So it’s time to start offering solids to your little one. And it varies when it is recommended and what is recommended and that we won’t get into. Most pediatricians will suggest as soon as your little can sit up independently you can start feeding them solids, or around the 6 month mark. Baby-led weaning is the most trending approach for parents today when they decide to start feeding their baby regular foods.
They key difference in this method is that you bypass purées and jarred baby food altogether – offering finger foods to give babies more control over what (and how much) they put in their mouths. This way you can virtually feed your baby a bit of what your family had for a meal. And your entire family can eat together, therefore you are teaching your baby the routine of meal time. Depending on their age, offer foods that can be sliced into thick strips or sticks so your baby can hold them in her fist and chew from the top down. Once your child has developed the pincer grasp, usually around 9 months or so, you can start cutting food up into tiny bite-sized pieces that they can easily pick up. The baby is usually just in a diaper as they will may need a complete shower/bath afterwards. This way your little can explore, touch, feel and bring the food to their mouth independently. This method promotes fine motor skills and this is why parents are usually sticking primarily with finger foods to allow for manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination skills.
There is no need to detail the amount of mess this can result in but parents believe this is the single best way to teach your child to eat.
Some of the commonly suggested foods to start with:
Fruits:
- Sliced bananas
- Thinly sliced strawberries
- Halved or smushed blueberries
- Orange wedges (seeds and tough membranes removed)
- Steamed, peeled apple slices
- Pear slices (steamed or peeled if hard, but can be served raw if soft and very ripe)
- Sliced avocado
Vegetables:
- Steamed or baked sweet potato or butternut squash fries
- Steamed carrot strips
- Steamed green beans
- Thinly sliced tomato
- Steamed broccoli
- Steamed or roasted zucchini or summer squash strips
- Steamed beet strips
Proteins:
- Shredded poached chicken
- Hard-boiled eggs, quartered
- Shredded boiled beef
- Baked or grilled flaked fish, bones removed
- Smooshed beans
- Hummus
- Raw or lightly baked tofu strips
Whole grains:
- Whole grain toast strips
- Whole grain pita strips
- Whole grain English muffin strips
- Baked oatmeal strips
- Whole wheat pasta, cooked until very tender
- Whole grain pancake strips
Dairy:
- Plain, full-fat yogurt (regular or Greek-style)
- Ricotta cheese
- Cottage cheese
- Mozzarella cheese
- Swiss and cheddar cheese
There’s no need to add salt, sugar or artificial sweeteners to your baby’s foods, since they don’t add any nutritional value. You try to keep the foods separate and take note of any reactions. Especially when it comes to highest known allergens such as eggs, strawberries, and peanut butter.