- Main doubts about the BLW method
- 1. What to do if the baby chokes?
- 2. How to give bananas and other soft fruits in the BLW method?
- 3. Does the baby need fluids with meals?
- 4. What if the baby gets a lot of dirt?
- 5. When will the baby use cutlery?
- 6. Can I start with breakfast, lunch and a snack on the same day?
- 7. How long does the baby take to eat?
In the BLW method the baby eats the food holding everything in his hands, but for that he needs to be 6 months old, sit alone and show interest in the parents' food. In this method, baby food, soups and mashed meals offered with a spoon are not recommended, although breastfeeding should be continued for at least 1 year.
Learn how to start this method, what the baby can and shouldn't eat, and other questions about the BLW method - baby-guided feeding.
Main doubts about the BLW method
1. What to do if the baby chokes?
If the baby chokes the natural is to have the gag reflex, which will try to remove the food from the back of the throat alone. When this is not enough and the food is still blocking the breath, the adult should hold the baby on his lap, facing forward and press his closed hand against the baby's stomach, this will cause the food to be removed from the throat.
To prevent the baby from choking, the food must always be cooked so that he can hold it with his hand, without crushing it completely. Cutting food into strips is the best way to prevent it from getting blocked in the throat. Thus, cherry tomatoes and grapes should not be cut in half, but vertically so that they are more elongated and can pass through the throat more easily.
2. How to give bananas and other soft fruits in the BLW method?
The best way is to choose a banana that is not very ripe and cut it in half. Then you should remove only a part of the peel with a knife and give the baby the banana so that he can hold the banana with the peel and be able to put the peeled part in the mouth. As the baby eats, parents can peel the shell off with a knife. You should not peel the banana and give it to the baby because he will be able to mash it and spread it on the table, without eating anything.
In the case of other soft fruits like mango, it is best to choose one that is not very ripe, cut into thick slices and then cut into strips for the baby to eat, it is not advisable to remove the peel and give the whole mango to the baby, because it slips and he may lose interest in the fruit or be very angry because he is unable to eat.
3. Does the baby need fluids with meals?
Ideally, an adult should not take more than half a glass of liquid at the end of meals to avoid disrupting digestion, and so do babies. You can offer water or fruit juice, but in small quantities, and always after eating. Putting a baby-friendly cup is the best way to ensure that it doesn't get all wet.
If the baby does not show interest in the water or juice, it indicates that he does not need or is not thirsty, so one should not insist. Babies who are yet to be breastfed will remove all the fluid they need from the breast.
4. What if the baby gets a lot of dirt?
At this stage it is normal for the baby to take and mash all the food with his hands and then put it in his mouth. Placing plastic on the floor, under and around the chair can be an excellent solution so you don't have to worry about dirt. Sitting the baby in a large bowl can be another solution.
5. When will the baby use cutlery?
From 1 year of age, the baby should be able to hold the cutlery better, making it easier for him to learn to eat the same food cooked and cut into strips, but with a fork. Before that, the baby should only eat with his hands.
6. Can I start with breakfast, lunch and a snack on the same day?
There is no restriction on this, but to make it a more natural process, you should choose only 1 meal, usually a snack, for the first week and see how the baby reacts. In the second week, you can add breakfast, before or after the feed, and from the 3rd week on, you can add another meal.
7. How long does the baby take to eat?
The baby takes more time to eat the food he needs to 'chew' than if he just ate soup or baby food, where he practically just needs to swallow. However, the BLW method is more natural, being guided at the pace that the baby chooses. In any case, parents must choose, and they can adopt this method only at dinner or at weekends, when they have more time, but this is not ideal because the baby can reject food or show no interest because his taste buds do not. is being stimulated enough. As a rule, babies who learn to eat vegetables from an early age eat healthier throughout their lives, with a lower risk of being overweight or obese.
