Baby Led Weaning - have you heard of it?

[JodieO]

BLW, do you know anything about it or have you heard of it?

I'm training to be a breastfeeding counsellor (just done first module and if that if ok then training for that starts) and this is part of it. I'm interested in what people know about it.

I do BLW with my ds2 now and he loves it, really enjoys feeding himself.

For those that don't know BLW is waiting until babies are around 6 months until starting solids as there is lots of evidence that shows early weaning can cause allergies, gut problems and problems as an adult with ibs and other things.

It means waiting for the real signs of readiness for weaning such as losing the tongue thrust reflex, being able to sit unaided and reaching for food and managing to get it into their own mouths. Signs that are usually misinterpreted for being ready are baby being a certain weight, waking in the night after previously sleeping through and wanting more milk.

 

[Tom0]

You really are pro-breast feed arent you?

 

[Jokester]

Well, breast is best.

Jokester

 

[MrSix]

You really are pro-breast feed arent you?

Hell yeah, who wouldn't be!

 

[Glaucus]

You really are pro-breast feed arent you?

Everyone should be the research has been done and the results are far in favour of breast feeding for literally 100's of reasons.

 

[Dave M]

You really are pro-breast feed arent you?

Who isn't?

 

[V4NT0M]

I do BLW with my ds2 now and he loves it

Yea me too

 

[malfunkshun]

Basically, BLW is breastfeeding the baby and letting it eat what you eat. When the child is old enough, about six months iirc, give it some small pieces of what you are having and if the baby likes it the baby will eat it. No processed, blended muck, proper food (not really suitable for people with carp diets)

 

[Tom0]

oh I have nothing against it, its just Mrs G has been posting about breast feeding and her opinions on the alternatives for a few weeks now, with the Nestle boycott and such. I just find it a very strange subject to keep posting about. Is it because you feel that the alternatives are so awful and that the amount of people are becoming increasingly lazy not breast feeding and using the alternatives is worrying?

Genuinley curious.

 

[V4NT0M]

Breast feeding > all

tbh

 

[Jokester]

Think I read recently about research showing that those baby food puree things weren't particularly good for babies. As Jodie says, going straight from milk and weening them onto solids is supposed to be best.

Jokester

 

[malfunkshun]

oh I have nothing against it, its just Mrs G has been posting about breast feeding and her opinions on the alternatives for a few weeks now, with the Nestle boycott and such. I just find it a very strange subject to keep posting about. Is it because you feel that the alternatives are so awful and that the amount of people are becoming increasingly lazy not breast feeding and using the alternatives is worrying?

Genuinley curious.

Hmm, in my experience, there is nothing nutritionally wrong with formula. Other than the bonding thing there is evidence to suggest that breast fed babies suffer fewer allergies, less common disorders, better mental developement (not sure about that one), increased social skills and other things. It's also worth saying that you cant overheat breast milk

 

[JodieO]

oh I have nothing against it, its just Mrs G has been posting about breast feeding and her opinions on the alternatives for a few weeks now, with the Nestle boycott and such. I just find it a very strange subject to keep posting about. Is it because you feel that the alternatives are so awful and that the amount of people are becoming increasingly lazy not breast feeding and using the alternatives is worrying?

Genuinley curious.

Well BLW has nothing to do with breastfeeding, anyone can do it with their baby. It's just not giving purees but giving normal food from the start. Much easier and makes for better dinner and eating for the whole family.

It may seem strange to you but not to me and yes it's on my mind more lately as I'm starting training as a breastfeeding counsellor so I'm posting more what's on my mind. Isn't that allowed? The vast majority of my total posts on this forum have nothing to do with breastfeeding so I don't see what the problem is here?

By the way ds2 means darling/dear son 2, it's something used on other forums I post on and slipped in here. 2nd son basically so that would be Ethan, it's quicker that way hehe.

 

[malfunkshun]

Well BLW has nothing to do with breastfeeding, anyone can do it with their baby.

Indeed, I disagree with formula milk on the whole (there are circumstances where it is unavoidable) and habitually quote breastfeading

 

[Tom0]

I wasnt suggesting that there was anything wrong with it, or that you werent allowed to or that i found it offensive.

Im merely curious as to what makes you so passionate about breast-feeding over powders and purees?

 

[JodieO]

I wasnt suggesting that there was anything wrong with it, or that you werent allowed to or that i found it offensive.

Im merely curious as to what makes you so passionate about breast-feeding over powders and purees?

Breastfeeding as it is better for babies overall and provides them with immunites that formula doesn't. Purees are just mush and it's far easier to allow baby to eat when they want to, also with real food there is less scope for people to wean their baby early and possibly cause problems for them. If you wait until baby can pick the food up and eat it themselves then that won't be at 3 or 4 months as some people think weaning is ok at that age when it's not.

I have young children so these topics are relevant to me, I realise this is a forum based on a shop selling pc's etc but I didn't think General Discussion was limited at all.

 

[JodieO]

Oh and I started 2 threads in SC, 1 about breastfeeding in public and the other about the Nestle Boycott so that's not really much out of six thousand odd posts is it.

 

[Tom0]

Im not saying it is limited! This is something I have no opinion on, I've heard many discussions on which better breast milk or formula, and you seem to know your stuff, as a young man very much looking foward to having children, I would like to have formed an opinion on how to feed my children rather than go into it blind and end up not providing what i feel is best for my child. As you seem to know your stuff I just thought you may be able to pass a little wisdom to us. Im sorry if my questions came across as if I was trying to question why you are asking this here, but Im very curious as to your side of the arguement that breast is best.

 

[JodieO]

Im not saying it is limited! This is something I have no opinion on, I've heard many discussions on which better breast milk or formula, and you seem to know your stuff, as a young man very much looking foward to having children, I would like to have formed an opinion on how to feed my children rather than go into it blind and end up not providing what i feel is best for my child. As you seem to know your stuff I just thought you may be able to pass a little wisdom to us. Im sorry if my questions came across as if I was trying to question why you are asking this here, but Im very curious as to your side of the arguement that breast is best.

Ah I see I have lots of information on the subject, many links and studies showing that breastfeeding is the ideal way to feed a baby It is the natural way after all If you want some links I can post them.

 

[Tom0]

That'd be great! I'd very much like to know what the pros and cons are of each natural and synthetic milks.

I really hope I didnt offend you, I was just curious as to why you have a very strong opinion.

Congrats on your new position by the way!