How to Start Baby-Led Weaning

All of the baby food recipes on this site are designed to enhance the natural taste of the fruits and veggies while keeping as many nutrients intact as possible. In other words, the goal is to make your baby food that’s both healthy and delectable.

So, your baby is at least 6 months old, and you’ve discussed feeding with your pediatrician. Baby is showing you signs they are ready to eat. And you’ve taken steps to prepare yourself too. How do you start? Here are some guidelines:

• Always feed your baby in a highchair or booster with good support for their trunk, hips, and feet. Ensure they have a footrest and that hips and knees are positioned as close to 90 degrees as possible.  
• Keep it simple and start with 1-3 foods at a time. Avoid putting too large of quantities on the tray or plate. We eat with our mouths as well as our eyes, meaning that sometimes too much food can be visually overwhelming for a beginner eater.
• It’s okay to put food directly on the highchair tray or table. It’s also okay to use those adorable silicone divider plates and bowls you got as baby shower gifts, but know that it’s not mandatory.
• Ideas for good first foods include soft and ripe fruits like banana or avocado, or soft-cooked veggies like sweet potato or carrots. Cut foods into stick-shaped pieces roughly about the width of two adult fingers to make grasping easier. Or hand baby a pre-loaded utensil with one of the above foods pureed on it. See some of our favorite first foods for baby-led weaning below.
• Always follow your baby’s cues and feed responsively. Let baby determine whether or not she wants to eat a portion of food and how much she wants to eat. Allowing your baby to develop and express feelings of both hunger and fullness will set them up for good eating habits later on in life. 

10 STARTER BABY-LED WEANING FOODS

Soft or cooked foods are a great option to start your baby's feeding adventure. Be sure to check out the Starter Meal Plan for Baby-Led Weaning for more detail feeding plan. 

• Avocado
• Banana
• Sweet Potatoes
• Salmon
• Broccoli
• Meat
• Eggs
• Yogurt
• Oats
• Green Beans

Iron Tip: it’s a great idea to offer baby iron-rich foods as some of their first foods since their iron reserves start to run out around 6 months of age.