Struggling with weaning
I’m really struggling with baby led weaning. I’ve been giving my daughter (8 months) purées but I keep reading that baby led weaning is better so I’ve been trying it for the past few weeks. She also is very hungry (4x 10oz bottles and 3x meals - feel like all I’m doing in bottles or cooking or feeding) and I feel like she needs more substance than puree. Anyway, she keeps choking (like actual choking not just gagging where I have to pat her back to get up whatever she’s got in there) because I think she puts too much food in her mouth. She also seems to store a lot of food in her cheeks? I’m following the NHS guidance and so many instagram accounts for first meals - I’m preparing and cooking things following the advice to a tea.
Feel so disappointed in myself like I’m doing something wrong. I was so disheartened when I tried to breastfeed and then couldn’t produce enough milk and moved to formula at 3 weeks - it’s like that all over again. I’m stressing out so much spending all my time thinking about her food. Don’t think it helps that I already feel embarrassed about my cooking skills, my husband doesn’t let me forget that I’m a terrible cook.
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Firstly let me just say, you are doing a great job, it's evident you are a good mom who is trying to do the best for her baby so please be more gentle on yourself.
I would suggest speaking to your health visitor and maybe they will put it a referral to speech and language therapy (they are ones who identify if your child has any chewing/swallowing issues, is tongue tie possible ect)
I have bad ptsd and have not moved on from purees and mashed food yet because I am terrified my baby chokes, so I praise you for trying to overcome your anxiety surrounding feeding.
I'm pretty sure tongue tie can affect eating when weening because they are having to move their tongues around to chew.
Maybe safest to possibly go back a step slightly to mashed while waiting for a referral, constant choking may give her a bad relationship with food and create more problems in the future - anxiety ect
It's great when we are told, this is best and that is best, do this and do that but babies tell you what they need.
Listen to your little one and trust your gut.
My breast milk stopped coming in when my LO was about 8 weeks and I felt like I had failed her, but I didn't. I did my best. She's 8 months old, happy and thriving, well fed, warm and loved.
There's so much pressure on us mamas, be kind to yourself.
Your doing great mama
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