Baby Lead Weaning vs Puree

You can try both approaches at once if you wanted - this is what I'm going to do and then see what baby prefers. You can sign up to Ella's Kitchen and you will receive a free weaning chart. I like the site because it has good information and resources, and supports both methods 😊 There is also a checklist of things you'll need 😁 Babies aren't allowed to have honey or cow's milk. I think the suggestion is that babies start with vegetables - you can search both methods online. The start for life nhs website is handy and has a list of food you can give 😁 At a basic level of info (I am no expert and only am writing what I've researched/found in my prep for weaning so far) BLW weaning allows learning through play and exploration, it helps with gross and fine motor coordination. Puree builds on texture and helps with developing mouth skills and gross and fine motor skills. I hope that helps a little! I'm sure there will be even more helpful comments soon! Good luck with the next exciting journey 🤩

My baby actually prefers purées although she’s got a little bit better with solids now at 9.5months (still no teeth) at 10 months I’m going to reintroduce some solids to see if she will be better xx

I've done blw with both kids, I feel like it's less work. I can't imagine having to cook and puree stuff as opposed to just giving them something off my plate. You don't have to change textures as they get bigger etc. We started with veg sticks. They learn to chew before they learn to swallow this way. For me it was all over easier than puree.

I started LG on purées at 5 months because she was ready. I started her on sweet potato, carrots, and peas and she loves them all. I will introduce more solid foods as she grows. Whatever you decide there’s no right or wrong x

I do both, though my little one seems to eat better with pure. Bread he usually eats on his own, I love love Ella’s kitchen organic finger food snacks which he can eat by himself too. Sometimes I cut the steamed veggies in small little cubes for extra texture

These are some tips I used when starting weaning: - Foods to avoid: salt, sugar, honey, anything raw/undercooked (e.g. runny eggs, smoked salmon, deli meats) - can serve up anything else in a baby safe form. Everything should be fork tender (if you can easily mash with a fork, then baby can easily break it with their gums) & sizes should be finger length at the start. - don’t have anything smaller than a blueberry without smushing it as that is around the size of their airways. - the BLW meals and solid starts app are great at showing best way to prepare any foods - easy starter foods: avocado, steamed veg (broccoli, carrots, cauliflower etc) - better to start with veg, then fruits as babies will prefer the sweeter things and may refuse veg later. Introduce a wide variety and change up regularly to avoid picky eating. - liquids: water (offer sips with every meal), milk (cows milk can be given if used as an ingredient I.e it is heated and “cooked” but not as a drink)

- allergens: ideal time to offer is between 6-9 months window, often. - for foods other than allergens can do together but common allergens only offer one a day and watch out for delayed reactions (this can come up to 6 hours after eating) - watch videos on choking (serious) vs gagging (will happen often especially at the start) - we started with avocado as first food both mashed and in finger sticks and she preferred self feeding so we continued with BLW - Also, I found my baby eats more with me feeding her but enjoys food more eating on her own, so we do a mix :)

I did a bit of both with my little boy. If you’re not sure where to start I had a book by Annabel Karmel - just called Weaning. It has all the information about what to avoid etc She also has recipes for purées and finger foods and she also has a suggested menu for the first 3 weeks - made it easy for me as I didn’t have to think about what to make. Once you get started, you’ll soon find out what suits you and your baby!

Wow thank you so much everyone! Such great information shared here ♥️