Rory is now seven months old and one month into baby-led weaning. A couple of Mums, who are just starting baby-led weaning, have asked me to give examples of foods they could give their babies.
I have therefore compiled a list of everything that Rory ate this month. I have also included links to some of the recipes.
This is by no means a list of foods that you should feed your baby during their first month of baby-led weaning. This is simply a record of the food Rory ate in his first month of solids.
I started slowly in the first week by giving him softer foods such as avocado, banana, butternut squash and sweet potato.
By week two he was pretty much eating whatever we were eating as a family. (I made sure the dishes I was making didn’t contain honey, added salt, whole nuts or added sugar) I also used a range of spices and herbs to vary the flavour profile.
Rory’s first month of baby-led weaning.
Fruit & Vegetables
- Apples – Grated, steamed, baked and lightly fried.
- Avocado – Wedges , mashed.
- Banana – Whole (see picture), mashed on toast/ rice cakes, banana pancakes.
- Berries -(raspberries, strawberries, blueberry) – smaller berries slightly squashed, strawberries halved.
- Citrus fruits – (orange, lemon) – Wedges with skin on. He tried a slice of lemon in a restaurant and seemed to love it!
- Grapes – Cut into quarters.
- Kiwi – slices.
- Melon – Slices (skin on)
- Pears – Slices.
- Bell Peppers (capsicum)- Roasted (strips)
- Pineapple – slices (with and without skin on.)
- Stone fruits (mango, peach, nectarine, plum) stone removed & cut into wedges.
- Tomatoes – Sliced (cherry tomatoes – halved)
- Asparagus – Roasted, steamed.
- Broccoli – Steamed, fritters.
- Butternut Squash – roasted.
- Carrots – Cut into finger sized pieces and steamed, roasted.
- Cauliflower – Steamed, mashed, fritters.
- Courgette – Sliced and roasted, fritters.
- Cucumber – Cut into finger sized pieces, sliced and topped with spreads.
- Parsnip – Roasted.
- Turnip – Roasted, mashed.
Proteins
- Beans and chick peas – hummus, carrot hummus, bean spread.
- Beef – strips of steak, chilli, bolognese.
- Chicken – roasted thighs, drumsticks, shredded.
- Egg – hard-boiled, hard poached, omelette strips, scrambled, fruity egg muffins.
- Fish (salmon, tuna, cod) roasted, mashed, tuna spread, tuna and vegetable patties.
Starchy Foods
- Bread – fingers of toast, eggy bread.
- Oats – porridge fingers.
- Pasta – cooked and served plain, served with pureed vegetables.
- Potatoes – boiled, mashed, potato & veg croquettes.
- Rice – boiled.
- Sweet potatoes – sweet potato wedges, mashed, fritters.
Dairy
- Greek Yogurt – loaded spoons.
- Cheese – grated.
- Soft cheese – spread on toast.
It has been a fun first month of baby-led weaning. Rory has tried and seemed to have liked, everything I have offered. Long may this continue! I’m looking forward to introducing a further range of foods over the next few weeks.
Looking for more food ideas to serve your baby? Check out my Ultimate Guide to Finger Foods for Babies. or my Baby-Led Weaning Recipe Section.
What foods did your baby eat in their first month? Please leave a comment with some other suggestions.
Andreea says
Hi Amy, I had almost the same experience as you have, that is with my eldest I have tried combined weaning at first, puree but also finger food. The second was more successful, except yogurt. But now, with my youngest, 6.2 months old, doesn’t work that way. I have started the same, but he doesn’t seem to be very kean to eat anything. He is for now still an explorer, that is why I have used the old school way just to have him eat something. The thing is that I’m not sure which way works best for him. How did you know what to choose?
Amy says
Hi Andreea, I did purees with my eldest and baby led feeding with my youngest. I didn’t really know much about baby-led feeding when I started my eldest on solid foods. With my youngest, I felt I was cooking healthy, veggie-packed foods for my eldest so was happy to feed my baby that too. I was exhausted and didn’t want the extra work of having to puree foods for him too. Luckily he took really well to baby-led weaning so I had no issues. I think it all really depends on baby and parent with what methods suits best. You can read more about my experience of both methods here…https://www.healthylittlefoodies.com/traditional-weaning-or-baby-led/
Bianca says
Hi Amy, it was so nice reading your experience. I just had one question in mind that when you say with ‘Herbs and Spices’ What do you mean by that as in which herbs and spices do you use ? and is it safe to use them for as lil as 5-6 months old ? and do you suggest starting with rice cereals and rice water for 5 month old?
Amy says
Hi Bianca,
I used a variety of herbs and spices. I added finely chopped fresh herbs – e.g mint, parsley, corriander, chive, basil etc but also dried herbs and spices such as cumin, oregano, turmeric, cinnamon, ginger. I started adding this to my sons purees (baby 1) and food (baby 2) from 6 months.
I used rice crereals with my first born (who I did traditional weaning with) but I didn’t with my second (who did baby-led weaning) but I would discuss and follow the advice given by your heath provider re rice cereals. I am not a health professional so can not give advice.
Thanks for reaching out,
Amy
Bethany says
This is great thank you so much! I was wondering how many meals you offered baby a day in this first month?
Amy says
Hi Bethany, I just offered food when we were eating as a family. He also had his milk feeds too 🙂