How To Cut Popular Foods for Baby-Led Weaning
So your baby is ready to try solids. This can be an exciting and scary time. Many parents are fearful when it comes to baby led weaning and starting solids. I’m here to arm you with knowledge and preparation techniques to help you start baby led weaning with a little more confidence and a little less anxiety.
If you feel anxious about your baby trying solid foods, you’re not alone.
When I started solids with my son, I was flooded with worries of choking, gagging, and allergic reactions.
Despite having no allergies or food sensitivities in my family, I thought a bite of scrambled eggs would surely lead us to the ER. To help calm my fears, I learned as much as I could about baby led weaning and consulted with experts on how to prepare and what to look out for.
In this article I’ll share my experience, expert advice, and tips and tricks to build your confidence before starting solids. You’ll also learn the safest way to slice and dice new foods so you can actually enjoy watching your baby try new tastes and textures.
What is baby led weaning? (BLW)
Baby led weaning, or BLW, is a method of starting solids that skips pureed foods and goes straight to the real deal. It allows you to share a meal with your baby and feed them what you would normally eat! While they aren’t going to slice up steak or spoon the mashed potatoes, they will use their hands and mouths to explore new tastes and textures.
It’s a great way to develop baby’s fine motor and oral skills. It also makes for an easier, less expensive meal time without the need to puree the food or buy separate meals.
When can babies start baby led weaning?
Most of the time, you can start baby led weaning around 6 months of age. However, there are a few other indicators that your child is ready:
- Baby can sit unsupported
- Baby can hold their head upright (no more bobble head)
- Baby can grab objects and bring them to their mouth
- Baby shows interest in food, like grabbing for yours
It’s important to consult your pediatrician before starting solids, especially if your little one was born prematurely, has special needs, or the doctor is monitoring their weight and feeding.
What is the 4 day rule for baby led weaning?
The 4 day rule is simply a way to monitor any potential reactions. You’ll start one new food at a time and wait 4 days before introducing something new.
What is the best pediatrician advice for baby led weaning?
The best pediatrician advice is that which comes from your baby’s doctor. Your doctor has followed your baby’s development, has all of their medical records, and conducted their check-ups. They’ll be the best person to advise on starting solids. However, we’ll share some important information from the American Academy of Pediatrics, Ohio:
- Start only when baby is ready
- Begin with soft foods
- Let baby decide how much they want to eat
- Allow baby to feed his or herself
- Ensure baby is sitting upright while eating
How to Cut the Top 10 Popular Foods for Baby Led Weaning
The following information is based on suggestions made by the organization Solid Starts - a team of parents, feeding therapists, swallowing specialists, pediatricians, dietitians, and lactation consultants. It is not meant to be medical or feeding advice for your individual baby. Use these suggestions to help you confidently start solids with your little one, but always consult with a pediatrician before beginning solids.
- Bread
You’ll want to use bread that holds its consistency, like bread that’s crusty or toasted. You can serve an entire slice or cut the bread into strips that are about the size of two adult fingers. You’ll want to avoid bread that can be too sharp or too sticky while eating.
2. Apples
Start by peeling the apple, cutting it in half, and removing the core and seeds. Then, cook the apples in boiling water to soften them until they can easily be pierced by a fork. Let the apple cool and hand it right to baby. You can also mash it for a fun sensory experience.
3. Cheese
You can start by giving a soft cheese, like ricotta or cream cheese, in a bowl. You can also use pasteurized cheddar by cutting into flat, thick, long pieces to gnaw on.
4. Avocado
Avocado is a wonderful healthy fat to introduce. You can start by mashing it and offering it on a spoon. You can also slice it into large, thick spears. Avocados are slippery, so feel free to roll it in something that’s already been introduced like crushed nuts or seeds.
5. Banana
You can mash the banana and pre-load a spoon or let baby use their hands to explore. You can also serve one whole half for them to munch on. Please note, bananas are soft and sticky so baby is likely to gag on this one. If there’s lots of gagging, you can cut the half into long, thick spears.
6. Steak
Cook the steak until well-done. Remove fat and any pieces that are loose or hanging off. Then, give baby a large chunk or piece on the bone. This gives them an opportunity to suck and gnaw on the meat, assisting in oral development.
7. Corn
Loose kernels are a choking hazard for babies, so give them a large chunk of cooked corn on the cob. You can also remove the corn and hand them an empty cob to chew on, which eliminates the choking hazard. Even if they aren’t eating any food, they’ll strengthen their jaw muscles.
8. Pasta
Cook and chop spaghetti and serve to baby in a bowl. They can use their hands to scoop and explore. You can also offer large, flat, wide noodles, like cooked rigatoni.
9. Chicken
Cook drumsticks well and remove any fat, cartilage, skin, and loose pieces. Make sure the bone is solid and there are no splinters or easy breakage points. Baby can gnaw on the whole drumstick, which is great for oral development.
10. Carrot
Cook a whole, peeled carrot until it’s soft and able to be pierced with a fork. Cut the entire carrot in half lengthwise and give a half to baby. You can also mash it and serve it in a bowl or on a spoon.
Serving new foods to your baby is an exciting time. I hope this article helps you feel more confident in baby led weaning. Remember to always run things by your pediatrician. I also highly recommend checking out Solid Starts. They’re an incredible resource with an entire database on how to serve foods to your baby based on their age.
Don’t forget to grab The Mealtime Buddy Platemat to make meal-time less messy and more fun!
