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31st out of 137 books
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48 voters
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Baby-led Weaning: Helping Your Baby Love Good Food
This authoritative guide to baby-led weaning — the latest buzz in parenting circles — explains the benefits of infant self-feeding in terms of nutritional health, eating habits, motor development, independence and confidence. Baby-led Weaning is written by the UK’s leading authority on the subject.
Paperback, 256 pages
Published
December 16th 2008
by Vermilion
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I loved this book so much I read through the entire thing in a day. We had already decided to do BLW before we bought this book, so we required very little convincing. Still, this book presented some of the research done on BLW and contained TONS of personal anecdotes by BLW parents, all of which really solidified our resolve to take this approach with our son. I really enjoyed the relaxed approach to solids advocated by this book.
The only reason I gave it 3 stars was because the die...more
The only reason I gave it 3 stars was because the die...more
I used this method (I've also seen it called self-feeding in the US) with both kids so far and absolutely love it. It is both easier and, in my experience, far more successful at creating kids with healthy food attitudes. Babies don't have to be fed purees from a spoon. They can learn to feed themselves the same foods the rest of the family eats from about 6 months on. Adults just have to suppress their concerns about babies eating the "right" amounts and learn to trust that the ba...more
The puree ship had already sailed by the time I got this book , but it still has a lot of useful information to it about starting solids, how babies take to them, etc. (There's even a little Q&A section devoted to "whoops, the puree ship already sailed; can I still get on this boat?"--the answer is yes, but it may take a little more time, so that's the direction we'll be moving.)
The most useful information (to me) I found in here was the suggestion to use a shot glass wh...more
The most useful information (to me) I found in here was the suggestion to use a shot glass wh...more
There are so many schools of thought when it comes to feeding your infant! When I took my baby to his 4 month appointment, the pediatrician told me that basically we can do whatever we want when it comes to feeding. She said just don't give him honey and cows milk (to drink) until he is a year old, but besides that do what we like. She said food schedules don't really matter and that it's best to exclusively breastfeed until he is 6 months. She also said to introduce foods slowly so that if he r...more
I was unsure how to start weaning and which method I would chose when my health visitor recommended BLW. I decided that this was the route to take, especially following further discussion with my friend who had done BLW with her daughter, she lent me this book and I am so glad that she did. I started reading this book about a week or so before I started weaning, so by this point I had decided upon BLW, the first part of the book is very much sales pitch for BLW, which gets a bit much to some ext...more
I definitely plan to use this method to introduce solids. However, the book itself was not much more useful then the website. The authors repeated themselves a lot. I think they were trying to find a way to fill up a whole book but failed at that. But redundancy aside, this book did raise my confidence in trying this with my daughter. I liked the explanations about the gag reflex as well as as their logic for things like 'if they are eating enough' and 'giving the baby control of feeding and...more
I have to agree with the reviewer who said this book was about a third too long. In one section of the book, I felt as though I was reading the same information over and over again, slightly re-worded each time. With a little editing, the book could be more concise and still contain all the same information.
That said, I found it a helpful book. After a basic rundown of all the benefits of BLW, the author gives some great suggestions for first finger foods, as well as ideas to use ...more
That said, I found it a helpful book. After a basic rundown of all the benefits of BLW, the author gives some great suggestions for first finger foods, as well as ideas to use ...more
Very useful, interesting and about a third longer than it really needs to be. Perhaps the repetition is there to sink the ideas firmly into a baby-addled brain.
Key points so far
- if you can make sure that your meals are baby safe (no whole nuts, added salt or sugar) then you can pretty much just share them with your 6 month old.
- 5 cm long bits of food are easiest to grasp at first
- let the child control their food intake (so long as only healthy foods are offered) ...more
Key points so far
- if you can make sure that your meals are baby safe (no whole nuts, added salt or sugar) then you can pretty much just share them with your 6 month old.
- 5 cm long bits of food are easiest to grasp at first
- let the child control their food intake (so long as only healthy foods are offered) ...more
I enjoyed this book and found it readable and informative. However, I was already sold on the idea of baby led weaning, so I was hoping it would spend a little less time convincing me to do BLW and a little more time explaining methods and giving recipe ideas.
As it turns out my little boy was born prematurely and by the time we were told to wean he was too young to do BLW, but I'm using the book to shape my attitudes to finger food in our traditional weaning, and I've ordered the coo...more
As it turns out my little boy was born prematurely and by the time we were told to wean he was too young to do BLW, but I'm using the book to shape my attitudes to finger food in our traditional weaning, and I've ordered the coo...more
I cannot wait until my daughter is ready to start solid foods. I have high hopes for following the techniques in this book in a few months. While the method is fairly common-sense, there isn’t a lot of real research behind it, so there are a lot of conjectures about the possible benefits which probably won’t convince someone who is already skeptical and are a bit overkill for those who are already on board. There is comprehensive information about how to get started, what to expect, and what fo...more
I really like the idea of this book: giving your kid normal food with the family at the table, rather than crazy blended spoon-feeding disasters. But I'm finding that its harder to put into practice than I thought. We really don't eat that many food that are easy for a 6 month old to handle! So maybe a combo of pureed stuff and solids will work best for us. I do like the idea of letting the kid explore textures and tastes for a few months before you really expect them to get much nutrition ...more
This book explains an approach to introducing solid foods to babies that is rather uncommon in our society but actually quite logical. Rather than beginning with the introduction of pureed solids at the age of 4-6 months, this book encourages readers to wait until the baby can sit up fairly well and brings things to his mouth (usually around 6+ months) and then give the baby large "sticks" of food that he can put into his mouth and learn to chew and swallow rather than being given spoo...more
I'm so so happy my friend Wendy introduced me to this book and this method of introducing solid food to babies -- otherwise, I wouldn't have known about it. It makes so much sense! This book provides sound arguments for why this lesser-known (but growing in popularity) method is more likely to produced a less-fussy eater. In this foodie family, that's exciting news. I'm excited to give it a go in about a month and 1/2.
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The book isn't particularly concise or well-written, but the method is sound. Just give your children real food and skip the purees. It's not a difficult concept, but I'm glad I read the book because it gave me the reassurance that it's a valid, safe approach. I highly recommend the method, and would just advise skimming the book to glean the core concepts.
Love the idea, although there are 2 things in the book I do not agree with. 1. I don't think it is horrible to spoon feed your child every once in a while, especially when they are willing to take what is on the spoon, and aren't fighting you, sometimes it easier than them struggling to get ahold of the food and accidentally dropping it on the floor and getting frusterated over it. 2. Food doesn't HAVE to be organic, organic is a crock anyway, take it from a farmer's wife. Just wash the stinkin'...more
Covers the history of how we feed our babies and attempts to make sense of why weaning has become a multi-step process (which is often frustrating for parent and child). Baby food seems to be another facet of eating which 'science' and industry have confused.This book sets things straight!
Very interesting, but very repetitive. In sum: Babies learn by watching and trying/playing. This applies to eating solids as well as everything else in life. Developmentally, babies acquire abilities in an order that minimizes the risk of choking. Pureed food is just as unappetizing to babies as it is to adults. Baby food is a racket. Milk is the best thing for babies under 1 year anyway. From 6 months, it's ok to give babies most of the regular stuff you eat. It's messy, though. Babie...more
While there was some good information, there was some that was completely inaccurate especially for breast fed babies. Also, the authors state that they set out to write a pamphlet but wrote a book. I think the pamphlet would have been sufficient.
After reading this book I am still not ready to necessarily use this technique with my child. I found it to be lacking in medical research. Essentially this entire book was based on a thesis by the author and not much other research seems to have been done about the benefits/risks of baby led weaning. There were however lots of anecdotal examples that I found interesting and I thought in general there were some good common sense things brought up about children and food. The photograph of the 7...more
Love Love Love this book! Great concept of the way we feed our babies in this culture. My 6mo old is trying all types of fruits, veggies, pastas, and some meats...he is having a blast and experiencing food with all 5 senses.
I really like the concepts laid out in this book. However, I thought it could have been about half the length it is if it were given a good editing. Too much of the information is repeated over and over. On the other hand, I wish they would have gone a bit more in-depth on some of the specifics - I am still a bit hazy on the best size for foods (approx. two inches long, but how big in diameter?), which ones should be given cooked vs. raw (carrots, e.g.) or if it matters, etc. Obviously I'm more ...more
I liked the concept behind this book. I'm offering some home-made purees to my baby, but I'm also doing BLW. It is going really well and I plan on moving to complete finger foods once he can handle them better (and my frozen stock of baby food is out :). Right now when I try to just do BLW things turn into a screaming fest. My son wants solid food very badly and gets extremely frustrated when he can't get it quickly into his mouth.
I'm obviously more concerned about allergies and chokin...more
I'm obviously more concerned about allergies and chokin...more
Jenni Hampel
added it
I definitely recommend this approach and the book does a great job explainin and answering questions - not the easiest for a quick flick through thoughbut it's all in there with some good summaries
Good info on how to start your child on solids without relying on purees. What I found most helpful were the meal suggestions. Sometimes it is easy to get stuck in a rut or to wonder what to feed your baby.
A great introduction to BLW and a good history of baby's first foods. I would have liked to see more ideas about first foods, but it all probably makes more sense after your baby starts eating. We plan to try this instead of purees this time around.
Once you have the concept down, there's not much you gain by reading the book. Google it and within an hour you should be pretty much set on the principles. Having said that, it's not a bad source for the info. And the concept itself, i.e. Self-feeding babies and giving them whole, not pureed foods, is a revelation to me and I so wish I'd heard about it before feeding my first child. It's been so great to raise my second baby, eating this way. Because of that I have to give it four stars. Every...more
Good concept, presentation was clear and organized with lots of good ideas and tips. I was hoping to see a bit more research, but perhaps there just isn't any on the subejct. Eventually it felt like some info was repeated, but that tends to happen in a Q&A section.
Very convincing information. Clearly written with lots of examples.
After reading this book there was no way I was going to go the spoon-feeding route.
After reading this book there was no way I was going to go the spoon-feeding route.
Recommended by Sonya:
http://outsidecat.com/wordvehicle/archiv...
Noting here for future reference. Don't get any ideas, KARLA.
http://outsidecat.com/wordvehicle/archiv...
Noting here for future reference. Don't get any ideas, KARLA.
Good topic; fast read. A little redundant, slow-going in parts, and you'll not lose much in skimming over many of the pages.
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