Roasted, mashed, boiled…any which way you like them! Try all kinds of potatoes including purple, yellow, pink, and white to get a range of nutrients. One of the most significant concerns with baby-led weaning is the risk of choking. Babies may not have the skills to chew and swallow certain foods safely. Parents must be vigilant and knowledgeable about which foods pose choking hazards and how to minimize those risks.

Allergens:It is no longer recommended to delay the introduction to potential allergens like peanut butter and eggs. In fact, studies have shown that the early introduction of allergenic foods around 6 months of age could potentially decreasetheir risk of developing a food allergy. Discuss your strategy with your child’s pediatrician, especially if you have a family history of food allergies. Roasted in cubes or roasted and pureed. Or try it in Butternut Squash Muffins or Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese.Create a Safe Feeding Environment: Ensure that your baby is seated securely in a high chair or booster seat with appropriate safety restraints. Avoid feeding while your baby is in a moving car or stroller. Baby-led weaning is a process of shifting your babies from spoon feeding to actual solids. It is an alternative method to introduce complementary foods, in which babies can feed themselves hand held food items. What are The Advantages of Baby-Led Weaning? If the lumpy-bumpy mashes are going down a treat, it might be time to add finger food to the menu – which means you can forget having a clean floor for, well, years. Ideas: Pancakes, pasta dishes, stir-fries with strips of lean meat, homemade fish fingers, mini meatballs, fried rice, fish cakes, risotto, cottage pie. Usually, parents first introduce solid foods through mashed-up versions of different kinds of fruits, starches, etc. Another way of introducing solid food is by using the baby-led weaning method in which babies are given finger foods.

Cook, mash or grate hard foods like raw apple and carrot and avoid whole nuts and seeds, including popcorn. Round foods are also known to be a choking risk, so ensure items like grapes and cherry tomatoes are sliced into small pieces. Food like hotdogs and sausages should have the skin removed and be cut into little portions. Cover surfaces where your baby will be eating. This can include placing a plastic mat or newspaper under their high chair or using a splat mat around the area. This way, any spills or crumbs can easily be cleaned up without ruining your floors or carpets. Whole milk when possible. Serve it with fruit or try it in a Whipped Cottage Cheese Dip or a Cottage Cheese Smoothie. Reduced Risk of Allergies: Waiting until around six months to introduce solid foods can potentially reduce the risk of food allergies. This delay gives your baby’s immune system more time to mature and become better equipped to handle new foods.Soft Tortillas: Use whole-grain tortillas and fill them with baby-friendly ingredients like mashed beans, cheese, or finely chopped vegetables. Cut them into small, manageable pieces. It's important to know that BLW isn't a technique but a philosophy – no rules or guidelines exist. Still, it allows your baby to decide when they are ready for new foods, which may differ significantly from other types of weaning methods. Do Doctors Recommend Baby-Led Weaning?