Salmon for Self Feeding

Salmon is a great 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 - Whole, flaked, or patties: You can offer baby strips of cooked salmon about the size of two adult fingers pressed together (remove all bones and skin). You can gently flake and mix salmon into other soft, scoopable foods, such as rice. Or make it into salmon patties that are soft and soft and large enough for your baby to pick up and hold. 
•  9+ months - Whole, flaked, patties or diced: You can continue to serve cooked salmon in longer strips (no bones and skin), patties, or shredded and mixed into other foods. Babies, at this age can practice this pincer grasp by picking up smaller, diced pieces of salmon. Around 12+ months, toddlers can start to work on utensil practice to pierce soft pieces of salmon. 

Salmon for Self-Feeding

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 2-3 servings
Age: 6+ months 

Ingredients 

• 1 fillet of salmon, patted dry with a paper towel
• 1 tsp olive oil
• pinch seasoning of choice, paprika, garlic powder, dried oregano, chili powder, onion powder or dried thyme

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425° F. Line a baking sheet with foil.
2. Place the salmon on the baking sheet and drizzle with oil and rub in any seasoning (I used paprika and oregano).
3. Place the baking sheet into the oven, and cook for 8-10 minutes or until it is opaque, easily flakes off with a fork, and reaches an internal temperature of 125-130° F. Let cool slightly.
4. Flake off salmon age-appropriate chunks and serve to baby. You can also mash 2 tablespoons of salmon with 2 tablespoons of whole milk ricotta and serve to your baby on a self-feeding spoon.

Notes

Age: 6+ months

Yield: 2-3 portions for baby

Storage: you can store the salmon in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. 

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

Salmon is one of the best foods for your baby because of all the healthy goodness it contains.

• One of the best sources of DHA and EPA Omega 3’s, essential for brain development.
• One of the few food sources of vitamin D.
• Full of other vitamins and minerals including vitamin A, B vitamins, potassium and calcium. 
• Low in mercury, making it one of the best fish to consume.