Baby-led weaning is a way to introduce solids to babies six months or older by allowing them to feed themselves a variety of nutritious foods. Some good options to start with include steamed or roasted vegetables cut into large, easy to hold pieces like carrots, sweet potatoes, and green beans. Fruits like banana, avocado, and melon are also good choices when ripe and cut appropriately for baby's development. Small pieces of soft cheese, egg yolks, beans, lentils, and meats are good protein-rich foods to include as well when babies are older.
Baby-led weaning is a way to introduce solids to babies six months or older by allowing them to feed themselves a variety of nutritious foods. Some good options to start with include steamed or roasted vegetables cut into large, easy to hold pieces like carrots, sweet potatoes, and green beans. Fruits like banana, avocado, and melon are also good choices when ripe and cut appropriately for baby's development. Small pieces of soft cheese, egg yolks, beans, lentils, and meats are good protein-rich foods to include as well when babies are older.
Baby-led weaning is a way to introduce solids to babies six months or older by allowing them to feed themselves a variety of nutritious foods. Some good options to start with include steamed or roasted vegetables cut into large, easy to hold pieces like carrots, sweet potatoes, and green beans. Fruits like banana, avocado, and melon are also good choices when ripe and cut appropriately for baby's development. Small pieces of soft cheese, egg yolks, beans, lentils, and meats are good protein-rich foods to include as well when babies are older.
Baby-led weaning is a way to introduce solids to babies six months or older by allowing them to feed themselves a variety of nutritious foods. Some good options to start with include steamed or roasted vegetables cut into large, easy to hold pieces like carrots, sweet potatoes, and green beans. Fruits like banana, avocado, and melon are also good choices when ripe and cut appropriately for baby's development. Small pieces of soft cheese, egg yolks, beans, lentils, and meats are good protein-rich foods to include as well when babies are older.
Baby-led weaning is a nourishing way to introduce your child to a wide variety of tastes and textures while developing their social and motor skills. It’s best to start at at least six months old, eight months may be better.* Also, use organic foods if possible, especially with animal products. As child gets older and her pincer grasp is better, you can cut foods into smaller pieces.
Vegetables: Acorn squash: Baked, peeled, and cut into long, holdable pieces. Add cinnamon & butter. Asparagus spears: Steamed and served whole at 8 months +. Add butter or olive oil. Broccoli: Steamed and served whole with handle (stem) at 8 months +. Add butter or olive oil. Butternut Squash: Baked, peeled and sliced into long pieces. Can add cinnamon & butter. Carrots: Whole carrots roasted with olive oil and rosemary. Green beans: Steamed and skin/stems removed. Serve whole. Pumpkin: Steamed, peeled and sliced into long, holdable pieces. Yummy with cinnamon. Rutabaga: Peeled, steamed and sliced into long, holdable pieces at 8 months +. Sweet potatoes: Steamed, peeled and sliced into long, holdable pieces (Think fat french fries). Zucchini: Sliced into 4 long pieces. Roasted with olive oil and thyme.
Fruits: Apples: Steamed, peeled and sliced into long, holdable pieces. Can sprinkle with cinnamon. Avocado: Slice your avocado in half, then into eighths and serve. Banana: Peel, cut in half, and serve Mango: Peel and slice into long holdable pieces. You can let baby gnaw on nut :) 8 months + Melon: Can give raw if very ripe. Cut into big pieces and best after 9 months old. Peaches: Can give raw if very ripe. Cut into large, holdable pieces. Peel skin if under 9 months. Pear: Can give raw if very ripe. Cut into long spears. Peel skin if under 9 months. Plum: Can give raw if very ripe. Cut into big pieces. Peel skin if under 9 months.
Protein: Organic cheese: Cut into small pieces or larger, holdable pieces if softer. 9 months + Egg yolk: Easy boiled (a hard-boiled egg yolk is very dry and harder for baby to swallow) Organic, ground meat: Seasoned with cinnamon or cumin Organic meat or poultry: Pulled pieces that are easy to hold and chew Organic liver: Steamed or baked and cubed Beans/legumes: Soak overnight in water and cook with the seaweed kombu for easier digestion. Lentils, split peas, black beans are best to start with at 8 months +.
Starches: Pasta**: Cooked and topped with organic butter. Best to use spirals, shells or shaped pasta versus linguini. Gluten-free pasta is recommended. Whole grains:** Soaked overnight in water and cook (with broth for more nutrition). Use gluten-free grains like: brown rice, millet, quinoa and buckwheat. Top with butter, olive or coconut oil. Gluten-free bread:** Best sprouted and cut into strips. Serve with organic butter or coconut oil. Best for 1 year and older.
* Of course, check with your child’s doctor for the best feeding recommendations. Talk with doctor before adding BLW foods. ** Many mamas decide to wait until molars come through before introducing grains. Wheat is recommended to be avoided until later in the first year.
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