BLW Banana
Serving bananas to baby is an easy meal option since they require hardly any prep work, taste great, and are a naturally soft texture that’s perfect for babies. I’m going to share how to serve bananas in the baby-led weaning style in three different ways—in segments, as a half banana, and mashed on a spoon. All of those options are easy early baby foods and are great to take on the go.
Ingredients You Need
Here’s a look at what you need to make this baby food, just a banana! I prefer the flavor of a ripe banana, so one that is yellow with small brown spots that indicate sweetness. You can go riper if you prefer, too. And note that if you’re worried about constipation, the main concern is with underripe bananas. Ripe bananas are not usually a contributor of constipation.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here’s a look at how to prepare bananas for baby-led weaning. Scroll down to the end of this post for the full details. TIP: You can also mash some banana and offer it on a baby spoon so baby can feed themself.
Baby Led Weaning Fruit
Bananas are one of our favorite BLW fruits, but some other options that you can cut into sticks about the size of your finger (or two fingers) include:
Watermelon: Find the full info on Watermelon for Babies for a primer on how to offer this fruit.Kiwi: Leave the skin on and cut into lengthwise quarters. Make sure it’s ripe and soft.Strawberries: You can offer a very large strawberry—larger than what they would be able to fit into their mouth.Peaches: Very ripe, you don’t have to peel.Pear: Very ripe, you don’t have to peel.
You can also offer any fruit puree on a preloaded spoon so baby can feed themselves.
How to Store
Bananas are best cut and served immediately, as they will brown during storage. If you have leftover banana, I would freeze the banana and use it for baking (like in my ABC Muffins) or in a Banana Smoothie.
Best Tips for Success
Wash the fruit before you start.Aim to use a ripe banana that’s soft and sweet. Small brown spots will indicate this level of ripeness.If worried about constipation, avoid using underripe bananas.Serve banana as a Baby Snack or incorporate it into a Baby-Led Weaning Breakfast.
I’d love to hear your feedback on this post, so please comment below to share!
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