“Okay, so we started with purees…can we and how do we switch to BLW?!?”
A lot of families started or will start solids for their babies with purees.
First and foremost – this is FINE! I 100% believe in the value of letting baby lead their own weaning journey, but…
I never want you to think that just because I specialize in the baby-led side of solids doesn’t mean I won’t support you if your path looks different.
I hear from a lot of moms who started with purees, then realize their baby is really independent and would rather feed themselves. Or they heard about BLW after they started and want to switch, but not sure they can.
You can make that switch at any time, as long as you’re still providing foods safely for your little one! No need to wait.
In fact, several of the families I work with in First Foods Academy used purees at the beginning and most if not all of the families have somehow incorporated purees in part of their journey!
Remember that a puree can be something we eat too – like yogurt, smoothies or applesauce – it doesn’t have to mean a baby food jar from the store. And also remember that BLW does not mean that you can’t use purees! You totally can incorporate them and still use a baby-led approach!
My client Charlotte did purees with Baby K for about 4 months, and realized she was feeling stuck there. She was nervous to switch to finger foods, but she also knew how important it was, as Baby K was 10.5 months at the time, and getting closer and closer to her 1st birthday.
We navigated through some challenges the quick switch could create, and came up with a game plan. And Baby K responded wonderfully!
Here are some things you might see:
👉Your baby may not like it right away. You changed up their routine, remember? Routine changes aren’t always fun for a baby – or anyone for that matter!😉
👉They may gag at first. Remember that they literally just swallowed whatever puree you fed them before. That’s how purees work. Now you’re changing things up on them and they have to learn how to maneuver food around in their mouth, and chew before they swallow! It takes practice!
👉They may want you to feed them, especially if they’re use to that. Resist the urge to give in!
Here’s what you can be doing instead, to help your baby succeed:
✔️Place the food in front of them, or hand them the spoon/piece of food. Let them put it in their own mouth.
✔️Eat something along with them and talk to them about how to do it. Exaggerate your chewing and show them! You might feel silly but it’ll help them to understand the concept.
✔️Offer a puree alongside finger foods so there is something there that is familiar, until you have enough familiar finger foods to make a balanced meal.
✔️Don’t give up and go back to purees if they won’t eat the finger food options. The last thing we want to do is revert back to what is comfortable just because what we’re trying is hard. If we want our baby to make progress and learn, we have to consistently do this.
My client Ashley started with some purees and mashes with Baby E before switching over to a more finger food approach, and when they first made the switch, Baby E had LOTS of gags. At first, Ashley was concerned the gagging would never end. But with my guidance, she pushed through, giving him lots of practice and now? He loves eating!
The methods I teach work to help you navigate solids, whether you start with purees or finger foods. And my clients are proof that the transition doesn’t have to be difficult!
Sometimes laying out a plan for this process is what you need to stay on track and reach those goals!
Want to learn how to lay out this plan? Schedule a free discovery call with me, and we can chat about what this would look like for your family! I’ll give you 45 minutes of my undivided attention to talk through your challenges and discuss what you really want from this journey.
Let’s do this together!
