Apples are a good food for your baby to self-feed, whether for baby-led weaning, which happens around 6 months of age, or during the finger foods stage at 9 months.

Cooked Halves, Whole or a Puree (6+ months): It’s best to start your baby with either a half or whole apple, without the skin - peeled, that has been steamed until tender. You can offer purees and still allow your baby to lead the way with self-feeding by placing some spoonfuls directly on your baby's tray or bowl to let them explore on their own, or you can hand them a pre-loaded self-feeding spoon. 

Grated or Thin Slices (9+ months): when your baby’s pincer grasp has developed, you can serve thin slices or grated apples, with or without the skin on, to your baby.

Whole apple or Thick Slices (18+ months): as your baby’s eating skills advance you can serve them a whole apple or thick slices of apple with the skin on.

Apples for Self Feeding

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 1-2 servings
Age: 6+ months 

Ingredients

• 1 apple
• pinch cinnamon (optional)

Instructions

1. Prep: Peel, cut in half, and remove the seeds of the apple. In a medium saucepan, bring 2" of water to a boil over high heat. 
2. Cook: Add a steamer basket and add the apple halves to the basket in a single layer. Sprinkle on the cinnamon. Cover and cook for 6-8 minutes or until very tender when pricked with a fork. Remove from heat, and place the apple halves on a paper towel or clean dish towel to cool.

Notes

Age: 6+ months

Yield: 2 servings

Additional Spices: Feel free to add in a pinch of cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, or ground coriander to the apples while they are cooking.

Microwave: you can also cook the apples in the microwave by placing the peeled and cored apple half in a small microwave-safe bowl with 1 tablespoon of water and a sprinkle of water. Cook for 60 seconds on high, then check to make sure the apple is very tender when pricked with a fork. If not, cook in 15-second increments until tender. Let cool and serve. 

Apples: you can use any sweet apple in this recipe – Gala, Honeycrisp, Fuji, McIntosh, etc.

Puree for Self-Feeding: Yes, it can be done! You can offer purees and still allow your baby to lead the way with self-feeding.

• Place a few spoonfuls of puree directly on the tray or in a bowl for your baby to dip fingers into. Model how to dip your fingers into the puree and bring them to your mouth, to taste some.
• Offer your baby a pre-loaded self-feeding utensil and hold it out for them to grasp or set on their tray. 
• Use a solid food as a dipper. You can also offer a soft stick-shaped piece of food, such as a soft roasted carrot or bread lightly toasted and cut into strips to dip into the puree.

Nutritional Information for Apple

• Good source of fiber, which benefits heart health and digestion. The pectin in apples is prebiotic, which is the food probiotics, or good bacteria in the gut, feed on. The soluble fiber apples contain helps with cholesterol levels. 
• Helps with hydration due to their high water content.
• The antioxidants in apples help with cancer prevention.