Feeding your baby BLW style

Lientjie, I think the first time I only allowed Kyle sweets/chocalates was at about 8 months. Before that, I cant recall ver giving him something sweet. I let him have a bite of a chocalate if we are having one or a party but I am lucky enoght that not one of us in our household are big sweet eaters.

Zodwa, You have made a good choice by introducing BLW. Many people are against it but it makes me wonder what parents were feeding babies may years ago when there was no purity and blenders and things like that. What about people raising babies in poorer communities that can only afford to feed there children the same food that they are eating, Im sure all those children turn out fine and dont choke to death. Just my opinion though

Marijke, Maybe you can help me with this one. Like last night, I made a big pot of pasta. We had so much leftovers. Would it be fine if I just put it into smaller containers and freeze it for Kyle. It is spaghetti with chicken and pasta sauce. For how long can I freeze it. He loves spaghetti

Lientjie, I sometimes give B those small mashmallows (I know some peoples opinion on marshmallows but B can handle them very well) Also sometimes a chomp but she doesn't really like sweet things. She still 'grils' for real chocolate. She likes chips but I'd rather give fruit as a snack. And yoghurt also isn't an everyday thing. Sometimes it's an inbetween snack.

On sundays we have coffee with my family and there is always cake or something sweet and she gets a bite or two but she looses interest after a while and goes to play.

I only started with sweets after 6 months and then only once a week, if that!

@Zodwa - sorry I wasn't around on the Feb'10 group to back you up! You're definitely not the only one there pro-BLW! But I'm glad you found the support you were looking for here - where I agree is the right place to look for it.

@Claudia - I also don't want sweets, etc to be regarded as rewards for good behaviour. But I also don't want to give it too early and I want to encourage other healthier options. eg pudding is not an everyday thing in our house, but kind of a "treat" on Sundays and maybe once more during the week.

What age will you ladies start to allow / allowed sweets and chocolates?

I decided way before James was born that I wasnt going to allow chocolates/ sweet things to become treats for being good, that I wanted them to become a normal food because I was sick and tired of seeing children scoffing down sweets and evry opportunity because they were denied them by their parents unless they were good. My parents never denied me food and I am one of the few poeple that I know that doesnt "comfort eat" when I am down, My parents also allowed me to have my fads (I went a whole term in grade 1 where I ould only eat mayonaise on bread at lunch). I now eat much better than my hubby who scoffs a lot of biscuits/high carbs and skips meals. I think it can only be a good thing to allow your child to make food choices (from a healthy selection) from a young age.

Claudia, I LOVED the book. I still read certain parts of it. But yes the part that got to me the most was about sitting and walking yet we decide when to start spooning food in their mouth. It's a shame really.

I wonder a lot about the link between obesity and feeding. Like the book explains so well, we always push for another bite with spoonfeeding when babies are already full, so they kind of learn to ignore when they are full, which could very well be why so many people are morbidly obese

Okay so I got the book and have already read it coer to cover. Will have to go back to some things though when I start on solids.
All I can say is the concept is EXCELLENT. Zodwa if you are feeling down et the book, it is full of really good advice. Aside from the research etc I liked the 1st chapter when they looked into the reasons for feeding pureed foods. I wonder how many moms realise that babies have only been fed purees for the last 60years or so and it was linked to more and more people giving up breatfeeding and the formulas not being good enough nutrition to sustain growth. I was especially interested that babies used to be started on chicken bones/broths at 9 Months! (obviously formula is much better now than it was in the 50's)

I'm a physiotherapist and the developmental thing about how we dont force our babies to walk when they are not ready, why do we force them to eat was VERY interesting.

I just think its one of those things that food companies and the like have marketed soo well, especially since most doctors I know are still advocating starting solids at 4 months, despite huge amount of research indicating this is too early (for babies born full term)

In the middle ages no one had blenders:)

I have given the book to my mom - although I have already eplained the concept and she thinks its great. We sat last night discussing all the foods we can try giving James that I love to cook!

Now just have to wait for James to become developmentally ready to eat (which I have a feeling may come befroe 6 months because hes only 14 weeks and is already rolling, sitting with minimal support, mouthing his toys (although he misses a lot when trying to pick them up), but we'll see)

Yeah - whatever... I get it!