which books are best about BLW and TW?

[hellosailor]

Morning,

I would like to read up on weaning as we're approaching it (baby is 5 months but will wait until at least 6 months) - and work out whether to do BLW or a combo if that's possible? Is it possible to do BLW and combine with TW? Is anyone doing that?

I don't know much about it yet but I have an instinct that I may not want to do just BLW as my baby has fallen 3 centiles and has reflux and tongue tie - latter two hopefully will be sorted soon, but perhaps because feeding has thus far been a difficult journey for us I can't envisage her wolfing down finger foods with gusto (though hope I'm wrong and she'll surprise me!) so hopefully it's possible to combine styles?

what are the best books for me to look at on BLW and TW in your opinion? thanks for advice!

[Fuschia]

Google bSby led weaning and baby led weaning blog you will find plenty

Otherwise gill rapleys book is very common sense and reassuring

[snowboarder]

For BLW Gill Rapely is THE book - there's a cookbook too (cue laughing - recipe one - steamed vegetables...). Tbh worth reading whatever you do - as is v reassuring about not getting too stressed about what they do/don't eat. Like most people we did a mix, sometimes more one than another depending on baby's whim that day (spoonfeed me! Get that spoon away from me! sigh...)

For traditional - annabel karmel or Gina Ford? Both have structured meal plans etc and annabel karmel - well - some of the food is dinner party worthy!!

[Lacey]

We do a mix too with our 6 month baby of purees and finger foods (roasted veg etc). I read the Rapley books and was keen to try blw but my baby has also had slow weight gain. A book I like is river cottage baby and toddler cookbook. The author is a blw advocate (and explains all the theory) but also includes plenty of puree recipes and suggests how to adapt adult/toddler recipes for babies.

[Saffron]

If a baby's weight gain appears slow and spoon feeding helps ease parental anxiety, then I have no issue with that. (Parents should feel relaxed and happy about their weaning choices!)

*BUT* it is a myth that BLW babies gain weight slowly. It is also a myth that low-weight, healthy babies should not do BLW. And finally it is a myth that premature babies must be spoon fed at weaning. Premature babies may simply need to be milk fed for longer in order to wait for their physical development to progress to the point of having the ability to self feed.

If you do spoon feeding + offering finger foods, this is not truly baby-led weaning. There's isn't anything wrong with that as long as you and Baby are both happy. Although, if you do BLW and want to occasionally offer Baby something on a spoon, or if someone else offers Baby something on a spoon, it doesn't 'ruin' your BLW.

Under year old, milk-feeds are the most important for babies. Everything else is about learning and having fun. xx

PS: I have the BLW book, and also Annabel Karmel book if you want to borrow...

[hellosailor]

thanks so much for responses, all very helpful, will look at Rapley and Karmel books and see what I think would suit us. Thanks so much for offer of lend Saffron, just ordered them before I saw it!

[Saffron]

Doh. Nevermind, they're both really nice books, I'm sure you will enjoy reading them. (Which Karmel book did you get? I think I have three different books by her.)

I also have Dr Alex Richardon's "They Are What You Feed Them". This is a refreshingly unbiased and non-patronising look at children's nutrition. I'm happy to lend it. Of course if you're a booklover like I am, you'll probably want to buy it!