Any mum using a beaba or avent babycook?

daska

plumpmouse wrote: »

From my own experiences there isn't a one way fits all system to weaning.

My ds was weaned at 4 months, fruit and veg purees at first and then moved on to whatever we ate fairly quickly from 6 months iirc. BLW wasn't around then from what I knew so I just did what I thought worked

My dd started weaning from 5 1/2 months and again I started on purees as I enjoy that stage and she was in no way ready for BLW. At 8 months now she is getting to grips with eating what we eat. I use a steamer we had (which I can understand people wanting to use as they are meant to be a healthier way of cooking veg) and a blender/mashing/cutting.

She does feed herself fingerfoods but also likes having some things spoon fed. She hasn't got brilliant skills for picking up food yet but this is getting better with the practice she is having. She has pureed fruit on her weetabix every morning.

If we are having something that's not good (eg takeaway) I tend to make her something like pasta in tomato and butternut squash sauce and make extra to freeze for another day.

I guess the point (long winded I confess) that I'm trying to make is that while BLW may suit one baby (or mother) it doesn't suit everyone.


OP there really isn't much you can do wrong with weaning it is just about finding a method that works for you and bubs. Good luck and enjoy it!

You're correct, there isn't a one way fits all but that's more down to the parent than the baby. The clue is in your post, you fed her purees because you enjoy it. A lot of parent feel strongly that they must do x because... choose your reason.

plumpmouse

daska wrote: »

You're correct, there isn't a one way fits all but that's more down to the parent than the baby. The clue is in your post, you fed her purees because you enjoy it. A lot of parent feel strongly that they must do x because... choose your reason.

It was partly because I enjoy that but equally she wasn't ready for finger fingers. So yes it was down to me but I followed her lead:)

daska

Sorry, I think you missed the point, you're neither right nor wrong, and neither am I, because it's a case of personal choice. Someone who disapproves of 'normal' weaning methods might respond "if she wasn't ready for BLW she wasn't ready for solids". Someone who believes BLW is dangerous might respond that they think there might an increased danger of choking over conventional weaning (though there's no evidence to support this as far as I'm aware). Someone who lacks confidence might argue that "well that's how my mum did it so it's what I'll do". Essentially it's the parent's choice based on knowledge, cultural belief, peer pressure etc. In terms of BLW "not ready for BLW" is an oxymoron - if the baby is leading how can it not be ready for the stage it's at, what it means is that the baby isn't at the stage the parent wants or thinks should have been reached. BLW or not, if your baby still has the tongue-thrust reflex when you try to stick food or a spoon in it means baby ain't ready.

But actually I firmly believe there is no one single right way to wean. DS1 was grabbing food and sucking at under 4 months. DS2 wasn't interested until much later. Even the most ardent proponents of BLW don't just walk into Tesco and go "well, what does little Johnny want to try today", they still control which foods, when, what size pieces etc. So the baby is never completely in the lead except to the extent of what they choose to pick up, lick, suck, chew and swallow of what is presented to them. And there are many cultures around the world who begin with what I think of as 'sloppy food' - baby rice or similar. The only 'wrong' ways are to deliberately force babies onto solids before they are ready (current recommendation is 6 months but was only 4 months when DS1 was weaning) or to refuse to wean when the baby needs more than milk in order to continue to develop properly.

Edited to add that I just thought of a 3rd 'wrong'. Falling for the marketing hype of big businesses who prey on parent's natural anxiousness and desire to do the best for their baby. Though in most instances the greatest harm is to your wallet LOL.

msb5262

Hello OP,

I've got to say that I wouldn't bother with buying special babyfood making equipment - as mentioned above, you can steam food in a colander or a metal sieve over a saucepan, then mash with a fork or whizz with a cheap stick blender (about £4 from supermarket basics range).

However the easiest way to go is to plan your adult meals with an eye to what the baby could try...

you're having jacket potatoes, so do an extra one and mash the inside up for the baby.

You're having jacket potatoes, so put a carrot or a sweet potato in too and mash that for the baby.

You're making vegetable soup - add only half the normal amount of liquid to the vegetables, and when they are soft, remove half a cup full and puree or mash that before adding the remaining liquid to your soup.

You're making bolognese sauce - leave out the salt until you've removed a spoonful for the baby at the end, then combine this spoonful with cooked rice or pasta and mash or blend it for the baby's meal.

You're having Special K (???) - so give the baby some toast or bread with grated cheese or Philadelphia.

Mash part of a banana for your baby.

Give him or her a baby fromage frais.

Make him or her a tiny amount of porridge or Weetabix.

Let him or her mumble a breadstick under your close supervision...etc etc etc

Are you starting to see what I mean?

Hope you find a way forward that suits you.

Best wishes

MsB

pushoz

To add my two penth!!! I've got 9 motnh old twins and until last week (i went away on my own with them) they hadn't had a jar of bought food. I don't have a steamer but use a metal colander on top of a pan I'm using for boiling other veg. I use very little water to boil it and then use it when I blend the food. DD has been a nightmare, took an hour to have a 4oz bottle, but loves finger food, DS loves bottles and food but won't touch finger food! Every child is different, like everyone else has said. We've now starting to introduce lumpier food, after having jars my food has been lumpy for a while.

My DS has a weetabix for his breakfast, actually an own brand version, DD has a mixture of ready brek and baby porridge. We've made beef casserole and blitzed it, cauliflower cheese and just mashed the cauliflower. Made spagetti bolognese and like had been suggested I took their bit out first and then added seasoning. My two also live on small pots of fromage frais but I buy the multi packs as they work out cheaper, however I'm starting to look at making my own yogurt because it's going to work out chepaer. I was given an Annabelle Karrmel book, it's been great because it's taken the need to think out but now we're getting to the stage were they have what we have.

I also make stuff in bulk and freeze it , Asda do some fantastic little pots that cost about £1 for three. DH complains because our freezer is full of food for them, they eat better than we do. I'm quite proud to say I haven't bought one single baby specific cooking product, and trust me I'm a soft touch for a kitchen gadget!

Hope this helps

Miss_Ladybird

You can also microwave instead of steaming (if you have a microwave of course!) Annabel Karmel says so, so it must be ok!!

lily76

Thanks for all the replies. I got a blender from sainsbury for 8 pounds and tried it yesterday morning. It was fine but the spilling was some sort of annoying. I was cooking spinach then and couldn't imagine if I was trying to make a strawberry or red pepper or tomato dish while wearing a white T, so I got a klip block box at half price today. All together this costs me 9.7 pounds which is justa piece of the price of a babycook.