Baby-led weaning food guide

First foods

Leave part of the peel on a large wedge for grip, or mash onto a preloaded spoon.

First foods

Split lengthwise into spears for grip or mash lightly with a fork.

Allergen

Offer soft strips for palmar grasp or tiny pieces for older babies.

Allergen

No globs. Spread very thinly or stir until fully loosened.

Dairy

Use a preloaded spoon or offer a small amount mixed into another soft food.

Dairy

Avoid cubes and thick chunks. Use thin, soft pieces that baby can gum and swallow safely.

Grain

Offer on a preloaded spoon; older babies can practice with thicker oatmeal.

Grain

Serve moist on a preloaded spoon or mixed into puree, beans, vegetables, or meat.

Grain

Offer large soft noodles for grip, or small very soft pieces once baby has pincer skills.

Fruit

Serve cooked until mashable, or grate finely for older babies. Avoid raw wedges and cubes.

Fruit

Offer a large ripe wedge for grip, or mash/puree for spoon feeding.

Vegetable

Offer a large soft floret with a stem handle, or mash into another soft food.

Fruit

Offer a large peeled spear for grip, or mash well for spoon feeding. Avoid firm cubes.

Fruit

Mash or slice lengthwise into thin pieces. Avoid whole berries and firm round pieces.

Choking risk

Smash each berry flat or cook until burst and soft; do not serve whole blueberries to beginners.

Fruit

Quarter small tomatoes lengthwise and flatten if needed. Remove tough skin or seeds for beginners.

Fruit

Remove rind and seeds. Offer a large soft stick for grip or mash for spoon feeding.

Vegetable

Use a large soft stick or mash. Avoid raw coins, baby carrots, and firm cubes.

Vegetable

Peel and remove seeds if needed. Offer a large spear for gnawing, not small hard coins.

Vegetable

Mash or flatten individual peas; avoid loose whole round peas for beginners.

First foods

Serve cooked until it squishes easily, either mashed or as a large soft piece for grip.

First foods

Offer a large soft wedge for grip, or mash smoothly for spoon feeding.

Protein

Avoid dry chunks. Offer soft shreds or a large tender strip baby can suck and gnaw.

Iron-rich protein

Avoid tough cubes. Use moist minced meat mixed into puree or a long tender strip for grip.

Fish

Remove bones and skin as needed; offer soft flakes that are not dry.

Allergen

Use large soft strips for grip early, or mash into puree. Avoid slippery tiny cubes for beginners.

Iron-rich protein

Serve on a preloaded spoon or mash so individual skins and dry clumps are easier to manage.

Iron-rich protein

Mash or flatten beans and loosen with liquid so skins and dry clumps are easier to manage.

Grain

Serve moist on a preloaded spoon; avoid dry loose grains for beginners.

Allergen

Use a strip baby can hold. Avoid dense gummy balls of bread or large sticky pieces.

Allergen

Cut into strips for palmar grasp; avoid dry thick chunks or sticky syrup-covered bites.

Fish

Remove bones, keep flakes moist, and avoid dry chunks or salty seasoned preparations.

Allergen

Remove shell and tail, mince finely, and avoid whole curled shrimp or rubbery chunks.

Choking risk

Never whole. Cut lengthwise into quarters; consider peeling for younger babies.

Avoid

No safe serving shape for babies under 12 months.

Choking risk

Never whole or in large pieces for babies.

Choking risk

Never serve as rounds or whole pieces. For older children, lengthwise quartering and small pieces are used to reduce shape risk.

Choking risk

There is no useful baby-safe serving shape for popcorn.

Avoid as drink

Use breast milk or formula as the main milk drink before 12 months unless a clinician advises otherwise.

Avoid as drink

Offer breast milk or formula as the main drink before 12 months, and use whole soft fruit instead.