Ditching purees

I think we're definitely going to go for a baby-led weaning approach. Monday was horrible. I gave him a jar of baby food at lunch...to make a change from fruit and veggies (even the veggie ones he likes have fruit in) I gave him a meat and veg one. It was one he'd had before and didn't seem too keen...though the first time around I thought it was the texture as it was much thicker than other stuff he'd had. So Monday he tried it again, gagged and threw up. Later that day, I watered it down and tried again to rule out the thickness of it as a problem...he'd have a couple spoons then sit there with his mouth hanging open as if to say "What the hell am I supposed to do with this crap?" and then look as though he wanted to throw up again. Fair enough, I thought...I don't like beef either. So dinner time comes and we try something new...this time a bit of our dinner (baked potato and beans) blizted up in the blender. I don't know if it was just because of earlier on but he was not impressed. He took a tiny bit off the spoon and then "WAAAHHHHHH!!!!" He then cried and shouted all through our dinner...something which is a common occurence whether we give him any puree or not. The one place he's happy at dinner time is on our laps, playing with our dinner plates. Fair enough...he's curious, though it is a PITA when I need two hands to eat.

So last night, we had pizza for dinner and I forgot all about spoon feeding and just plonked him in his high chair with a rusk. He loved it! Now, he's had rusks before so I know he likes them...what I mean is, it was the quietest, calmest dinner we've had in a while...he happily munched his rusk by himself whilst watching mummy and daddy eating.

So I'm thinking now that'll I'll only spoonfeed stuff that's meant to be eaten with a spoon (he loves yoghurt). But otherwise, he can have proper food (from 6 months and within reason of course...got to keep an eye on salt levels for example) and work it out at his own pace.