125 BABY-LED WEANING
Starter Foods + Recipe Ideas
The goal of baby-led weaning is to expose baby to delicious and nutritious foods in their natural state (without pureeing them first) by giving baby the freedom to explore the foods taste and textures on their own timeline
But sometimes it can be hard to figure out what exactly to serve baby, especially those first few weeks of starting solids
This post has got you covered! From starter foods to full meals, these BLW ideas should get your started without skipping a beat
Plus, all of these recipes are so good, you will want to eat with baby as well
HELPFUL BABY LED WEANING TOOLS
- easy to hold fork and spoon
- GOOtensils
- bowl or sectioned plate
- open lid cup
- bib with catch pocket
- splat mat to cover the floor
- wavy crinkle cutting tool
- grape cutter
- baby wipes
TIPS FOR STARTING BABY-LED WEANING
- Be okay with Play: baby-led weaning is all about playing and learning to eat solid foods through exploration. So prepare yourself with the fact that this is sometimes a messy process. Have some baby wipes ready and just go with it
- Don’t Over Think the Nutrients: for the first few months, don’t get too wrapped up in serving the perfect portion of proteins, fruits, veggies or grains. Just serve baby wholesome and colorful food. While you want baby to get all the proper nutrients, in these beginning stages, most of the food will make it everywhere but into their mouths;). It’s all about the learning process for baby. Plus, until the age of 1, baby will get a majority of their nutrients from breastmilk or formula
- A Gag is a Gag, Don’t Worry: there is a huge difference from when a baby gags on a piece of food and when they are choking. Baby will gag on food when they are leaning to eat finger foods, which is good, because that is how baby learns how to move food around their mouth and swallow foods
- Sit with Baby: a great way to bond with baby is to sit down with them while they are learning to eat and eat the same foods yourself. Show them how it’s done and encourage them through the process
WHEN TO START BABY-LED WEANING
There is no particular age when your baby will be ready to start solid foods. It just doesn’t happen like that. Age takes a backseat to the signs your baby gives you herself as to her developmental readiness. While pediatricians generally recommend introducing solid food around six months of age, it’s more important that before starting your child on solids you can answer “yes” to most of the following questions
- Can your baby sit up on her own?
- Is your baby able to hold her head and neck in an upright position?
- Does your baby reach for, or eye, your food while you are eating?
- Is she hungry more often and not satisfied after finishing her usual amount of breast milk or formula?
- Has her weight doubled since birth?
If those questions generate a mix of yes and no answers, it’s no big deal. Just wait a bit. Babies live the lives we adults often wish we could—they do what they want, when they want, no matter what anyone else wants or expects.
Start when the signs are there, and continue to keep trying. At some point, your little one will be ready, and she will open her mouth to her very first bite of food
STARTER FOODS
Below you will find over 80 nutritious starter finger foods for baby! I divided them into four categories – vegetables, fruits, grains and protein. In this post, I go into way more detail about different cooking and chopping methods
VEGETABLES
- Broccoli
- Peppers (Red, Yellow, Orange or Green)
- Corn
- Zucchini
- Asparagus
- Cauliflower
- Cherry Tomatoes
- Radishes
- Sweet Potatoes
- Parsnips
- Beets
- Carrots
- Peas
- Cucumber
- Green Beans
- Squash (butternut, acorn, etc)
- Pumpkin
- Potatoes
- Turnips
- Mushrooms
- Eggplant
FRUIT
- Apples
- Honeydew
- Strawberries
- Blueberries
- Peaches
- Nectarines
- Plums
- Raspberries
- Pineapple
- Kiwi
- Oranges
- Banana
- Blackberries
- Grapes
- Mango
- Pear
- Cherries
- Apricots
- Watermelon
- Cantaloup
- Avocado
- Papaya
PROTEIN
- Scrambled Eggs
- Chicken
- Turkey
- Sliced Cheese
- Black beans
- Chickpeas
- Hard boiled Eggs
- Tofu
- Salmon
- White Fish
- Beef
- Ricotta
- Edamame
- Feta
- Shrimp
- Lentils
- Meatballs
- Ground Meat
- Sausage
- Eggs some other Ways
- Nut Butters
- Hummus
CARBS
- Rice balls
- Quinoa
- Toast
- Waffles
- Millet
- Farro
- Pancakes
- Pasta
- Couscous
- Barley
Source: https://babyfoode.com/blog/125-baby-led-weaning-foods/
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