My wife and I have started our DS on his BLW journey. We've read many resources regarding this and feel it is the right choice for us. He is healthy, happy and growing. We recently went to our new Dr for his 6 month checkup. Which she inquired if he was on solid food yet. We of course said yes that we were doing BLW and she was curious what we have been feeding him, as she admitted, she knew nothing of BLW. We told her we give him cooked finger foods, fruit, rice crackers etc... and have decided against using puree's and cereals.

She was instantly appalled and insisted we stop. She said it was a terrible idea and that if we continue to feed him this way she will have no choice but too call child protective services (CPS) on us. Though she said she was not trying to "threaten" us, that it is her obligation.

We were both surprised at her reaction and assured her we were aware of the risks, if you can call them that, and we'd take her suggestion under advisement. She said we had to make another appointment for the following week after we had time to think about it.

We assumed she would take the time in this week to actually do some research on BLW as we find her accusations were overly aggressive. Well, she didn't read a thing nor would she even glance at the information from NS Health (Correction... Health Canada - http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/pubs/infant-nourrisson/nut_infant_nourrisson_term_6-eng.php ) suggesting after 6months you can start giving you baby finger foods, or this months issue of Today's Parent discussing it, or the book "Baby Led Weaning" (http://www.baby-led.com/)

She advised she will be contacting the CPS as we will not be changing the way we feed our DS.

This is ridicules. Has anyone had any other experiences like this from their family Dr? I feel like she is over stepping her bounds as a Dr and bullying us. Should we report this?

On that note... we will not be returning to her and would appreciate any recommendations to open minded, Dr's. in downtown Halifax.

Oh my goodness!!

You sound like you're keeping this attrocious accusation/event in perspective, which is more than I'd be able to do. Just here re-affirming that you obviously have nothing to worry about as far as CPS goes...is there something magical that happens at 6mos where milk is no longer full of nutrition and everything it needs to sustain life (I missed that memo if that's the case). Your doctor's moves proved her failure to keep up with current research and were incredibly un-professional and just mean, in my opinion! Unfortunately, I have no idea what the reporting process would even look like. From my experience with Public Health (on a cloth diaper at daycare issue) they were very helpful and knowledgable- they might be more aware of what your options are too...I'd try calling them and just see what they have to say (be sure to have their publications on hand in the event that the person who answers the phone isn't aware of their stance on healthy infant feeding).

I hope you find a good doctor that will support your choices or at very least respect your differences (and if you don't mind, send me a private message so I know who to avoid...).

If only closed minds came with closed mouthes!

P.S. We're doing child led weaning as well (and have been for 4 years now), I wasn't aware that solids were a part of it, but looking back I guess they were and that makes a lot of good sense. DS was never into infant cereal, and I made homemade purées once, but his real interests lied in what we were eating anyhow.

Thanks, unbelievable eh? We thought her being relatively young and with children of her own she'd at least understand our viewpoint even if she didn't support it. But essentially accusing us of intentionally trying to harm our DS was too far.

I don't want to name names, but if you use www.ratemds.com as a resource to search for a doctor you will certainly find an unfavourable review about this.

He eats with us, and eats almost what we eat, just 'plain' versions and he absolutely loves it. My wife has a number of allergies and being able to control exactly what he eats is another bonus.

Wow! I hope this all works out for you - like eirual said, I'm impressed you are able to keep this in perspective! You sound like you've done all your research, but I'd make sure you are comfortable defending it (not that you should have to) to CPS if they do call - I'm not sure of policy, and what reports they need to follow up on etc. I'm afraid I can't help with any family doctor recommendations in your area though, but good luck! Having a doctor you can trust and depend on is so important! I'm sorry you are having to deal with this.

My jaw dropped when I read your post! How ridiculous! I can't believe your doc reacted in such an ignorant way. Most docs look things up or investigate futher before taking such extreme action. Did she actually report you to CPS or just threaten to? I think she has crossed the line here so I would totally file a complaint against her to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of N.S. Good luck!

We have not gone back to her since and we have not heard from CPS as of yet. Not sure if she will/did actually call. CPS will likely find this to be at the bottom of their priority.

Um, I have no Dr. recommendations as mine took one look at my sons weight and height measurements and told us to feed him cereal at 3 months - thank goodness for public health's booklet. At 6 months he told me that by now I should have tried him on almost every food imaginable. I reminded him that although he was huge, the current recommendation was for 6 months to begin solids.

And as if CPS really needs to hear about this? As someone who has unfortunately had to call frequently concerning a child, I will tell you that they will tell her that they have much more pressing issues.

The more I think about this, the more enraged I am. You know - I think you should enlist the help of your local (our local) LLL. This is what they are there for. Have a nurse in/education session in this doctors office. I think a lot of us (LLL / AP parents) would be willing to support you.

It would certainly be worth looking into! There are legalities involved with it being private property (is a doctor's office private property?). Maybe somewhere like Public Health would be more appropriate (I know they already agree with the message- it would just bring to light that fact that the doctors are advising otherwise). I would say it would be worth bringing up at the next LLL meeting and see what comes of it. Great idea!

Just imagine how many other parents who may not have been so set/determined in their ways might have changed what they were doing or wrote it off entirely because of misinformed (read UNinformed!...no wait, they were informed, they just didn't care, let's make that negligent)advice they were given from their doctor!

So CPS arrived today for a scheduled lunch appointment. After talking with us and understanding a little bit more of what Baby Led Weaning was all about they find, in our situation, to be just fine. She watched as we all had lunch together, pasta, sweet potatoes and cucumbers (for him). The points they needed to confirm was, can he sit-up on his own, is the food cooked so he can mash it with his gums, or in the case of fruit is it soft enough is the food appropriate (no grapes & such) and does he have any problems with it, gagging, fussy etc...

It was upsetting that it had to come to this, as one can only hope that they have an understanding Dr. In our case we didn't. CPS will be closing this case.

For those who are thinking about it, it can be done. There is nothing wrong with it (so long as you are educated about it and responsible), despite what your Dr. might think.

I'm glad it has all been resolved, but I'm so sorry it got to that point - it must have been very stressful and upsetting. Will CPS report back to the doctor so she knows? Not that you will be going back to her, but it'd be nice to think she might learn something from this so she doesn't make another family go through this stress.