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Food before 1 is just for fun! As long as they're still nursing or getting formula, then they're getting appropriate nutrition. Mashing and exploring it is part of the experience. I like the suggestions that others have said, about modeling and showing her how to eat. And it's possible she's just not ready or that interested in food right now. That might be why you felt like you were force feeding her.

That said, there are two things that are my favorite tools that help facilitate BLW. Food pouches let you still use purees, but let them be in charge of getting it to their mouth. You can put in yogurt, apple sauce, or any other puree that you would use. Mashed sweet potatoes and banana, carrots and apples are all easy. Squooshi Reusable Food Pouch | 8 Pack - G.O. Pattern | NEW LARGER SIZE! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HPD4V1Y/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_U5pGxbVBN2BSX

I also love the feeder that others have mentioned. I prefer the silicone as well, because it comes apart and can go through the dish washer. It's great for food that they've mashed while trying to eat it, while playing, or if I can't be sitting right there. Efbock Nipple Fresh Food Milk Nibbler Feeder Feeding Tool Safe Baby Supplies Toys 1set https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018EEFVK2/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_b8pGxb5BXXDRQ

Don't stress if she's not super interested. Better to wait until she shows interest than to force feed her and make her frustrated. There's nothing magical at 6 months... she might just need more time.

Things can get pretty messy, really fast. I personally like that my bird has his own tray, to squish, swish and play with his food in. I also don't feel like he is not at the table with us, he sits with us and we all eat at the same time so it feels very inclusive. That being said if you don't mind the certain mess all over your table and what not, I think it will be fine, but serious THE MESS!

We use Fisher-Price Booster Seat, Rainforest https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CSAWINW/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_U9L3tb0ED0G20QMQ

And we love it, it's easy, goes on any chair, great to take along and the best part about it...So easy to clean. Every other week I take it outside and hose it right off. Perfect. No worrying about taking things apart or small crevices. Seriously love it.

Good for you! Yay for being motivated and taking charge to improve your diet!! I'm not going to lie, it will be hard because cooking from scratch takes time. What helps is preparation: grocery lists, meal planning, even ingredient preparation ahead of time so that the actual cooking process is easier. However, do make sure that you do allow yourself and your family some allowances, especially when time gets tight. It's okay if your family has some pre-prepared foods and your baby gets steamed carrot sticks instead of what you are eating; in fact it's even okay if he gets purees. BLW is a fluid process and everything is situation- and baby-dependent. The most important thing is that he gets fed and gets the appropriate nutrition that he needs.

For resources, I am a fan of this book!, but check Amazon, they have a lot of good resources. For websites, I am a huge fan of Wholesome Baby Food, and skinnytaste. Skinnytaste is geared more towards adults and families with older children (who can chew), but you can go through her recipes and parse out the ones that would be appropriate for BLW at different ages. Additionally, skinnytaste does substitute a lot in order to lower calories, for example, low fat cottage cheese instead of full fat cottage cheese. If you use the recipes for your baby, you'll want to add the fat back in.

Good luck!

I pretty much followed his cues with silverware as well. We do spoonfeed some things like yogurt and oatmeal, when he we wants those and is willing to eat off a spoon. Sometimes he wants to try navigating a loaded spoon to his mouth, and we let him try that whenever he's interested. He does get annoyed with it sometimes, because he can't do it fast enough, so it's best to try when he is hungry, but not too hungry.

We also feed him off our own forks, especially at restaurants or friends' houses. He just started wanting to try a fork of his own recently (18 months), and does a pretty good job at stabbing things with the fork to load it, but seems to prefer then to pick the food off the fork, rather than bring it to his mouth. If I load the fork for him, he will successfully get it in his mouth, so I know he can do the whole thing, just apparently not in sequence.

We got him his own silverware set that's stubby and easy to hold.

Hi and welcome! I'd really suggest reading this book. It's more of an all-in approach but its a good starting point :) I feel confident after reading it and can give advice about most posts on this sub just based on basics laid out in the book. And based on personal experience it all makes sense. Good luck!

He watched us eating, he would get fussy while we cooked food and would sometimes reach for the food.

You definitely don't have to wait for these things though as long as your LO is able to sit well in the high chair. Just thought I'd mention it, because if I had known I would have started sooner with my guy.

My LO has done fantastic with BLW so far, he really enjoys meal time and has eaten literally everything we have offered. One thing I think that has really helped him get into it is to eat with us.

We got him this high chair.
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00IOGIM9S/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_t8dHAbJCKEBTK

He is able to sit at the table with us and it has been an absolute joy watching him eat, play and learn during meals!

Silicone ice cube trays or bite sized brownie moulds are great for smaller stuff like black beans. I have this one. The wells are the perfect size for a small baby portion, you can use a couple squares if baby eats more.
https://www.amazon.com/Wilton-Bite-Size-Brownie-Silicone-24-Cavity/dp/B001T4URXG/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=wilton+brownie+bite&qid=1567638440&s=gateway&sr=8-1
For larger things like sweet potato spears or baked pears spread them out on a cookie sheet, freeze then transfer to a freezer bag. If you put them directly in the freezer bag instead of doing the cookie sheet first they will all stick together :p

Like I said, I haven't read it yet myself, but I believe the book "Baby-Led Weaning: The Essential Guide to Introducing Solid Foods - and Helping Your Baby to Grow Up a Happy and Confident Eater" by Gill Rapley is considered to be the primary authority on the subject.

I have these ones, too, have for several years. I'm often too lazy to fill them up, but they work well and my kids love them.

If you buy refillable pouches, get a long-spouted cup to fill them with (like this ). Also, the dishwasher doesn't ever get them clean - I clean them with a bottle brush.

Yes! We love this book for great recipes and tips on how to get more complex: Baby Led Weaning Cookbook. There’s a lot of good vegetarian stuff in there.

I bought toddler sized plastic utensils.

I liked these when we first started out because the bend in the handle and the more curved fork were easier for him to use.

I can't find an online link, but the other set we use are made out of recycled plastic and look like adult utensils except they're smaller. My son is two and a half now and while he can use adult utensils with ease, he prefers to use the smaller toddler sized ones. I think they're more comfortable for him.

Our son did that too! He eventually figured it out tho and so will your son. He has to learn and figure out his gag reflexes. Thankfully when they’re little like this their gag reflex are so far forward they’ll spit a lot out. This book helped a lot:

Baby-Led Weaning: The Essential Guide to Introducing Solid Foods-and Helping Your Baby to Grow Up a Happy and Confident Eater https://www.amazon.com/dp/161519021X/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_OC0IDb966D480

The Baby Led Weaning Cookbook by Gill Rapley is the one I suggest to people. http://www.amazon.com/Baby-Led-Weaning-Cookbook-Recipes-Foodsand/dp/161519049X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1453462832&sr=8-2&keywords=Baby+led+weaning

I think it's the best resource and has a good summary of food types, sizes, and concerns about things like salt intake.

You can find most of the information for BLW online. We love it! But, I do want to suggest the Hungry Monkey by Matthew Amster-Burton. It is not an instruction book or anything (although it does have recipes in it) but its a really fun read!

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https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0547336896

Have you tried Snapeas? Those could be good.

My daughter also loves these green beans.

For sure request the toddler meal.

Healthy Times Organic Baby Teethers, Apple & Sweet Potato | 6 Ingredient Teether Snack, Easily Dissolves Without a Mess | For Babies 6-12 Months | 1.7 oz Bag, 1 Count

Can you just slip a waterproof cover over them? Dappi makes super cheap diaper covers. (Warning, they run big, order a size or two down: Dappi Waterproof 100% Nylon Diaper Pants, 2 Pack, White, Small https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0035JL90S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_kmbLAbKVH14HB)

If you do end up going with pouches, either reusable or store-bought, I highly recommend these pouch toppers to prevent your baby from squeezing the contents of the pouch all over the place.

I liked the Born to Eat book

I like the BLW cookbook - it explains the basics succinctly and provides recipe examples: http://www.amazon.com/The-Baby-Led-Weaning-Cookbook-Foods-ebook/dp/B00BSGE330/

Toast with avocado, coconut oil or hummus, cut in little squares

Roasted vegetables, usually broccoli or carrots.

Grape tomatoes, cut in half or quarter depending on size

Baked beans

Fried rice

Fruit

Just got some containers like these too, it's been making it easy to pack a small variety of stuff

Sistema Klip It Collection Small Split Food Storage Containers, 1.5 Cup each, Set of 3 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NSJ88V8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_S4iAxbT17F2BP

I think this one is the standard BLW book!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00440CUPA/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?ie=UTF8&btkr=1

We have been using these:
Sistema Klip It Multi-Use Food Storage Container Set, 14-Piece https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NSJ88V8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Q0U6CbPHQMDAA

We only send one meal right now as our daughter is almost 8 months old. I usually do fruit in one compartment and either baked egg, waffle, or toast in the other. We also use the round Take and Toss containers to send Cheerios so she can practice her pincer grasp.

I've never heard that before! Give him all the meats! My sons favorite thing to suck on/naw on was Pulled Pork!

Those little gums can do a lot, no need to wait for molars!

My MIL wasn't on board with BLW (or anything that I do LOL) so I got this book and let her read it.


https://www.amazon.com/Baby-Led-Weaning-Cookbook-Recipes-Foods_and/dp/161519049X

Sorry for the long link, but this is what worked for my 6 month old. I had to introduce him to a bottle because he wasn't breastfeeding correctly anymore and he hated the normal bottle so this is what we started with and then moved to a normal straw cup by 8 months. Munchkin Click Lock Weighted Straw Cup, 7 Ounce, Green https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JQSITMI/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_c_api_i_0HqYCbE9RSTED