Baby-Led Weaning (BLW) Dipped Bananas for Babies

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Enhance Your Baby's Self-Feeding Skills

Introduce your little one to the fascinating world of self-feeding with Baby-Led Weaning (BLW) that will empower them to explore, experiment, and nourish themselves.

In this insightful guide, we delve into the wonderful journey of BLW and offer invaluable advice to help your baby’s diet develop essential self-feeding skills and fine motor skills.

What Is BLW?

Discover the incredible benefits of BLW as you witness your baby's independence blossom.

With our expert tips, you'll learn how to introduce a variety of nutritious finger foods from the start, allowing your baby to savour the tastes and textures of real food.

No mashed purees or spoon-feeding battles; it's all about embracing their natural curiosity and abilities.

From selecting appropriate foods and portion sizes to ensuring a safe and enjoyable dining environment, we cover it all.

Gain valuable insights into creating a balanced meal plan that supports your baby's growth and development, while promoting the development of fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and chewing abilities.

With Baby-Led Weaning, you'll witness your little one's self-confidence soar as they learn to feed themselves, fostering a healthy relationship with food from an early age.

So, grab a seat at the table, embrace the mess, and embark on the exciting adventure of self-feeding.

Let your baby's mealtimes be filled with exploration, discovery, and delicious bites that nurture their growing independence.

Banana Is An Ideal First Food

• Fresh Bananas soft and easily mashable texture makes it ideal for babies practicing self-feeding skills, their ideal first food.

• Natural pre-biotics help promote a healthy gut by supporting the growth of beneficial bacteria.

• Rich in potassium, which aids in healthy heart function and contributes to proper muscle development.

• Provides a good source of natural sugars, giving babies a quick burst of energy.

• The best banana flesh is a good source of essential vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin C, vitamin B, and magnesium, crucial for a baby's growth and development.

• High in dietary fibre, which helps regulate digestion and prevent constipation in infants.

• Natural sweetness makes it appealing to babies, encouraging them to try new foods and explore flavours.

• Convenient and portable; organic bananas are easy to carry, peel, and serve, making them an excellent on-the-go baby-led weaning snack or quick breakfast for busy parents.

• Allergen-free and generally well-tolerated, making it a safe choice for babies with food sensitivities or allergies.

The Benefits Of Bananas For Baby-Led Weaning

Bananas, the humble yellow nutritious fruit loved by adults and children alike, also hold a special place in the world of Baby-Led Weaning (BLW).

The soft texture, creamy wonders offer an array of benefits that make them an ideal first food for little ones embarking on their journey to solid foods.

Packed with essential nutrients, bananas are a nutritional powerhouse that support healthy growth and development.

They are an excellent source of dietary fibre, aiding in digestion and promoting regular bowel movements.

This makes bananas a fantastic choice for a 6 month old baby, especially those transitioning from a liquid diet.

Rich in potassium, bananas contribute to overall heart health and help regulate blood pressure.

Their natural sugars provide a quick burst of energy, making banana recipes an ideal snack for active little ones.

Bananas bring invaluable convenience to busy parents as well.

They require minimal preparation – simply peel and mash or slice into age-appropriate portions such as bite-sized pieces or as finger foods for your baby to hold and enjoy, it is a great way to work on their pincer grip.

Their soft texture eliminates the need for excessive chewing, making them a safe option for babies who are still working on their unique oral skills for the first time.

Introducing bananas as part of BLW allows babies to explore different tastes and textures independently, helping them develop self-feeding and sensory skills.

Moreover, bananas are an incredibly versatile fruit that can be incorporated into various baby led weaning recipes.

From banana pancakes to smoothies, muffins, and even homemade banana bread, there is no shortage of culinary creativity when it comes to this nature-made wonder.

So, whether you're a parent beginning the exciting BLW journey or an advocate for healthy eating and all for a simple recipe, don't overlook the numerous benefits that bananas can bring.

From their nutritional goodness to convenience and versatility, bananas truly are a delightful addition to any baby's early taste adventures.

Can My Baby Eat Unripe Green Bananas?

As parents, we strive to make the best decisions for our little ones, especially when it comes to their nutrition.

When introducing solid foods to our babies, it's natural to wonder about the safety and suitability of certain fruits, like unripe bananas.

An unripe banana, also known as green or yellow bananas, are typically harder, less sweet, and slightly tangy in taste.

While fully ripe bananas are a popular choice for baby food due to their soft texture and natural sweetness, you might be wondering if unripe bananas are a safe option for your little munchkin.

The good news is that, in moderation, unripe bananas can be a nutritious addition to your baby's diet.

However, there are a few things to consider. Unripe bananas contain resistant starch, a type of carbohydrate that can be harder for your baby's developing digestive system to break down.

This may lead to bloating or discomfort. It's recommended to wait until your baby is at least 8 to 10 months old before introducing unripe bananas or any foods that are harder to digest.

When offering an unripe banana to your baby, ensure that it is properly ripe enough to be easily mashed or pureed.

The texture should be smooth and without any lumps or chunks that can pose a choking hazard. Adding a small amount of breast milk or formula can help make the banana easier to swallow and digest.

Remember, every child is unique, and it's essential to observe your baby's individual reactions and consult with your health visitor before making any changes to their diet.

They can provide tailored guidance based on your baby's specific needs and developmental stage.

Can My Baby Eat Overripe Bananas?

If you're wondering whether it's safe to give your baby an overripe whole banana with brown spots, rest assured that they can be a perfectly suitable option, and a great first food.

Overripe bananas have a softer texture and are easier to eat, making them ideal for babies who are just starting their solid food journey or have limited chewing abilities.

The high sugar content in overripe bananas also makes them sweeter, which can be more palatable for young taste buds.

While overripe bananas may not offer as much nutritional value as their firm counterparts, they still contain essential vitamins and minerals that are beneficial for your baby's development.

So feel free to introduce overripe bananas into your little one's diet, always considering the easy way to their individual needs and preferences.

Ingredient information

Banana - BLW bananas are great to get little ones used to texture!

They make great finger food and can be eaten and incorporated into many different recipes!

Try these banana and raspberry muffins!

Milk - You can use a milk or your choice, such as oat milk, almond milk, semi skimmed milk.

Flour - You can use a gluten free flour or oat flour or almond flour too, as an alternative!

Egg - I have used a free range egg to make the batter!

Unsalted butter - You could use olive oil or a plant based spread.

Serving suggestion

The banana dippers are great served with Greek yogurt for dipping, a mango pot or a mango lassi.

Storage instructions

The banana dippers can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days, stored in an airtight container.

If you wanted to freeze the banana dippers, you will need to make sure that the banana dippers have cooled down at room temperature before transferring to either a freezer bag or airtight container.

Ensure that the bag/airtight container is labelled with the item and the date. I use masking tape to label the airtight container.

To defrost the banana dippers, leave in the fridge overnight and make sure that it is fully defrosted, before re heating.

To reheat, place the defrosted French Toast in an oven proof dish and reheat on a medium heat for 10-15 minutes.

Once the banana dippers have been defrosted you will not be able to reheat or re freeze..

Equipment used to help with this recipe

Frying pan - I love the non-stick surface of this particular frying pan and it’s suitable for all types of hob.

Airtight container - I much prefer the click-shut lids on these containers compared to others.

They are also dishwasher and freezer safe and BPA free, so very suitable for food use.

Recipe | Baby Led Weaning Dipped Bananas

Ingredients

Makes 6 dippers

• 30g plain flour

• 1 free range egg

• 2 tablespoons whole milk

• 1 large whole banana, cut in half banana and split into 6 pieces

• pinch cinnamon

• 1 teaspoon unsalted butter

• 1 -2 tablespoons Greek yogurt (optional)

Instructions

• Start by pouring the plain flour into a jug or a medium bowl.

• Crack in the egg to the flour, and mix together using a fork.

• Add in the milk and cinnamon and stir again.

• Turn on the heat to a medium heat and add in the unsalted butter.

• Once the banana is split into 6 pieces (as big as your index finger) this is the perfect size for finger food. Dip into the batter mix.

• Add up to 3 dipped banana pieces to the frying pan and cook for 2 minutes on 3 sides of the banana.

• Leave to cool before serving at room temperature.

Hope you and your family enjoy!

Recipe notes

If you wanted to make the recipe gluten free, you could use a gluten free plain flour or you could use gluten free oat flour.

To make the recipe vegan, you could replace the whole milk with oat milk, and use a vegan egg replacer to replace the egg, and choose a vegan yogurt for dipping.

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