19/09/2026
If you're starting solids with your little one, you might have heard the term Baby-Led Weaning (BLW) โ and if you're anything like me, you may have wondered what on earth you're supposed to feed a baby who wants to feed themselves! ๐
Baby-led weaning generally means offering babies appropriately prepared finger foods and allowing them to feed themselves, rather than relying solely on spoon-fed purรฉes. Some families follow BLW exclusively, while others happily combine finger foods with spoon-feeding. There really isn't one โrightโ way.
Why do some parents love BLW?
For many parents, one of the biggest attractions is simply family mealtimes.
Both my youngest kids were raised with BLW, and honestly, for me it was so much easier to prepare what we were already eating, or make a few little extras, and adapt them so baby could safely enjoy the same meal with us.
Instead of preparing a completely separate meal, we could all sit around the table and eat together. ๐ฅฐ
I also loved watching them explore different flavours, textures, colours and foods for themselves. Finger foods can help babies practise picking food up and develop their hand-eye coordination and chewing skills as they become ready for different textures.
๐ฅฆ In this collection you'll find:
๐
Hidden Veggie Tomato Sauce
๐ฅฆ Broccoli Fries
๐ฅ Cheesy Veggie Mini Fritters
๐ Sweet Potato & Chickpea Patties
๐ฅฉ Baby Meatballs
๐ Banana & Oat Baby Muffins
๐ฅ Mini Veggie Egg Muffins
๐ฆ Breastmilk Banana Icecream
๐ Fruity Teething Popsicle
Simple recipes, plenty of vegetables and fruit, and lots of ideas that can be adapted for the whole family.
โ ๏ธ A VERY important BLW reminder
These recipes are ideas, not a substitute for individual medical or feeding advice. Every baby develops at their own pace.
Before starting solids, your baby should be developmentally ready, generally around 6 months, with signs such as being able to sit, control their head and neck, reach for and grasp food, and swallow rather than automatically pushing food back out.
Choking is different from gagging. Gagging can be a normal part of learning to manage new textures, but choking can be life-threatening. Always stay with your baby while they're eating. Baby should be seated upright and securely in an appropriate highchair, never eating while lying down, walking, playing or travelling in a car or stroller.
Food needs to be prepared according to your baby's developmental stage โ paying attention to size, shape and texture. Hard foods and small, round foods can be choking hazards, which is why some of the recipes in this collection have been specifically adapted into soft, graspable shapes.
โผ๏ธA few other important reminders:
โข No added salt or sugar is needed for babies.
โข Avoid honey before 12 months.
โข Introduce common allergens such as egg, peanut, dairy, wheat and fish appropriately and one at a time when possible, so you can identify a reaction. If your baby has severe eczema, an existing food allergy or you're concerned about introducing an allergen, speak to your healthcare professional first.
โข Breast milk or infant formula remains an important source of nutrition during the first year while solids are being introduced.
โข Always use pasteurised dairy products and cook eggs, meat and other foods thoroughly.
โข And remember that a recipe being labelled โBLWโ doesn't automatically make it suitable for every baby. Adjust the texture, shape and portion according to your little one's stage and abilities.
And most importantlyโฆ never leave your baby unattended while eating. โค๏ธ
Did you try baby-led weaning, traditional spoon-feeding, or a combination of both?
And if you've done BLW before โ what was your baby's favourite first food? ๐ฅ๐ฅฆ๐
Save this post for when you need some baby-friendly meal inspiration, and tag a mum who is about to embark on the wonderful (and wonderfully messy ๐) adventure of introducing solids!
