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3 Super Simple Baby Led Weaning Tips Every First Time Mom Needs To Know
In 2022
baby led weaning tips everyone needs to know
These are 3 of my favorite, super simple baby led weaning tips, that just make meal time so much quicker and easier (and they are great for baby!). BUT before we dive in, I want to make sure that you get all the information you need if you are just starting out or about to get started with baby-led weaning.
Wondering how to start baby-led weaning? What are the do’s and don’ts of baby-led weaning? This article goes over EV-EVER-Y-THING you need and want to know before starting including, safety information, first foods list, myths, allergen introduction, choking hazards, gagging, feeding schedule example, supplies and more!
Next, if you are looking for a master list of baby-led weaning starter foods to have in your back pocket for inspiration, this article has you covered.
And lastly, if a breakdown of baby led weaning foods by age would help to make things easier for your meal planning, this article is for you!
Ok, now that we have those starter points covered, let’s get into 3 of my favorite baby led weaning tips…
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1) cut oranges into ‘handles’
This a such a great way to introduce oranges to your baby because they can grip it so easily and you don’t have to worry about pieces of skin or chunks of the orange causing excessive gagging or any choking.
I loved serving oranges like this to my twins. They grabbed at it easily right away and it was quick to cut. Navel oranges are great for this because they are seedless and can stay in tact after being cut.
To cut the orange, leave the navel part of the skin on and place that side on the counter while you cut. Next, take your knife and cut the other end off, just slightly so you can see the juicy flesh of the orange, without too much white stuff (endocarp). Then, cut all around the center, just enough again, to expose the juicy flesh. Here, I have cut it into a hexagon.
Such a great way to introduce oranges to baby!
It’s important to note that acidic fruits such as orange and strawberry can cause or worsen a diaper rash. This happened with one of my twins and a few other babies I have worked with here at my daycare & preschool. If your baby does get redness around the mouth, on their hands, on their bottom, or seem uncomfortable after eating acidic fruits, you may want to hold off serving these types of foods until their digestive system is even more mature, at 12 months old.
A sensitivity to acidity is different than a true allergen. Always check with your pediatrician with any concerns!
Read this next:
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2) Use your pinky to split a banana down the middle
Did you know you could do this?! SO easy for serving banana, and especially easy when out and about on the town. No knife or cutting needed! And the shape is great and safe for baby.
Some babies may have difficulty gripping it from 6-8 months, depending on their abilities, as one of my twins did, so we adapted. Soon enough, by 9-10 months she had better control of her grip and aim at her mouth! lol.
To make this shape, peel the banana and break or cut in half. Then, take your pinky and run it down the center. Voila! 3 little banana spears ready for baby!
If your baby has a hard time gripping it, you can pull thumbnail-size pieces off and smash between fingers, then place on baby’s tray or smash completely and pre-load on a spoon for them. Traditional baby-led weaning leaves a few inches of the peel on, exposing only some of the banana at the top for baby to eat.
This article shows you 3 different sensory ways to serve foods, that will suit any baby.
Just getting started with baby led weaning and not sure how to go about it all? Check out my Low Stress Baby Led Weaning eBook & Starter Kit for nervous first time moms!
Starter Kit for Low Stress Baby Led Weaning: Mom's Step-By-Step eBook For The First 6 Weeks, First Foods List, What To Expect, Foods To Avoid, Supply List & More!
3) Slice apple circles (12 months+)
This is suitable for ages 12 months+ because crunchy foods, even thinly sliced ones like this, pose a choking risk for babies under one or who still aren’t chewing and swallowing normally. (Choking is the most common concern with baby-led weaning. A study published by CNN found that baby-led weaning does not pose a greater choking risk than pureed food, if done safely.)
When your baby transforms into a toddler with solids eating, chewing and swallowing abilities, then you can slowly layer in little cucumber fries, crunchy carrot spirals and apple circles like this!
It’s ridiculous how much I love apple circles. Like, what is all this about wedges? Circles pose less choking risk, are nice and big for your toddler to hold, plus some skin on helps keep the apple in tact and provides added fiber to help with fighting off constipation AND it so much quicker and easier to cut. What a win!
In case it’s not obvious (lol), you just place an apple on the cutting board and start thinly slicing one side of it. That’s it! Leave the ‘all skin’ piece to the side (or eat it yourself’ because it could be tricky for your little one to chew and swallow as it’s a funny shape with lots of skin.
Check out these baby-led weaning books with recipes:
Tips on how to prepare foods for baby led weaning
- Always ensure that fresh fruit is very ripe/very soft so your baby can easily gum at or chew up and swallow safely. Gums are great for mashing soft foods, so baby doesn’t need to have teeth to start.
- For all fruit, a good rule of thumb is to have everything be as soft as a banana.
- For cooked foods, use the same rule – as soft as a banana. Steam, sautee, roast, however you prefer to prepare it.
- When presenting the food, the traditional way to prepare is to cut into slivers the size of an adult index finger. You can see other safe alternatives here, depending on your baby’s needs and abilities.
- Avoid choking hazards, like coin-shaped foods. Cut long ways instead or into slivers. You can see a full list of choking hazards here.
- How often to serve a new food: the most recent recommendation is one food per day OR per every few days, depending on your comfort level and baby’s abilities. As you see them handle a food well, and as you start to feel more comfortable and confident, you can begin to add another or switch to another.
- Keep salt and sodium-dense products to a minimum, as your baby’s kidneys aren’t quite developed enough to process it properly. The same goes for spicy seasonings – avoid those until baby is more accustom to flavors, and you can decipher what they are able to tolerate.
- Strongly consider taking an infant CPR class. Although studies have found that baby led weaning does not pose a greater choking risk than feeding pureed food does, the likelihood that you have choking fears is high. And, the reality is, choking can be a risk up until age 5-6 years old, so if you actually know what to do in case of a choking emergency, you are likely to feel far more at ease when serving foods.
Check out these helpful starting solids tools:
Note: ALWAYS consult your pediatrician for professional guidance on starting solids. There is a lot of educational information, like mine here, on the internet that is never to replace medical advice from a medical professional.
For more content on baby led weaning, you can follow me on Instagram!
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The Ultimate List! Top-Rated Baby Led Weaning Supplies Other Moms Are Loving
Want a FREE instant download of my Low Stress Baby Led Weaning Starter Guide Cheat Sheet? Drop your name & email below! We never spam.
Everything you need to start solids with more ease and confidence. Includes: what to expect, introducing allergens, how to serve foods, foods to avoid, sample feeding schedule and more!
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