Got a baby who is nearing six months and feel like it's almost time to introduce him or her to some actual, solid food?
Congratulations, parents –a whole new chapter of your life is about to begin.
Introducing your up-until-now-milk-only baby to real food is so exciting – and also a little scary. I remember being worried about how smooth was smooth enough, how pureed the pure had to be and when to introduce lumpier food (and just how lumpy could they be?!)
So many questions.
More and more mums are nowadays opting for baby-led
weaning, meaning you are pretty much giving your baby normal foods, not turning everything into 'baby goop' before you serve it. By definition, baby-led
weaning is where the baby is allowed and encouraged to self-feed solid finger foods instead of receiving purées via spoon.
Baby-led weaning can be a little messy, for sure, but it is also a great method to allow babies to grasp and examine food and in turn letting them learn to feed themselves.
What's important to keep in mind, like with all weaning, is to slowly introduce new foods (to make sure your baby isn't allergic to anything) and to never leave your child unattended while they are eating.
It’s good to start with softer fingers foods like banana, cooked sticks of carrot and sweet potato. Avocado too would be a good one to try.
Why not make your way down through this fab list of 100 baby lead weaning finger food ideas? Always keep in mind you need to use common sense and remove the seeds from various fruits and never give your child anything that can potentially be a choking hazard.
100 Baby-led Weaning Finger Food Ideas
- Carrots (cooked)
- Broccoli (Cooked)
- Cauliflower (Cooked)
- Sweet Potato (Cooked)
- Potato (Cooked)
- Zucchini (cooked)
- Butternut Squash (cooked)
- Pumpkin (cooked)
- Green Beans
- Red peppers
- Tomatoes
- Avocado
- Mango
- Papaya
- Apple
- Oranges
- Peaches
- Nectarines
- Watermelon
- Blackberries
- Raspberries
- Sweet Potato Cakes
- Plums
- Honeydew Melon
- Cantaloupe
- Banana
- Pears
- Satsumas
- Strawberries
- Blueberries (I squished them)
- Quinoa cakes (like rice cakes, but with quinoa)
- Kiwi
- Yoghurt Bites
- Cucumber
- Rice Cakes (Alone or with toppings)
- Polenta
- Naan
- Asparagus
- Mushrooms
- Pea & Pesto Frittatas
- Cooked Pasta (macaroni, fusilli)
- Asian Tuna Croquettes
- Easy pancakes (mashed banana and an egg)
- Strips of Buttered Toast
- Mac and Cheese Cups
- Unsalted breadsticks
- Pieces of Cheese
- Cooked rice with cubed veggies
- Pieces of cooked fish (steamed) or meat
- Oat, banana, and raisin fingers
- Spinach and Ricotta Pie
- Chopped Hard Boiled Egg or Scrambled Egg
- Apple and Cheese Quinoa Balls
- Pita with Hummus
- Butternut Squash and Corn Pancakes
- CousCous Fingers
- Meatballs
- Quiche
- Pita Pizza
- Veggie fritters
- Roasted Veggie Kebabs
- Veggie Sausage
- Tofu
- Beans (Kidney, Pinto, Black)
- Beets
- Chickpea Patties
- Asparagus
- Cucumber & Cream Cheese Sandwiches (cut small)
- Corn
- Pickles
- Peas
- Chicken and Cannellini Bean Nuggets
- Apricots
- Crackers
- Baby Muffins
- Pineapple
- Figs
- Cheerios or small wholegrain cereals
- Mini quesadillas
- Parsnips
- Blueberry Breakfast Cookie
- Prunes
- Turnip
- Eggplant
- Cheeries
- Cranberries
- Coconut
- Baked Cauliflower Tots
- Artichokes
- Leeks
- Zucchini Pizza Bites
- Dates
- Blackberries
- Kumquats
- Carrot apple yogurt muffins
- Tomato And Goat Cheese Toast
- Quorn or another meatless substitute
- Ravioli
- Cooked apples stuffed with sweet potato and prunes
- Black bean cakes with sweet potato
