Baby Led Weaning: Strawberry BLW Guide

Are you looking for the best way to introduce strawberries to your baby?

Whether you are following the Baby Led Weaning method or feeding purees, strawberries are a nutritious and delicious fruit to incorporate into your little one’s diet.

In this article, we will provide everything you need to know about serving and cutting strawberries for your baby.

Let’s get after it!

Key takeaways

1. Strawberries are a great food for babies, as they are nutrient-dense, low in sugar, and easy for babies to hold and self-feed.
2. It is recommended to introduce strawberries at around 6 months of age, paying attention to signs of interest in food.
3. The best way to serve and cut strawberries for baby-led weaning includes whole strawberries, mashed strawberries, little chunks, and strawberry quarters.
4. Strawberries can be combined with other foods to improve the absorption of vitamins and minerals.
5. It’s important to be aware of potential allergens and to create a safe eating environment for young children.
6. When preparing strawberries, always wash them thoroughly and choose firm, ripe strawberries.
7. Offer a variety of healthy foods to promote optimal development and support developmental milestones.

When Can Babies Eat Strawberries?

Babies can eat strawberries when they are ready to start eating solid foods. This happens at 6 months for most babies.

To identify whether your baby is ready to start consuming solids, pay attention to signs of interest in food:

• This could involve leaning towards your plate during meals,
• Observing you eat
• Attempting to grab your food and put it into their mouth.

To make this process easier, it’s a great idea to include your baby in everyday mealtimes by setting them up in a high chair at the table with you.

This way, they can observe and imitate your eating habits, and eventually develop an interest in consuming food.

How to Cut and Serve Strawberries for Babies

Whole Strawberry: 6+months

The best way to start as the baby can see and handle the strawberry as it is in its natural state.

Large enough for babies to pick up and tender enough to be chewed.

Mashed Strawberry: 6+months

Another great option to start with, especially if you’re still a little afraid to give your baby a whole strawberry.

You can offer a little bit in a silicone spoon, and as soon as you are more confident, offer it in another way.

Little chunks: 8 or 9+ months

Same as with the carrot, smaller pieces can be offered as soon as your baby can make the pincer grasp with their fingers and thus encourage fine motor skills. 8 or 9 + months.

Strawberry quarters 12+ months For fork use

At around 12 months, babies are ready to start using cutlery, so it is a perfect time to offer foods that can be easily pierced with a fork.

In the case of strawberries, cutting them into quarters or thin slices is perfect for using a fork.

5 Reasons Why strawberries are a great BLW food

Strawberries are a perfect BLW food due to their soft texture, sweet taste, nutrient density, low sugar, salt, fat content, and ease of self-feeding.

1. Soft texture

Strawberries are soft and easy for babies to chew.

Because of this, strawberry is often one of the first fruits taught in BLW.

2. Sweet taste

Strawberries are fruits with a sweet taste usually liked by babies, the same as bananas.

They also have an acidic touch if they are not very ripe, so it is usually better to wait until the strawberries are softer and riper to offer them to your baby.

3. Nutrient-rich

Strawberries are one of the most nutrient-dense and lowest-calorie fruits available. This is true of all berries, considered by many to be the healthiest of all fruits.

This makes them perfect for BLW.

4. Low in sugar, salt, and fat

The fructose content of strawberries is one of the lowest of all fruits.

They have no sodium or fat.

5. Easy for babies to hold and self-feed

The strawberries’ shape, if offered correctly, is perfect for babies to pick and manipulate.

Best Food Combinations with Strawberries for BLW

Combining strawberries with spinach, broccoli, legumes, tofu, clams, eggs, chicken, fish, or meat can help increase the absorption of vitamins and minerals, making for a nutritious and delicious meal for your baby.

Like all foods, strawberries can be combined with other foods to absorb nutrients more easily during digestion.

Spinach (only 12+months)

Combining strawberries and spinach is a nutritional bomb. The iron in the spinach is absorbed much better thanks to the vitamin C in the strawberries.

And not only that, but they complement each other in many other micronutrients.

However, due to their high nitrate content, we must wait until our baby is at least 12 months old before introducing spinach or other green leafy vegetables.

Iron-rich foods

As mentioned above, combining any food high in iron with foods containing vitamin C facilitates its absorption.

Therefore, foods like some vegetables like broccoli, legumes, tofu, or clams are perfect for combining with strawberries.

Keep in mind that these foods should be previously incorporated alone if possible.

Vitamin B12-rich foods

Any animal protein has vitamin B12, and foods high in vitamin C help the absorption of this vitamin.

Therefore, foods like eggs, chicken, fish, or meat are perfect for combining with strawberries.

What do Strawberries provide for your baby?

What is the best way to store strawberries?

Using vinegar

In this article from thekitchn.com, they test several methods of preserving strawberries, and using vinegar seems to be the best option.

Simply put the strawberries in a bowl containing 1 part white vinegar to 3 parts water, drain, and dry them thoroughly. Then, put them in a towel-lined container, and without sealing it, put them in the fridge.

Remove and separate

This method is the one we use at home; it is as easy as removing the overripe strawberries and keeping the rest in a container large enough so the strawberries are not touching each other if possible. This way, they take a long time to go bad.

Baby Led Weaning Strawberry FAQ

Q: Can you give a baby a whole strawberry?

A: Yes, fresh strawberries can be given to a baby after removing the green tops and washing them thoroughly. It is important to note that strawberries are part of the Rosaceae family, meaning they are more susceptible to pesticide residues and may be a potential choking hazard for babies.

Q: Are strawberries a common allergen?

A: Although it is uncommon, some babies may have an allergic reaction to strawberries. It is recommended to wait one day after adding strawberries to your baby’s diet before introducing any other new foods. If there is no adverse reaction during this time, strawberries can be offered to your baby.

Q: How many strawberries should my baby eat per day?

A: There is no limit to the number of strawberries a baby can eat, as long as they are offered as part of a balanced diet.

Q: Are strawberries hard for babies to digest?

A: Strawberries are not known to be hard for babies to digest, but as with any new food, it’s important to keep an eye on any potential adverse reactions. 

Q: Can I give my baby frozen strawberries?

A: Yes, frozen strawberries can be given to babies, but it’s best to mash them and give them in the shape of a popsicle. This can be a great relief for teething babies.

Q: Are there any health benefits to strawberries?

A: Strawberries are nutritious fruits that contain ellagic acid, which is known to protect against free radicals and reduce the risk of heart disease. Additionally, strawberries may help lower blood pressure.

Q: What are some easy recipes for strawberry baby food?

A: The BLW Meals app has a variety of easy recipes for strawberry baby food, including a recipe for strawberry chia seed pudding that’s great for older babies. A simple recipe for homemade baby food can be made by blending strawberries with other sweet fruit like banana, mango, or melon.

Q: Can babies with oral allergy syndrome eat strawberries?

A: Babies with pollen food allergy syndrome may have an allergic reaction to strawberries due to strawberry proteins similar to birch pollen. In such cases, avoiding strawberries and consulting with a pediatrician if necessary is best.

Q: How should I store strawberries for my baby?

A: Strawberries should be washed and stored in a small, airtight container in the refrigerator. Soft strawberries should be eaten quickly, while firm strawberries can be kept for a few days.

Conclusion

In conclusion, strawberries are a nutritious fruit that makes an excellent choice for babies starting on solid foods.

Whether served as whole strawberries, sliced strawberries, or blended into a strawberry puree, there are many different ways to introduce this juicy fruit to your baby.

It’s essential to be aware of potential allergens and to create a safe eating environment for young children, especially if there is a family history of allergies.

Always wash them thoroughly and choose firm, ripe strawberries.

And remember, while strawberries are a great food for babies, it’s crucial to offer a variety of healthy foods to promote optimal development and support developmental milestones.

Consult with a pediatric dietitian for feeding tips and advice on introducing new foods to your baby.