Combination Approach to Starting Solids: Serving baby purees and finger foods
Written by Julie Laux, Founder, 101 before one
Combining Finger Foods and Purees in Baby-Led Weaning: A Balanced Approach
As parents, we often seek the best ways to introduce our babies to the world of solid foods.
Baby-led weaning (BLW) has gained popularity as a method that encourages self-feeding and independence.
However, many parents wonder if it's possible to combine finger foods and purees in this process.
The answer is a resounding YES!
Integrating both can provide a balanced approach, catering to the needs and developmental stages of your baby.
In fact, when we polled our community, 80% of parents are following a combination approach! Here’s how to navigate this blended feeding method.
What is Baby-Led Weaning?
Baby-led weaning is a method that skips spoon-feeding purees and allows babies to feed themselves solid foods from the start. But it does NOT mean skipping purees all together! Purees are still an important texture for baby, but we also don’t need to “progress” through smooth to move advanced textures. We can serve a combination of textures from the beginning. Baby-led feeding promotes self-regulation, fine motor skills, and exposure to a variety of textures and flavors. However, it's essential to understand that BLW is not an all-or-nothing approach. Flexibility is key, and combining purees with finger foods can offer the best of both worlds.
Benefits of Combining Finger Foods and Purees
Combining finger foods and purees can provide several benefits:
1. Texture Exploration: Introducing purees alongside finger foods allows babies to experience different textures. This can make the transition to more solid foods smoother and more enjoyable. your baby may be more into one or the other.. or both!
2. Nutritional Variety: Purees can ensure that babies receive a variety of nutrients (like iron and healthy fats), especially in the early stages when they might not consume large amounts of finger foods. Note: There is not a need to “top” off baby to “make sure” they get enough food at every meal. We can offer purees and finger foods to baby, without the expectation they will eat or consume a lot in those early weeks and months. Don’t feel the need to spoon-feed baby just to make sure they are eating something, that is not necessary. Baby will naturally start to consume more on their own time.
3. Reduced Choking Risk: There is NO increased risk of choking when serving purees and baby-led feeding. Research has actual shown that babies who are served MORE finger foods more often, are at a lower risk of choking vs a baby who is only on purees and gets served a finger food once. Practice makes perfect and gives baby the chance to develop their chewing skills (which is something they need to work on).
4. Parental Peace of Mind: Combining methods can ease parental concerns about their baby’s intake and nutritional needs, providing a sense of security during this new phase. Remember that breastmilk or formula are the primary source of nutrition from 6-12 months, but solids should be served as complementary nutrition.
How to Combine Finger Foods and Purees
1. Start with Smooth Purees and Soft Finger Foods: You can serve purees such as mashed avocado or sweet potato (thin with breastmilk or formula), and pair them with soft finger foods like steamed carrot sticks or banana slices. This combination allows your baby to explore different tastes and textures simultaneously.
2. Offer Purees as Dips: Encourage self-feeding by offering purees as dips for finger foods. For example, a smooth apple puree can be a great dip for baby-friendly oat pancakes. This not only enhances flavor but also helps in developing hand-eye coordination.
3. Try serving the family meal: Look to see what foods you are eating that could be baby-friendly. We call “natural” purees foods like applesauce, yogurt, smoothies, hummus, and guacamole because they are ones that adults eat too. There are many family meals that you could share with your baby and still follow this combination approach. We give you more ideas inside our app.
4. Incorporate Purees in Finger Foods: Purees can be incorporated into finger foods, such as spreading a thin layer of vegetable puree on a toast strip. This method ensures that your baby gets the nutrition from the puree while enjoying the experience of self-feeding.
5. Follow Baby’s Lead: Pay attention to your baby’s cues and preferences. Some days, they may prefer finger foods, while on others, they might lean towards purees. Flexibility and responsiveness to their needs are crucial.
Safety Tips
- Always supervise your baby during mealtimes, sit right next to them in case they need help.
- Cut finger foods into manageable, bite-sized pieces to reduce choking hazards. We show you exactly how to cook and serve 101 foods to baby inside our 101 before one program.
- Be mindful of potential allergens and introduce new foods one at a time. Foods like egg, yogurt, and peanut butter are all Top Allergens. You can learn more about introducing Top 9 Allergens to your baby in our blog post here.
Conclusion
Combining finger foods and purees in baby-led weaning offers a balanced and flexible approach to starting solids. It allows babies to explore a variety of textures and flavors while ensuring they receive essential nutrients. By following your baby's cues and incorporating both methods, you can create a positive and enjoyable feeding experience. Remember, the goal is to foster a love for food and a healthy relationship with eating that will last a lifetime. Happy feeding!
Recommended Resource
First 4-Week Meal Plan from 101 before one
Written by our pediatric dietitian, pediatric feeding therapist, and pediatric allergist, our First 4-Week Meal Plan will walk you through exactly how to start solids with a combination approach of purees and baby-led weaning finger foods. You’ll slowly introduce all of the Top 9 allergenic foods, serve baby the family meal, and let them explore over 50+ foods in their first month of solids.
Parents love this guide because it has full-color photos of every meal with very detailed serving instructions, plus a quick introduction to starting solids.
