https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 30 Apr 2026 01:39:01 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/concernsquestiokd-about-baby-led-weaning#post-2468479 Sat, 20 Feb 2016 07:21:24 +0000 Alba4 2468479@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We didn't do BLW with DS1. Itwas too scary and not worth it to us. We did purées and gradually introduced bigger pieces of food. He progressed well in his eating.</p> <p>Try it out if you wish, but do whatever works best for your baby. There is no wrong way! Fads come and go. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/concernsquestiokd-about-baby-led-weaning#post-2468441 Sat, 20 Feb 2016 04:58:13 +0000 Mama Bird 2468441@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My seven month old really hates purees - she eats them, but she keeps trying to stick her hands in the bowl and feed herself. The problem is, she has two sharp little teeth, so whatever I've given her, she bites off scary big chunks she can't chew, and I have to swoop in and take them away. She's even chewed off bits of raw carrot. The only things that worked until recently were really hard bread, and whole peeled apples and pears with a piece cut off - she latches onto the cut off side and starts scraping bits off with her teeth :happy: She's just gotten better at chewing stuff with her gums now, so we're working on giving soft cooked veggies and tiny bits of soft bread. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/concernsquestiokd-about-baby-led-weaning#post-2468425 Sat, 20 Feb 2016 02:02:33 +0000 bunnylove 2468425@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm going to be a fence sitter on this one- there's no reason you can't do a mix of BLW and purees. My LO has just turned 7 months and is a very keen eater. I put something on her tray for her to eat herself and give her a chunky puree with a spoon. Things like toast soldiers with philly cheese, hummus or peanut butter, omelet cut into chunks and pieces of fruit for her tray then fruit and yoghurt or custard or porridge with a spoon for breakfast. Steamed until soggy carrot, broccoli or beans, pasta and meat in sticks for her tray and veggie puree with or without meat/couscous/rice/potato chunks (depending whats already on her tray or if I've given her meat to chew on rather than eat the day before I'll put it on the spoon so I know she's getting enough iron) on a spoon for lunch and dinner. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/concernsquestiokd-about-baby-led-weaning#post-2468364 Fri, 19 Feb 2016 22:38:00 +0000 jhd 2468364@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was too scared to do BLW, so we did purees and put larger pieces in a mesh feeder to expose him to some different tastes. We started with puffs as finger foods since they melt in your mouth and LO figured out that they would stick to his fingers so he learned to pick them up that way! Then when I was comfortable with him eating those we pretty much gave him everything in bite size pieces. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/concernsquestiokd-about-baby-led-weaning#post-2468333 Fri, 19 Feb 2016 21:38:53 +0000 Mrs. Sunshine 2468333@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Both my kids ripped off huge chunks of food so I did a combo of mashed things (banana, avocado, sweet potato, black beans, etc) and cut things up very small for them to self feed. We've had no choking issues and both are good eaters. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/concernsquestiokd-about-baby-led-weaning#post-2468331 Fri, 19 Feb 2016 21:34:03 +0000 Greentea 2468331@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>BLW did NOT work for us. AT ALL. So we went to purees. I still don't get it, so through deductive reasoning I assume it just doesn't work for every kid. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/concernsquestiokd-about-baby-led-weaning#post-2468288 Fri, 19 Feb 2016 20:12:53 +0000 Happygal 2468288@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just wanted to be a voice to represent another side saying that you don't have to do it if you're uncomfortable! I loved the idea, but I knew I couldn't relax for the normal phases of BLW (gagging, etc.) We also started her earlier than I had planned based on the recommendation of pediatrician for allergy purposes....I loved making purees for her and started giving her finger foods when she was a little older and I could be calm. :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/concernsquestiokd-about-baby-led-weaning#post-2468236 Fri, 19 Feb 2016 18:34:48 +0000 Portboston 2468236@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH was totally on board with BLW until we actually started it. I swear he's probably had 5 heart attacks so far and we've only been at it for less then a month. Reading a BLW book has helped a LOT, that and taking a CPR class! haha But I have seen him sit on his hands a couple times. The thing about the gagging is that its a good thing. Its teaching them that they can not fit that big chunk of food down their throat and they need to chew it first. Honestly, Im a bit hesitant sometimes too but Ive seen so many youtube videos of 9, 10, 11 month olds eating blueberries, apples, etc and I think "my baby is just as smart as them. there is no reason he can't figure this out too!" that makes me feel better about the whole thing :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/concernsquestiokd-about-baby-led-weaning#post-2468184 Fri, 19 Feb 2016 17:16:18 +0000 FliegepilzHut 2468184@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs.Pinecone316: Tried very small bits of apple today...still has a raking grasp and couldn't manage to get any of them in his mouth, poor kid! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/concernsquestiokd-about-baby-led-weaning#post-2467312 Fri, 19 Feb 2016 05:23:32 +0000 Pumuckl 2467312@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@FliegepilzHut: They definitely develop their own techniques of picking things up. My DD was really early on the pincer grasp so she could pick them up really well from really early on. Before that she would just grasp at it with her whole hand and mush/squeeze it in her hands, move her hand to her mouth and the sort of stuff it in her mouth lick it from her hands. Very messy but totally worked! My son had a lot more teeth and he was better at chewing/nibbling things off from say a piece of bread/toast etc. Both loved millet balls since they just disolve in their mouths :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/concernsquestiokd-about-baby-led-weaning#post-2467291 Fri, 19 Feb 2016 00:51:58 +0000 Mrs.Pinecone316 2467291@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I love the idea of BLW but it honestly scared the crap out of me. I ended up doing purees until about 8.5 months and now all she eats is whatever we eat at 10 months. She won't touch purees since she has had the real deal. I cut everything up in small bites. Think pea size-ish. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/concernsquestiokd-about-baby-led-weaning#post-2467064 Thu, 18 Feb 2016 20:55:42 +0000 FliegepilzHut 2467064@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: He's definitely enthusiastic! Motor-wise, I wonder if he's be able to get the smaller bits in his mouth? I guess there's only one way to find out!</p> <p>@snowjewelz: Maybe I need to focus more on texture/moisture content?</p> <p>@Mrs. Sketchbook: I like all of those ideas! Thank you!!</p> <p>@Ms maths: I think it bothers me that you're not supposed to just sit there and watch them like a hawk...so meanwhile my little guy, with his two razor sharp teeth (ha!) poking through manages to bite off airway sized chunks, only some of which fall out of his mouth. I've also seen him swallow, only to look uncomfortable, gag repeatedly, and eventually regurgitate the morsel... So he's very competent getting things to his mouth, biting, and apparently swallowing...maybe I should be focusing on things that require much less chewing?</p> <p>@MrsSRS: Definitely will try that soon!</p> <p>@PawPrints: Thank you! I hate that I get so worried...but I feel like I do need to modify what I'm offering a bit, until he gets the hang of it!</p> <p>@Alivoo01: Bite sized bits are next on my list...but I wonder whether he'll be able to pick them up? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/concernsquestiokd-about-baby-led-weaning#post-2466389 Thu, 18 Feb 2016 14:07:35 +0000 Alivoo01 2466389@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did BLW with DS starting around 6 months. I went in knowing that gagging was probably frequent, but gagging was good since it meant he wasn't choking. So that provided a lot of reassurance for me! I closely watched him, and when he gagged, he would just spit the food back up. I still kept things bite sized for him, but wasn't too afraid if he bit off more than he could chew. He'd either spit it out eventually or just nom on it still it was super soggy and gross and eventually swallow-able. lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/concernsquestiokd-about-baby-led-weaning#post-2466258 Thu, 18 Feb 2016 13:12:16 +0000 PawPrints 2466258@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I felt exactly the same way that you feel. It is scary! But your LO is doing what he needs to do. Learning to eat is pretty difficult, so he's just going through that process. He'll get more skilled at it soon and it will become less scary. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/concernsquestiokd-about-baby-led-weaning#post-2466000 Thu, 18 Feb 2016 11:39:19 +0000 MrsSRS 2466000@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>With my second baby we just went to a small dice right away. By 7 months she could pick up pea sized chunks no problem. Maybe try that? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/concernsquestiokd-about-baby-led-weaning#post-2465997 Thu, 18 Feb 2016 11:39:09 +0000 Ms maths 2465997@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not a baby-feeding expert :), but I didn't see anything concerning in your description of your experience so far. Can you say more about what you are worried about? That he is gagging? That he isn't swallowing as much as you expect? Something else? </p> <p>We did BLW with both kids. LO1 figured out chewing and swallowing within a month or so, although I have a vague memory of making various special things for him (like broccoli fritters, for example.) </p> <p>With LO2, we just give her some of our regular food, sometimes its soft and sometimes its pretty hard to chew, the size of the piece varies a lot. She has been much slower to pick up eating--she had more gagging to start with, tends to collect food in her mouth, and chews a lot but often pushes the food back out--although it seems like it's more her than what we give her. She's 11 months and still pushes out/drops half of what we give her on a good day. But she's healthy and happy, though, so I don't worry about it too much. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/concernsquestiokd-about-baby-led-weaning#post-2465977 Thu, 18 Feb 2016 11:29:16 +0000 Mrs. Sketchbook 2465977@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Big slices of mango are good because mango doesn't fall apart quite like a banana does. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/concernsquestiokd-about-baby-led-weaning#post-2465973 Thu, 18 Feb 2016 11:27:29 +0000 Mrs. Sketchbook 2465973@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did BLW with both my kids. My first never choked or took big bites but my second....I've been down his windpipe a few times! Maybe an overreaction but I got freaked out. Hes a hoover. Could you serve things that disintegrate instead of break up? Example: toast with avocado smashed in instead of chunks of avocado, or a pork roast cooked in the crock pot and shredded into small pieces. Or alternatively a big slice of meat that he can suck on but not swallow? Like chicken breast cut lengthwise or beef roast. Or puree food and just put a glop on his tray and let him eat it with his fingers? Once he gets his pincer grasp you can go to smaller pieces. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/concernsquestiokd-about-baby-led-weaning#post-2465953 Thu, 18 Feb 2016 11:22:12 +0000 snowjewelz 2465953@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I love BLW! But the beginning stages are def the more frustrating ones, for both you and LO. While DD had gagged, she had never choked and it's really trial and error! I def offered small pieces for her to practice pincer grasp and she mastered it around 8-8.5 months and then things got so much easier. But I'd just keep offering things she can hold onto but mushy enough to eat and just watch her and step in when needed! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/concernsquestiokd-about-baby-led-weaning#post-2465943 Thu, 18 Feb 2016 11:19:17 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2465943@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It sounds like he's really ready to actually eat! Yes, I would go ahead and offer some small pieces that he can learn how to gum/chew. For a pear, making small little cubes of a very ripe pear might be great. Or things like puffs that dissolve easily. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/concernsquestiokd-about-baby-led-weaning#post-2465940 Thu, 18 Feb 2016 11:17:33 +0000 FliegepilzHut 2465940@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS is now 6.5months old and has been REALLY interested in food for a while... I thought I was going to love BLW (so awesome in theory!) but have been flummoxed by my baby pretty much immediately being able to bring things to his mouth and bite off (choking hazard-sized!) chunks... Some of these wind up on the floor, some he attempts to swallow. Thumb-sized slices of apple, large pieces of banana, steamed broccoli, firm roasted carrot, a quartered slice of tomato all have been fairly big hits (though we've had our share of gagging)... I tried giving a much larger slice of (like 1/3 of a) fairly firm pear to see if I could impede his biting a bit...and it just frustrated him because it was harder to pick up and fit in his mouth. What am I doing wrong? Have your kids been more successful with smaller, medium sized, or larger pieces of food? We'll be trying a loaded spoon next... </p>