BLW vs. Purees & Cereal

[hollydfromtn]

Like I said in spam, let's move this topic to its own thread. What resources are you reading? S+TMs what are your experiences with either method? Etc.

[michelle142]

I'll copy (and add to) my replies here:

We did BLW with DS and will again with DD.

What I like about BLW:
I didn't have to buy or make purees - although I did make some for daycare.
No need to feed LO a different meal than what you're eating. You may just have to prep the food a bit differently, and obviously cut things up.
It gives them great practice at feeding themselves from the beginning. They usually love the independence.
I like that they get the difference textures of food from the beginning.
It helps get them to completely solid table food faster.
I don't have to feed my kid pureed meat. Because gross.


At first, I start with soft cooked veggies. Then go to fruits. Then pastas and meats. I wait on items that are more likely to cause an allergic reaction, like strawberries or nut based foods. I wait on more acidic items as well - like oranges.

The only thing I plan to do differently is to introduce more of a variety of items.

I tend to follow the "food before one is just for fun" motto. If there's not a ton of intake, it's not really a big deal because they're still getting what they need from breastmilk or formula.

In regards to lack of iron + vitamins that come from solids/cereal:
Our pedi recommends a multivitamin once baby is 6 months. So while there are foods that get baby the vitamins and iron, there's not a big need to push them because they get the multivitamin + breast milk or formula.

So I, personally, go with before one for fun because they're basically just practicing.

But yeah, I'm not a doctor, so do what you want and ask your doc.
Edit: some babies just don't like solids or purees at first, that's why the multivitamin is important.

This is my favorite website for BLW ideas:
wholesomebabyfood.momtastic.com/babyledweaning-recipesfoods.htm
wholesomebabyfood.momtastic.com/babyledweaning.htm

I also used that site for DIY puree recipes/ideas. The baked peaches are da bomb.

[dreemkin]

I followed what my pedi said with DD1: cereal and purees. I made my own.

I just would never do BLW. Anything being a choking hazard is a no-go for me. But to each their own I guess.

[mishka29]

We went with purées. It worked well for us the first time so we'll do it again.

I know some people say that BWL is better bc babies won't choke on their food the way they do with purées. However, this isn't something we had an issue with.

[mmarie]

I like the idea of blw. The sensory aspect, the independence, the ease of not having something separate. I need to do more research, ask her dr, and hear more personal experiences But I am leaning towards a mixture of both.

[seamonster]

We are going with the recommendation of the public health nurse that at 6 months introduce mashed or pureed fruits or vegetables mixed with breastmilk or formula and then begin introducing other foods like minced meat or cereals. Baby can eat what we're eating, just in mashed or cut up portions. Introducing individual or mixed foods is to watch for allergies and get them used to different flavors and textures. Most of their diet is bm or formula, but they get solids a few times a day.

[tee]

I read about BLW before we started solids with DS (who is now 2), but I planned on doing purees. After refusing all puree's for 2 weeks, we decided to go for it. It was great! We made sure to follow the guidelines from the BLW book (large strips of sweet potato, broccoli, etc. - definitely no small pieces!). DS totally went for it! He didn't really start consuming much until 8 months or so.

We also avoided all grains for the first year.

I'm not opposed to purees, we just kind of happened into it with DS and are glad we did.

I will say - the book is only ok. The format isn't as straight-forward and I would like.

We will like do BLW again with DD when the time comes.

[lotsofdotts]

Even though this is my third child, I don't remember this being a thing 10 years ago. I will probably do homemade purees for daycare and then BLW at home, but I do want to do some more research and talk to my pedi about it. He is young and I trust his opinion.

[taberbtb]

We are planning on doing a mix of both. My mom looks after DD 2 days a week while I work and I am not sure she is comfortable with BLW, so mostly likely she will do purées with her. At home B will just eat what we eat.

I also plan on talking to her doctor for his advice, but barring any real issues he may bring up that I haven't thought of that's our plan.

[fishes]

I did BLW with DS1 and we both loved it. I think it will especially make sense for my family this time around since it will help keep LO entertained while the rest of us eat and I won't need to worry about preparing an extra meal. There's also no transition needed from being fed purées to solids and feeding themselves. I'm all about fewer transitions than necessary.

I skim-read the book last time, it was okay, I found it really redundant so it was a really quick read due to skimming over the concepts that had already been hashed out ten times before.

I don't have to worry about daycare, so that's not an issue that I had to consider in making my decision. And BF is free so I'm not in any hurry to wean. My mom and MIL watched DS1 for me and they got used to it. We also lived with DH's grandma at the time and although she thought it was weird at first, she got used to it because she saw it every meal time. Her elderly friends were probably the most taken aback and outspoken about it, but they don't affect my decisions, and those that did stay for meals were generally impressed by his self-feeding skills.

One of the pros the book & website will tell you about it is how the children become much more adventurous eaters. On one hand - yes, DS has always eaten what we eat and is more likely to eat "adult" food than steroetyoical toddler food. BUT he isn't the best veggie eater right now. When doing BLW he DEVOURED beets like crazy, not even going to touch them now.

[mamabisme]

We did homemade purees and cereals with DD1 and did BLW with DD2. There were positives and negatives to both. This time around we plan to do a combo of both, though it will largely depend on what DS takes to best. As we've learned in the past, what works for one kid does not always work for the next.

[krispy83]

I did homemade purees (no cereal) with DS but made them a little chunkier so that he got used to different textures. Some softer items (peaches, bananas, sweet potatoes, etc) I just cut into pieces, I didn't need to mash them up. We'll probably do a mix of purees (for daycare) and BLW for DD.

I disagree with the idea that BLW makes kids more adventurous eaters - we did purees with DS and he eats literally everything (no lie - the kid eats eggplant, sushi, quinoa, salad, we haven't found a texture he won't eat) and my SIL did BLW for my niece and she's the typical picky toddler. I think it's much more about the kid than the way you introduce food.

[angeldcf]

We skipped rice cereal completely. Did a combo of purees (zucchini, squash, broccoli, beets, plums, etc), mashable foods (banana, avocado, sweet potato) then finger foods (puffs, cheerios). DS loved most of the purees and was somewhat "picky" in that he didn't prefer mixed foods.

That said, he tried my chicken pad thai one day & LURVES it. He requested the "pad thai" restaurant for his 3yo birthday.... yet still gets perturbed if his turkey touches his tomato slices. He dislikes chocolate but now likes beets.

Go figure. Toddler/Preschoolers are weird.

[Mom2Ms]

I'm confused. BLW? I thought this meant baby lead weaning....

[aggiebug]

May 22, 2015 1:05:44 GMT -5 Mom2Ms said:

I'm confused. BLW? I thought this meant baby lead weaning....

It does. But weaning in this sense isn't stopping breast feeding but adding in of solid foods.

[taberbtb]

May 22, 2015 1:05:44 GMT -5 Mom2Ms said:

I'm confused. BLW? I thought this meant baby lead weaning....

Baby led weaning and baby led solids are interchangeable terms. Essentially they both mean the same thing.