When starting to introduce solid foods to a baby, a common question arises: what to start with, and how much?
For a long time, it was advised to begin with vegetables, then fruits, in a specific order. But recent recommendations are much simpler and more gentle: there is no strict order or imposed pace .
Every baby develops at their own pace, according to their desires, abilities, and curiosity. Baby-led weaning ( BLW fits perfectly into this approach: it encourages autonomy, confidence, and discovery through the pleasure of eating.
🍠 What should we offer baby to start with?
For those first discoveries, we favor raw, simple foods that are easy to grasp . The goal is not to "make them eat," but to allow the baby to discover textures, colors, and tastes.
Here are some ideal ideas for babies as young as 6 months:
🥕 Tender cooked vegetable sticks : carrot, courgette, sweet potato, parsnip…
🍐 Ripe pear or banana : perfect for their soft textures.
🥦 Steamed broccoli florets , easy to pick up.
🍊 orange supremes or mandarin segments.
💡 Tip: make sure the pieces are long enough to extend beyond the baby's hand and soft enough to be crushed between two fingers .
🍼 How much food should be offered?
In BLW , we don't talk about weighing or measuring portions . The idea is to trust the baby: he will naturally know how to listen to his feelings of hunger and satiety.
The first few weeks are primarily an exploratory phase :
Baby touches, crushes, smells, tastes…
He plays a lot with his food (and that's perfectly fine!).
Between 6 and 8 months, milk (breast or infant) still covers more than 80% of its energy needs .
👉 So don't worry if he eats very little at the beginning: he is discovering, he is learning, and that is already huge.
To avoid waste, prepare small quantities and don't hesitate to freeze leftovers to use later.
Photo: © Moon and the other
🌿 Raw foods: the best starting point
At first, there's no need to overcomplicate things: one food at a time, as simply as possible. This allows the baby to:
Recognizing natural tastes,
Identify the textures,
Developing fine motor skills,
And learn how to handle the pieces safely.
Once this step is completed, you can introduce small homemade recipes , always adapted to his age: pancakes, thick purees, savory or sweet muffins, etc.
🌈 Vary the pleasures and awaken the senses!
Baby-led weaning is so much more than just a meal: it's a complete sensory experience .
Have fun creating pretty, colorful plates:
playful shapes, melt-in-your-mouth textures, contrasting colors, delicate aromas… anything goes!
Each meal becomes a moment of awakening, sharing and trust between baby and parents.
