Baby led weaning with pears are a great options when introducing fruits. Today we’re showing how to serve the soft fruit when practicing BLW.
Pears are a great first fruit. If you’ve gone through with a few vegetables (it’s encouraged to start with something less sweet, though it doesn’t totally matter!) and are ready for a simple fruit, try pear.
When ripe, a pear is perfectly soft for baby as is. This makes it ideal for self feeding and babies aged 6-9 months. It also makes it a great move for BLW out and about.
Benefits of pear for babies
Pears are packed with vitamins, nurients and other goodness perfect for little growing bodies. Here is what usapears tells us.
- Lots of fiber, perfect for babies getting used to solid foods.
- Vitamin C to boost immunity and strengthen muscles.
- Regulation in sugar spikes in the body.
- Water packed for hydration.
How to prepare and serve pear for a baby
Pear is the perfect first food for your baby. It’s super soft and sweet, so babies love it. But let’s talk about how to serve it.
Puree
Yes, not specifically BLW, but if it’s what your baby enjoys or you’re not comfortable yet purees are easy.
A soft pear chopped and tossed into a blender or food processor will blend easy. A little liquid or breastmilk can be added if you need to thin it out.
If the pear is a bit firm, chop into chunks then steam for 4-8 minutes, depending on the pear before blending.
Practice BLW with purees by offering preloaded spoons!
Mashed
Mashed pears are super simple is the pear is ripe. If it’s a bit hard, steam or microwave for a few moments. Cut your pair into chunk and mash it with a fork.
I typically remove the skin when serving mashed.
A bit of texture is fine, but avoid any big chunks if giving to a baby 6-9 months.
Feed to baby on the tray, allowing them to use their hand and fingers to pick up and feed themselves. Alternately, give baby preloaded spoons with the avocado mush.
This is also a great time to introduce spices! Try adding cinnamon to your pears.
Whole
Pears are great for serving in spears, but they can be tricky as they are slippery!
If baby is new to BLW, try leaving the soft peel on (wash it before cutting) as a grip. The peel is edible and thin so no need to worry about removing.
Diced
Cutting them can be a great option to hone baby’s pincer grip. Cut your pear into small pieces and serve. It might be hard to grasp. Just like with baby led weaning banana, rolling in crushed cereal can help that.
Smoothie
I love smoothies for kids of all ages, and pears are perfect. They are great for adding a perfect amount of natural sweetness to s veggie smoothie.
Make sure whatever you’re putting into your smoothie is something your kiddo has already tried and shown no allergies to.
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