When our little guy turned 6 months, we knew that we wanted to get started with solid foods. While we didn’t follow traditional baby led weaning, we started out with purees (here are some of our favorite purees!) and then slowly moved to finger foods!
Today, we’re sharing some of our favorite simple, easy-to-make (no complicated recipes here) baby led weaning recipe ideas to get started with finger foods! These have been staples for us during this phase and we love that they can all be converted to adult variations as well. We know that you and your little one will LOVE these easy ideas!
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1. Steamed carrots, apples, and chicken
The first thing you’ll need is a baby food steamer, like this one! We promise it makes life a million times easier during this phase. Cut the carrots and apples into small cubes (or long sticks), then steam for about 10-15 minutes. Bake or cook the chicken, then tear off little pieces of the soft part for your little one. Feel free to serve with rice or quinoa as well!
2. Cod, peas, and asparagus
Cod is a great source of healthy protein for your little one! Combine baked fish with steamed peas and asparagus (cut into small pieces), and you have a great meal for baby!
Pro-tip: Use plates and bowls with suction to keep your little one from throwing their dishes on the floor!
3. Yogurt, blueberries, and peaches
Giving your little one yogurt can seem intimidating. And yes, it will definitely get messy! But yogurt is a great source of calcium and protein, so it can be a great addition to your baby’s meals. Cut blueberries into halves (or quarters), cut peaches into small bite-sized cubes, and top them with little drops of plain yogurt. Your baby will love this meal!
FYI: this type of bib is a total LIFESAVER!
4. Avocado pasta sauce with whole grain pasta and steamed veggies
This recipe is as easy as it comes and is perfect for both parents and baby! Try making this delicious 10-Minute Avocado Pasta Sauce and pouring it over whole grain fettuccine (or elbows). Cut the pasta into small pieces for baby and serve with steamed, soft veggies!
5. Eggs, beans, and asparagus
Scrambled eggs, soft cooked beans, and steamed asparagus (cut into small cubes) makes for a healthy and delicious lunch or dinner recipe!
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6. Whole wheat toast, almond butter, and blueberries
This is a great breakfast or snack recipe! Top half of a slice of whole wheat toast with a little bit of almond butter, then cut into small pieces. Serve with blueberry halves or quarters!
7. Salmon, avocado, and steamed cabbage
Love tacos but want to make a baby-friendly version? Make these Salmon Tacos for yourself and give your baby the baked salmon (without the salt/pepper), fresh avocado (cut into small cubes), and steamed cabbage!
8. Healthy banana pancakes
We love pancakes for breakfast! And so does our little one. These 10-Minute Healthy Banana Pancakes are great for keeping on hand for quick breakfasts throughout the week!
9. Avocado, tomatoes, and whole wheat toast
Love Avocado Toast? Make a variation of it for your little one! Fresh avocado and tomatoes cut into small cubes served with soft, whole wheat bread torn into small pieces. So yummy!
10. Salmon, broccoli, and rice
Baked salmon, steamed broccoli, and cooked rice make for a complete meal. Try out this Easy Baked Teriyaki Salmon recipe for the adult version!
11. Turkey meatballs, steamed spinach, and rice
Make a baby-friendly version of this Turkey Swedish Meatballs recipe by creating the meatballs and cutting them into small, soft little bites! Serve with lightly steamed spinach and cooked rice.
12. Tofu scramble, quinoa, avocado, and steamed sweet potato
Tofu is a great source of protein for your baby. Create this Tofu Scramble recipe without the salt and pepper, then serve with cooked quinoa, fresh cubed avocado, and steamed sweet potato!
13. Wholesome peach muffins
We love making these Wholesome Peach Muffins in advance and having them on hand throughout the week! Your little one will love this easy recipe for delicious breakfasts and snacks.
14. Avocado egg salad on whole wheat toast
This Avocado Egg Salad recipe is loaded with nutrients and healthy protein! Make this without salt and pepper for your little one, then serve with soft, whole wheat bread (torn into small pieces).
15. Steamed sweet potato, black beans, and eggs
Steamed sweet potato, cooked black beans, and scrambled eggs are a staple in our household. Add these to a spinach salad to make a healthy adult version of this meal!
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FAQs
Meats/Poultry – Boiled, roasted, broiled tender meats/poultry, meats served in soups, use strained baby meats as a sandwich spread-avoid fried foods. Dairy – Soft, mild cheese (cottage, cream, American, cheddar), pudding or yogurt. Eggs-Coddled, poached, scrambled, hard-boiled, egg salad or omelet.
Is it too late to start baby-led weaning at 15 months? ›
Hi, no it's definitely not too late! Lots of BLW babies don't start eating a lot until older than 8 months. Just start offering a little bit of whatever you are having to your baby to eat, put the food out for him or her to grab, explore and maybe eat.
What are the best foods to start baby-led weaning? ›
Good baby-led weaning foods
Food with interesting shapes and textures, such as steamed broccoli and cauliflower florets, and slices of ripe avocado. Soft, ripe fruits, including banana, papaya, pear, kiwi, melon, and soft-cooked apple. Meatballs and large pieces of well-cooked chicken or steak.
How many foods should a baby eat during led weaning? ›
Huckleberry tip:
| 6 months | 1 solid meal per day |
|---|
| 7 - 9 months | 2 solid meals per day |
| 10 - 11 months | 3 solid meals per day |
| 12+ months | 3 solid meals, 2 snacks per day |
May 30, 2024
Continue to give your 15-month-old three meals and two snacks per day. Give them a daily variety of foods in all food groups—vegetables, fruits, grains, protein and dairy. Doctors say most toddlers need approximately 1,000 calories per day—give or take—or about 40 calories for each inch of their height.
What are the risks of BLW? ›
BLW has some obvious downsides. The infant may not get enough energy, iron, zinc, vitamins, and other nutrients, or too much protein, saturated fat, salt, or sugar. The risk of choking, which must be distinguished from the physiological gagging reflex, has not been ruled out by scientific studies.
How to cut cucumber for BLW? ›
Once your bub is biting food we move to a thin long piece of cucumber or thin round pieces of cucumber, with the skin on or off. The key is that it is too thin to be a choking hazard. As they get older you can start to offer smaller pieces but still keep it thin. You can still offer it grated.
What is better, baby-led weaning or puree? ›
Despite the heated debate about BLW vs purees, the good news is that you don't actually have to choose between the two. In general, I find that a combination of purées/spoon-feeding and finger foods (from 6 months) works really well for most babies and parents and allows them to have the benefits of both options.
What foods should be avoided in BLW? ›
While it is best to offer a wide variety of BLW first foods, there are some foods to avoid for safety.
- Honey should not be offered to babies under 12 months because of a risk of botulism.
- Hard foods like raw apple or carrot.
- Round or coin-shaped foods like grapes, sultanas or cherry tomatoes. These pose a choking risk.
Properly supervised baby-led feeding is safe for most babies who are developmentally ready for it. But there are some safety considerations to be aware of. Consider these tips: Don't attempt baby-led weaning until your baby is at least 6 months old and showing signs of readiness (as shared above).
Stage 3 (typically 10-12 months old, but may occur sooner): At this stage, you can slowly replace purees with soft, chewable chunks of food, and offer your baby more finger foods that they can pick up and feed themselves.
How to cut bananas for a 6 month old? ›
If you're following a baby-led weaning approach, big, grippable pieces are the name of the game at 6 months. Try cutting a banana in half and peeling halfway down so your baby can gum at it while using the peel to grasp the fruit. Another option is to slice the banana into long strips that she can grab with her palm.
What is a good finger food for a 6 month old? ›
Very ripe fruit is naturally soft, making them some of the best finger foods for babies. Ripe banana, peach, watermelon (remove the seeds), raspberries, blueberries and cantaloupe cut into small pieces are all great finger food options.
What is the BLW rule? ›
Baby-led weaning (BLW) involves skipping the rice cereals and spoon-fed purées and letting babies feed themselves finger foods when starting solids at around 6 months old. Read on to learn about the benefits of this baby-led weaning, with tips for trying out this feeding method with your child.
Can a 15 month old eat pizza? ›
Pizza, when served in an age-appropriate way to reduce choking risk, may be introduced as soon baby is ready to start solids, which is generally around 6 months of age. Because pizza tends to be high in sodium, aim to offer in moderation, but know that serving on occasion is fine.
Can 15 month old eat pasta? ›
When can babies have pasta? Pasta may be introduced as soon as a baby is ready to start solids, which is generally around 6 months of age. Take care when introducing pasta if you haven't already introduced egg or wheat into baby's diet yet, as pasta often contains both egg and wheat, which are common food allergens.
What can I do with my 15 month old? ›
Sing or play children's songs and songs your family enjoys. Dance with your child. Read a new book after a favorite one to explore and try new books. Children like to do favorite things again and again.
Can a 15 month old eat a burger? ›
9 months old +:
If baby is not quite ready to pick up smaller pieces of food, you can continue to offer ground beef in sauces or as whole burgers, kebobs, meatballs, or patties that are at least 2 inches (5 cm) in diameter and cooked until the internal temperature has reached 160 F (71 C).
