by Dana Simkins
Have you decided to try the Baby Led Weaning approach to feeding your baby solids? Here are some fantastic ideas for the best baby led weaning starter foods, and the how-to info on preparing them! While there are plenty of baby led weaning recipes out there, it’s best to start out with real, whole foods before moving on to combinations.If you want more information on looking for signs of readiness and more about what baby led weaning is, check out this post.
Starting at 6 Months, these foods are great ways to begin introducing solids to your babe.
Baby Led Weaning Starter Foods: Preparing Grains
Oats– Prepare according to package directions, and help baby by spoon-feeding or pre-loading a spoon and letting baby feed himself! These Oat Barsfrom Healthy Little Foodiesare super simple to make and allow baby to feed himself without the mess.
Rice– Most of the teething biscuits on the market are rice based (see below for my favorite varieties). You could introduce rice that way with no fuss. You can also try Trader Joe’s Frozen Brown Rice, which is super sticky when prepared and serve plain. Another great idea are these Mini Salmon & Brown Rice Cakes from Little Grazers.
Bread – Toast and top with a bit of butter, nut butter or sunflower butter. Cut into “soldiers” or long strips so it’s easier for baby to grab. Opt for a whole grain variety and limit to one slice a day since it tends to be high in salt/sugar and may cause constipation.
Pasta– Pieces of pasta (cavatappi, rigatoni, penne) rather than spaghetti or linguine are easier for babies to grab. Choose whole wheat if possible for added fiber. I also love the protein packed varieties of pasta that are available these days, like Banza Chickpea Pasta
. With 14g of protein and 8g of fiber per serving, this stuff is a nutrition powerhouse!
Teething Biscuits– Require no preparation and are perfect on the go! Some of my favorite brands are:
Baby Mum Mums
Happy Baby Organic Gentle Teethers
Plum Organics Baby Little Yums
Baby Led Weaning Starter Foods: Preparing Fruits & Vegetables
Fruits-The fruits I’ve listed in the graphic above are soft and really require no preparation at all, aside from peeling (banana, mango) or slicing (watermelon). Slicing them into pieces shaped like a french-fry spear can be helpful since it will make them easier for baby to grab, but it’s not necessary. These might be the easiest prep of all the baby led weaning starter foods I’ve listed!
I like to peel fruits that have an edible peel like apples and pears for baby since the peel can be tough for them to get through (especially without teeth) and can stick to the roof of their mouth causing unnecessary gagging. Harder fruits like apples are great steamed or baked for babies without teeth.
Vegetables– Steaming is the best method for prepping veggies for babies & toddlers since it retains the most nutrients of any cooking method. You want to cook them until you can squish a piece between your thumb and forefinger. Veggies like broccoli & cauliflower can be left a bit firmer so that baby can grab the stem and use it as a “handle”.
I recommend getting aSteamer Basket like this one
. I guarantee you will be using it every day! It fits inside most size saucepans. Just put a bit of water underneath, fill it with your favorite veggies and pop a lid on for about 5-10 minutes.
Baby Led Weaning Starter Foods: Preparing Proteins
Steaming is suitable for proteins like beef, fish and chicken and will retain lots of nutrients. Cut these into french-fry like spears or shred into bits for baby. You can use the Steamer Basket for meat too!
Eggs can be served scrambled or hardboiled. Beware of serving them runny since this heightens the risk of salmonella. Overcooking the scrambled eggs slightly so that they’re able to be cut into strips makes them easier for baby to grab. French toast is also a great option for incorporating eggs into your baby’s diet.
Yogurt – This one might require a little assistance from mom or dad and can be fed with a spoon. A pre-loaded spoon can also be offered to older babies to allow them to self-feed. I also love filling raspberries with yogurt to help baby develop his pincer grasp…plus it’s delicious!
Cheese – No prep needed. Buy pre-sliced cheese from the deli, shredded cheese or a block of cheese and offer large chunks to baby. Beware…shredded cheese will make quite the mess!!
I hope these ideas help you get started feeding your baby lots of different flavors and textures of food. Or if you’ve already started, what recipes or preparations have you used for your little one? Let us know in the comments below!
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links which means I will receive a small commission (at no extra charge to you) should you choose to purchase a recommended product.
