BLW is a great way to get your baby to start eating on his own. Many people wonder what could be a good BLW food. Good news for every parent, a great BLW item, available almost all year round and easily accessible for many, is apples.
Apples are safe to be introduced as soon as your baby starts eating solids, but only in small quantities. Remember that the food must be cut in an age-appropriate way and cooked until soft for babies trying it for the first few times. Going by the experts, you should only give your baby pureed apples or applesauce until almost 9-12 months of age. The easiest way to make apples safe to eat for babies is to boil them.
Reasons to Love Apples for BLW
Babies are first introduced to solid meals through a process known as baby-led weaning (BLW), in which they are given the opportunity to feed themselves rather than being spoon-fed. When it comes to BLW for a number of reasons, you will find that apples offer a wonderful solution or a first choice for mothers. Here are some reasons for your love of apples for BLW:
- Nutritious:
Apples are a good choice for newborns primarily because of the rich content of dietary fiber, minerals, and vitamins in them. Antioxidants found in them have the potential to strengthen the immune system and offer disease protection. Pectin, a fiber in apples, also aids with maintaining a healthy digestive system in your baby, so you don’t have to worry about it any longer because “apples” have already handled it for your baby and you!
- Easy to prepare:
Apples are easy to prepare for BLW. You can chop them into manageable pieces for the baby to pick up and hold. Depending on your baby’s preferences, you can serve apples either slightly cooked or raw.
- Texture:
Apples offer the ideal texture for newborns who are just beginning out with solid meals: a little firm and somewhat crunchy. The texture may help in developing their jaw muscles and helping them become better chewers.
- Versatile:
Apples can be used in various recipes. They can be eaten as is or added to pancakes, yogurt, or cereal. For your baby’s satisfaction, you can also make apple puree or applesauce.
- Variety:
Apples come in a range of varieties, including sweet, sour, and crisp, allowing your baby the chance to experience diverse tastes and sensations. To produce a unique flavor, you can also combine various types of apples.
- Availability:
Apples are a convenient and accessible choice for BLW as they are often available all year long in most supermarket stores.
- Transportable:
Apples are a snack that you can simply carry with you or pack in a diaper bag. They make a practical snack choice for outings because you don’t have to refrigerate them and you can simply use them freshly cut.
Apples are a wholesome, simple-to-prepare, versatile, and portable food option that your baby may enjoy throughout BLW.
Are Apples a Good Way to Start Weaning?
Yes, introducing apples to a baby during weaning can be a great idea. Apples are low in fat and salt and high in nutrients, including vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants.
Preparing apples properly is essential when adding them to a baby’s diet. The apple should first be peeled and steamed or boiled until it is tender. After that, you can either use a blender to purée it or mash it with a fork.
To make sure your kid has no bad reactions or allergies, it’s important to introduce unfamiliar foods one at a time, with a few days’ break between each new item. In addition to this, you need to remember that you can’t go too fast with serving solid foods to your baby because it would simply overwhelm their developing digestive system. So, the best way to go about this would be to gradually introduce solid foods in your baby’s diet, but it is also important to keep formula milk or breast milk as an important source of nutrition.
Overall, introducing apples to a baby during weaning is a safe and nutritious choice, but speaking with your baby’s pediatrician before introducing any new foods is advisable.
How Can I Use Apples as a Meal?
Apples can be a versatile ingredient that can be used in various ways to make a meal. Here are a few ideas:
- Applesauce: Applesauce is a popular and easy-to-make baby food. The apples need only be peeled, then chopped into small pieces and simmered in a saucepan with a little bit of water until tender. Remember to take out the core too. The mixture should then be thinned out. For flavor, sprinkle a little cinnamon or nutmeg on top.
- Apple puree: Apples can also be processed into a puree. The apples should be peeled with the core getting removed before being chopped up and blended till smooth. The puree goes well with veggies like sweet potato or carrot and other fruits like bananas or pears.
- Baked apples: Baked apples are a tasty and nutritious snack for your baby. Cut an apple in half, get rid of the core, and put it in a baking dish. Brown sugar and cinnamon can be sprinkled on top before baking till soft.
- Apple pancakes: Apple pancakes can be made by combining pancake batter with either pureed or finely chopped apples. As usual, make the pancakes and then serve them with a dollop of yogurt or fruit compote.
- Apple and oatmeal cereal: As you normally would, prepare the oatmeal and then stir in the shredded apples. For flavor, sprinkle some cinnamon or nutmeg on top. Serve warm.
When introducing apples to your baby, make sure to choose ripe and fresh apples. But selecting the perfect apples isn’t all that you need to care about because you will also have to cut off the hard or rotten parts and then ensure that you cut the apple into tiny baby-safe bite-sized pieces.
Stay extra careful if your baby is just learning to chew food. Even after you have done everything by the book and the apple looks perfectly served to your baby, don’t forget to keep a close eye to stay alert and prevent any potential choking hazard while your baby enjoys the meal.
How to Cook Apples for Kids?
When cooking apples for kids, it’s important to make sure that the apples are soft and easy to chew. Here are a few easy and healthy ways to cook apples for kids:
- Baked Apples: Cut the apple in half, scoop out the core, and place the apple halves in a baking dish. Drizzle honey and cinnamon over the apples and bake in the oven until the apples are soft and tender.
- Applesauce: Peel and chop the apples, then place them in a pot with a little water and simmer until the apples are soft. Use a fork or a blender to mash the apples into a smooth puree. If you want to add some extra flavorings, you can always sprinkle in some sugar but don’t go overboard.
- Apple Oatmeal: Dice the apple and add it to your child’s oatmeal. Cook the oatmeal with milk or water and stir in some cinnamon and honey for extra flavor.
- Apple Pancakes: Grate the apple and mix it into your pancake batter. Cook the pancakes and serve with a little maple syrup.
A common mistake many make is giving babies lemon juice or apple cider with apples. This should be avoided since the acidity can do more harm than good.
Ways to Serve Apples to Babies
Apples are a healthy, nutritious, and tasty fruit. Here are some different ways to serve apples to babies:
- Steamed Apple: Steam the apples until they are soft. Mash them with a fork. The nutrition and flavor of the apples are preserved throughout cooking, making them a fantastic alternative for babies.
- Baked Apple: Cut an apple into slices or wedges and bake in the oven until soft. This is a pleasant and nutritious snack that can be enjoyed as is or with a dip like nut butter or yogurt.
- Applesauce: After chopping and peeling the apples, boil them in a saucepan with little water until they are mushy. Apples may be blended or mashed into a smooth puree using a fork or blender. A flexible snack, applesauce may be combined with different fruits or used as a dip for finger foods.
- Apple puree: After chopping the apples, peeling them, and adding a little water to a saucepan, boil the apples until they are mushy. To get a smooth texture, purée the apples in a blender or food processor. This puree can be combined with other pureed fruits or vegetables or eaten on its own.
- Apple slices: Slice apples thinly so they are easy for babies to hold and chew. You may peel the apples for younger babies to make them simpler to digest.
- Pancakes with apples: Add grated apples to the batter and cook as usual. For babies and young children, this is an enjoyable and wholesome breakfast alternative.
- Apple muffins: Use grated apple as an ingredient in the muffin batter. This is an excellent way to introduce babies to various tastes and sensations.
- Apple & cheese bites: For a delightful and wholesome snack, chop apples into little pieces and combine them with cubes of cheese.
- Oats with apples: Stir chopped apples into cooked oats for better flavor and texture.
- Apple with cinnamon: For a tasty and nutritious flavor boost, sprinkle cinnamon over apple slices or include it in apple puree.
Remember to always introduce new foods one at a time and monitor your baby for any signs of allergies or adverse reactions. With these different ways to serve apples, you can provide your baby with a variety of healthy and tasty options to enjoy.
How to Reduce the Choking Risk of Apples
Apples are a healthy and nutritious food, but they can pose a choking risk for babies and young children. Here are basic tips you should know to reduce any choking risks:
Bite-sized pieces
Apples should be cut into bite-sized pieces so that they are easy for your toddler to chew and swallow. To be on the safe side, make sure that you have tiny bite-sized pieces (ideally around the size of a pea).
Remove the skin
Apple skin can be chewed and swallowed with difficulty by infants and young children. To lower the danger of choking, remove the peel before serving apples.
Cook the apples
Soft, delicate apples are easier for newborns and young children to chew and swallow when they are cooked. Apples can be boiled, baked, or steam-cooked until they are soft and tender.
Include some other options
Other apple options include applesauce and pureed apples. These types of apple dishes are less likely to cause choking hazards.
Keep an eye on your kid
Make sure your kid is appropriately seated, and watch over your kids while they’re enjoying their meals! There’s no easy way around this because you have to assist your kids in completely chewing their meal before swallowing.
Encourage them
Encourage your youngster to take tiny pieces when eating and to eat slowly. This may lessen choking risks.
Be prepared
Always be prepared in case your child does choke. Maintain a list of emergency phone numbers and become familiar with the Heimlich maneuver.
How to Give Babies Raw Apple Step by Step
Although they can be a tasty and healthy snack for babies, raw apples do present a choking hazard. When feeding babies raw apples, you should take the following precautions:
Choose the right apple
The best apple to choose is one that is soft and ripe and is simple to bite into and chew, like a Gala or Fuji apple.
Rinse
Rinse the apple in cold water to get rid of any dirt or bacteria.
Peel the apple
To remove the apple’s skin, use a peeler. It’s better to remove the skin since it might be difficult for newborns to chew and swallow.
Chop the apple into bite-sized pieces
Use a sharp knife to make the apple into bite-sized pieces; for younger babies who are only beginning to consume solid meals, ensure the chunks are no bigger than a pea.
Give the apple to your baby
Arrange the apple slices on a dish or tray for babies and give them to them. The baby should be encouraged to pick up the pieces and put them in their mouth.
Maintain a constant watch on your infant, especially while they are chewing because there’s always a choking hazard lurking over a baby, and you don’t want to risk anything here.
Ensure that your infant is sitting up straight, and encourage them to chew their food well before swallowing.
Keep an eye out for allergic reactions
Keep a watch for any symptoms of an allergic response in your child, such as hives, swelling, or breathing difficulties. Stop giving your kid the apple if you see any of these signs, and speak with your pediatrician right away.
By following these steps, you can safely introduce raw apples to your baby and provide them with a healthy and nutritious snack.
Bottom Line
Apples for baby-led weaning are a great snack, full of nutrition. Making babies eat apples, whether they are cooked apples, sautéed apples, wedges, stewed apples, mashed apples, or just organic apples cut into small pieces, is a great way to introduce new foods to a baby. You can also have babies drink apple juice. Additionally, before a baby eats something new, make sure to consult a doctor to eliminate any risks of allergic reactions.
