Butternut squash is 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.

6+ months - steamed or roasted and cut into wedges or strips or as a puree: soft, cooked larger pieces at this age are easier for younger babies to grasp. 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.

9-12 months - steamed or roasted and cut into cubes: offer soft cooked cubes to older babies starting to work on their pincer grasp; you can also continue to offer wedges, strips, or mashed butternut squash on a spoon. 

12-24+ months - steamed or roasted in cubes or mashed: finger feeding, scooping with a spoon, or poking with a fork are all great options at this age. 

Butternut Squash for Self Feeding

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Age: 6+ months 

Ingredients

• 1/2 butternut squash
• 2 tsp olive oil

Instructions

1. Preheat: Heat oven to 450 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with a silicone mat, tin foil, or parchment paper.
2. Prep: Cut butternut squash in half, deseed and place flesh side up, skin side down on the baking sheet. Optional – feel free to drizzle the squash with 2 teaspoons of olive oil for some added healthy fat.
3. Roast: Place the baking sheet into the oven and bake for 45-60 minutes or until you can easily prick the squash with a fork.
4. Peel: Let cool until you can handle the squash with your hands. Scrape the flesh off of the skin in as large as pieces as you can manage. 
5. Prepare: Slice, chop or puree the butternut squash to be age-appropriate for your baby. Serve and enjoy.

Notes

Age: 6+ months

Yield: 8 servings 

Note on Squash: to save some time, you can steam fresh or frozen pre-cut butternut squash for 10-12 minutes or until tender before cutting or pureeing in an age-appropriate way. 

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 purees 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

Butternut squash is full of essential nutrients for your baby. And since we eat with our eyes, this bright orange color makes it enticing for babies. 

• High levels of antioxidants and vitamins A and C, which boosts the immune system and reduces inflammation.
• A good source of potassium which helps keep bones healthy and our heartbeat regular.
• Contains a protein that may be a potent anticancer agent.
• Provides calcium to help strengthen bones and folate to help with brain development.