So I’ve posted about this before. And got some backlash saying “it’s not BLW if you’re giving purées” and “no such thing as combo feeding it’s one of the other” type of comments. Someone pls explain... why does it even matter?

I have shared my smoothie with my daughter, that’s “puree” what about butternut squash soup, purée texture. It makes no sense how purées “aren’t allowed” when BLW. When ALL textures of foods should be included, no?

“Confusion!!” Is the next thing I get. How is it going to confuse a baby when they’re already exploring different textures with ANY food. Potatoes are different than broccoli, rice, toast, egg, yogurt, etc..

Why do so many baby led weaner’s push following the “rules” so strictly. “It’s about them feeding themselves!” Yes. I preload yogurt or my smoothie for her, and she takes the spoon and feeds herself. I just don’t understand the strict guidelines that you “have to give finger shape foods” and you “have to let them feed themselves!”

My daughter is almost 8 months old, uses her pincer grasp, finds her mouth just fine, uses pre loaded spoons, eats purées and solids and anything in between. Without confusion. I mean I suppose it may confuse some babies but you don’t know if you don’t try, so why such strict “rules” also never did the finger shape foods,which is also another confusion of mine... “so they can grip it easily and learn to bite off appropriate size pieces” but, what I don’t understand is, (since we never did that just small pieces) “small pieces can bypass the gag reflex and lead to choking” but if they bite a big chunk, it’s also not for sure that they will gag or spit it out, which can lead to choking as well.

Maybe I’m overthinking this 🤣 but that’s how I am lol. Things just don’t make sense! 😣 we started with smaller than bite size chunks, so even if swallowed whole, isn’t a choking hazard, at 7 months she learned to manipulate food in her mouth and started eating whole puffs, now at almost 8 months she stuffs her face herself and has only gagged if she puts too much food in. Am I wrong to think they should be learning how to manipulate food first before learning to take appropriate size bites? Because now she chews so good that I’m comfortable with her eating more amounts at a time, which she is learning how much she can god in her mouth, and gags a little maybe once in a blue moon if too much, or spits out.. I feel many other parents wouldn’t be so anxious about baby gagging so much at 6months when they don’t even know how to manipulate food yet.

Thoughts?