BLW

Hi,

I wanted to write a little about BLW (baby led weaning). I feel i have learnt so much from doing this with Immy, she was weaned at 5 and a half months and had purees only for a short while. She was fed up with me feeding her so one day i decided to give her a meal un-pureed, chopped up and veggies over boiled so they were nice and soft. She ate the whole lot, without a fuss. She gagged every now and again, but i let her sort herself out (i was with her before anyone says anything!!) and she was fine.

My daughter loves eating by herself, always has done. She has been using a fork since she was 9 months old but has just mastered how to get a spoonful of rice krispies into her mouth without them ending up on her pjs!!!

Here is a list of great starting BLW Food!:

• boiled vegetables (i always boil them a little bit longer than they should be done so they are lovely and soft - easily chewable for bare gums!!) 
• chunks of cheese
• toast
• jacket potatos with cheese and low sugar&salt beans
• chicken strips
• homemade fishfinger/fishcakes
• baked pears and apple pieces
• raisins (Immys fave snack!!)
• peas and sweetcorn, great for mastering that all imporatant pincher grasp!
• Sausages - i always make sure i buy very good quality ones with more than 80% meat. Asda extra special ones are lovely and they have a great range! Alternatively get some from your butchers
• meatballs - you can make your own so easily!
• cucumber/celery stripes - lovely for teething as you can leave them in the fridge cut up and pull them out as and when
• fruit!!! any fruit is fab, orange segments are always a winner, as is banana, and whole pear!!

I hope this has helped if you are unsure whether to start BLW! Its lovely when they get abit older and eat the same meal as you, discovering different flavours and textures with their tongue. Its just GREAT!!!!!!!!