spoonfeed some, and let him still have a go at finger foods ? I'm confused ! I want to do what's best for him. Advice ?

[Abraisme]

I do blw, but I still spoon feed my DD the things that she can't feed herself (soup, yogurt, squishy bits of fruit, etc). Just make sure to watch your baby's cues closely and stop when they're done. My 6.5mo will clearly let me know when she doesn't want anymore.

[PrincessAnika]

i do a mix of both....since i'm on wic i get a bunch of jars....

[blumooned]

DS eats almost everything himself with his fingers, except yogurt, which I spoon-feed to him. He enjoys the yogurt and doesn't really seem to notice that I'm "helping" him eat.

I think you can give your LO some things via a spoon & still be doing BLW. It seems like your baby wants to eat some things from a spoon & you're following his lead. I think you should do what seems right for your LO, without necessarily following a feeding style verbatim. We kind of mix 'n match, to suit DS.

[xelakann]

Originally Posted by PrincessAnika

i do a mix of both.

us too.

[peaceful_mama]

We do no pureed stuff--other than some fruit I mixed into oatmeal for flavor. (it's a great alternative to sugar and we got it from wic)

He has and still does get spoonfed things like yogurt, oatmeal, soup--though he will sometimes eat bread soaked in the liquid part and the chunks separate.

Watch your baby, you will know when baby is full.

[Pookietooth]

I would follow your instincts, not the books no matter if you agree with them intellectually or not.

[Blueone]

He may have acted starving because he really enjoyed the taste. But that said do what works for you.

I tried doing a combo but my son HATES being spoon fed. I started out doing purees but ended up doing BLW because he's that independent. I think the one time I successfully spoon fed him was when he had yogurt, but turns out dairy does not agree with his tummy.

[kriket]

Originally Posted by Pookietooth

I would follow your instincts, not the books no matter if you agree with them intellectually or not.

: I've found the books are a good place to start but that's where it ends. You can't follow any book to the letter and allow it to over rule your common sense.

[ann_of_loxley]

The thing with this age is - hes not really supposed to be filling up on food at this age. Before a year of age, food is just about tasting and touching and exploring - not really for filling up nutritional purposes ...which can be the 'problem' with 'spoon feeding'. (and now you may be thinking - but a spoonful here and there isn't really filling him up...but remember, they still have tiny tummies!). I go crazy and act like I am starving to death as well if you gave me some cookie dough - but I probably shouldn't be filling up on it (pregnant excuse or not! lol)

[PrincessAnika]

http://www.mother-2-mother.com/samplemenus.htm some samply menus and about how much they should be eating under a year - lots of great info!

[AKislandgirl]

I feel that I eat some things with my hands and some things with a spoon so why not baby?! DD mostly feeds herself but we help her with spoon feeding soups, yogurt, oatmeal, etc... If its thick enough to stay on the spoon I preload the spoon and hand it to her. She does great with the spoon. Broth will obviously just fall off so we help her with that.

[Carhootel]

I could have written the OP, but for us it was at 11mo that ds started being spoonfed and eating it like CRAZY! IMO this IS BLW - I'm following HIS lead. Now a month later I put some stuff on his tray and spoon feed him something else. Like I'll put o's on his tray and spoon feed him sweet potatoes. He eats both, but probably more from the spoon. I think he might have some texture issues because he really prefers to eat mushy/pureed foods

[redvlagrl]

We did BLW (DDis now 17 mths and we are expectin #2 in April). Certain foods we definitely did spoonfeed...and DD loved it! Yoghurt, Soup, Liver puree, etc.

Even now that she can use a spoon reasonably well she really likes us to help her out because I think she gets a bit impatient as she's not the best scooper.

I don't think you have to be a purist with BLW. It's supposed to be easier for you so just go with the flow!

[LindsC]

We do a mixture of both too. DD loves to feed herself and still gets a lot on the floor, but I also spoonfeed her things like oatmeal and yogurt.

[Niblett]

Will is 8.5 months old. He shares all 3 meals with us over the day and it varies how much he eats from meal to meal, but the one thing I do help him with is his yoghurt in the morning. Often I also preload the spoon and then hand it to him, he eats off it quite well that way. Or I touch the filled spoon to his mouth, he then grabs the spoon from me and licks the spoon clean!

Niblett xxx