How to Serve Apples for Baby Led Weaning

Baby led weaning apples are great for introducing to your little! Whether you’re just starting out with BLW or doing it again with a new baby we’re showing you how to serve apples for baby led weaning today.

Apples are an awesome first fruit for baby. They’re inexpensive, store well, and have a ton of options for serving. Unfortunately, apples are also one of the most choked on foods, so we need to be careful when serving. Today we’re showing how to safely serve apples!

Benefits of apples for babies

When starting solids with your little, we’re looking for nutrition-packed first foods. Apples are an amazing option!! Here’s what firstcry.com says about sweet potato benefits for infants.

Packed with vitamins like A, B1, B2, and C.
Lots of fiber to keep baby regular
Antioxidants to promote good health.

How to prepare and serve apple for a baby

Again, we need to be careful with apples, since raw apples have a high rate of choking. With this in mind, we don’t want to exclude this amazing fruit! Here is how to serve safely.

Apples are also a great chance to try spices for baby. Obviously cinnamon is the easy option, but apple pie spice, pumpkin spice, etc all work and introduce your babe to new flavors.

Apple sauce

Not strictly BLW, but if it’s what your baby enjoys or you’re not comfortable with it yet, purees are easy. Simply steam or bake your apple and pop into your blender or food processor. If it’s too thin, cook it down a bit in a pan and cool before serving.

Store bought is also a good option, but check for additives and sugar.

Feed to baby on the tray, allowing them to use their hand and fingers to pick up and feed themselves, or give baby preloaded spoons with the potato mush.

Steamed

We loved doing steamed apples mostly because it didn’t require an extra pan. I was usually already steaming something else to just pop the apples on top.

I always like to leave the peel on because it serves as an easy to hold “handle” and keeps the fruit together. Simple quarters or eighths of cored apple until super soft, usually 5-10 minutes. Cool before serving.

Pan fried.

Another great, east option, place your apples in a non stick pan with a little coconut oil if you’ve already tried it with baby. (You can use water to keep from sticking as well!) Cook on medium low 5-10 minutes until soft. If they’re sticking or you see browning before soft, add a dash of water and cover.

Baked

Place your cut, cored apples on parchment paper and baked at 350 for 10-15 minutes. Cool before serving!

Raw

Again, apples pose choking risks when raw, o avoid slices or chunks until baby can handle chewing, etc. But shredded apple is a great way around that! Use the large whole on a box grater and grate a peeled apples. This is a great option to hone baby’s pincer grip.

Smoothie

I love smoothies for kids of all ages, and can add a great touch of sweetness to a veggie smoothie! Make sure whatever else you’re putting into your smoothie is something your kiddo has already tried and shown no allergies to. It’s also great for practicing how to use a cup or straw.

Muffins

These healthy apple muffins are perfect for little hands and use shredded apple. These are great for when you have a good amount of foods you’ve tried with baby, to cancel out allergic reactions. Make sure you never use honey for babies under 1 – sub for maple syrup whenever it’s called for.

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