Strawberries For Baby Led Weaning (How To Cut/Serve)
Strawberries for babies can be served in a variety of ways, but for baby led weaning it’s probably the easiest and quickest way to introduce as solid foods at 6 months and up! You either serve whole strawberries or sliced as finger food or incorporate into other baby foods.
Besides being delicious, strawberries are highly nutritious fruits, loaded with vitamin C and powerful antioxidants. For babies these berries make an excellent snack as finger foods or addition to breakfast.
In this post is presented how to cut strawberries so that they are perfect for baby led weaning.
Strawberries For Baby Led Weaning
For babies the benefits of strawberries are numerous and this fruit is often one of the first fruits that parents introduce to their little ones. Strawberries are a great food for baby led weaning because they are soft and easy to eat and provide lots of vitamins!
When it comes to serving strawberries for baby led weaning there are a few different options. You can either place the strawberries on a plate or in a bowl, or you can give them directly into your baby’s hand.
How To Prepare Strawberries For BLW
When cutting strawberries for baby led weaning it’s important to keep a few things in mind.
- First, the strawberries should be washed thoroughly and then patted dry.
- Second, cut off the stem and leaves of the strawberry.
- Third, cut the strawberry according to your baby’s age. Below is an image with general cutting guidelines.
How To Cut Strawberries For Baby Led Weaning
At 6 months:
- Offer whole strawberry. Large strawberries are less of a chocking hazard.
At 9 months (all of the above plus):
- Start cutting the strawberry up into half, that he/she can easily pick up. That’s usually when the child has developed her pincer grasp and is accustomed to eating strawberries.
At 12 months and up (all of the above plus):
- Serve sliced strawberries or diced into small pieces mixed with other foods. Encourage your baby to use utensils, like fork or spoon.
The strawberry serving suggestions below are for informational purposes only, not medical advice.
Keep in mind that all babies develop at their own pace, your baby’s oral-motor skills, chewing and swallowing skills may differ from what’s shown in the picture below, use your own common sense and logic to decide what your baby can handle.
If you are concerned about the small pieces of strawberry, you can also serve mashed strawberries or strawberry puree.
Strawberries: A Choking Hazard For Babies
Strawberries definitely fall into the category of foods that are a choking hazard for babies. So, if you are serving strawberries to a baby who is not yet sitting unassisted, make sure to keep a close eye on your baby while eating. Pay close attention to the size they’re are about to put on his/her mouth. Take the strawberry away if it becomes small for his/her age. It could block the air-hole if swallowed.
Also make sure the strawberries are soft and ripe enough for you to smash with your fingers, but still able to hold it’s shape. So that your baby could easily be able to gum or chew it even without teeth.
Fresh Or Frozen Strawberries For Your Baby
When you introduce strawberries to your baby is best to start with fresh strawberries and use frozen strawberries for making fruit popsicles or strawberry puree.
FAQs Strawberries For Babies (BLW)
The best way to know if your baby is ready to eat strawberries, or any other food, is to look for the following signs: Your baby can sit upright, is interested in what you’re eating, has lost the tongue-thrust reflex and is able to pick up small objects and bring them to his or her mouth.
Strawberries are packed with nutrients and are a good source of vitamins C and K as well as folic acid. They also contain antioxidants which can help protect your baby’s cells from damage.
A general rule of thumb is to start with one strawberry and see how your baby does. If there are no adverse reactions when served 3 days in a row, then you can slowly increase the amount.
Yes, you can give your baby strawberries every day. Just make sure to introduce other fruits and vegetables as well so that your baby gets a variety of nutrients.
If your baby is allergic to other fruits, it’s best to talk to your pediatrician before giving them strawberries. Usually strawberries are considered a common allergen and some babies with a history of gastrointestinal discomfort may be sensitive to acidic fruits. Usually healthy babies eat strawberries without an allergic reaction.
In a recent study evaluating the allergenicity of strawberries related to the farming practices, it was concluded that the strawberries from the organic farms were the safest because they contained the lowest levels of Bet v1 (allergen from birch pollen) and lowest amounts of anthocyanins (compounds responsible for causing allergic reactions) in comparison with the fruits from the conventional systems.
Moreover, organically produced strawberries contain more bioactive compounds and antioxidants compared to conventional strawberries from grocery stores.
Also is important to note that organic strawberries are produced with very strict rules regarding the use of artificial, harmful substances or genetic modification.
Yes, you can give your baby frozen strawberries. Just make sure to thaw them for a few minutes at room temperature so they’re soft enough for mashing and eating. Frozen strawberries are also perfect for baby teething pains. You can put a frozen strawberry into a food feeder or make small frozen popsicles from strawberry puree, either way it’s very soothing for sore gums.
You can start giving your baby fresh strawberries as early as 6 months old, as long as he or she is showing the signs of readiness.
When it comes to baby led weaning and strawberries, always err on the side of caution. If you’re unsure about anything, talk to your pediatrician. They will be able to give you the best age appropriate advice for your baby’s individual case.
Now that you know how to cut and serve strawberries for baby led weaning, your little one can enjoy this delicious fruit while developing their eating skills!
Strawberry Baby Food Ideas
- Mashed fresh strawberries and banana (use a fork) for babies 7 months and up. Or use other fruit like mango, pineapple, avocado, apple or pear.
- Mashed strawberries mixed with yogurt (or a dairy free yogurt);
- Oatmeal with sliced/diced strawberries (add fresh or frozen strawberries while cooking the oatmeal);
- Strawberry banana muffins (just add finely chopped strawberries to the batter).
More Ideas For Baby Led Weaning With Fruit
What are some of your favorite ways to serve strawberries to your baby? Let me know in the comments below!
Strawberries For Baby Led Weaning (How To Cut/Serve)
Ingredients
- 1 large strawberry (1 ⅜ -inch diameter)
Instructions
At 6 months:
- Offer whole strawberries. Large strawberries are less of a chocking hazard.
At 9 months (all of the above plus):
- Start cutting the strawberry up into half, that he/she can easily pick up. That’s usually when the child has developed her pincer grasp and is accustomed to eating strawberries.
At 12 months and up (all of the above plus):
- Serve sliced strawberries or diced into small pieces mixed with other foods. Encourage your baby to use utensils, like fork or spoon.
Notes
Nutrition
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