Butternut Squash Baby Led Weaning (BLW) 101 –

butternut squash BLW 3 — Health, Kids



This post may possibly include affiliate hyperlinks. Please study my disclosure.

Butternut squash infant led weaning is a fantastic very first meals to provide for your infant! In this post, I outline what infant led weaning (BLW) is, and how to prepare, and serve butternut squash to your infant to encourage self feeding!

baby in high chair eating sliced butternut squash bites

Baby Led Weaning or BLW is the system of adding foods to your baby’s diet regime in addition to breastmilk or formula. The philosophy behind BLW is that your infant is encouraged to feed his/her self as an alternative of getting meals from a spoon from you. Baby eats healthier foods, self-regulates, and shares in the expertise of household mealtime.

BLW encourages infant to be the only a single placing meals into his/her mouth. Trust is place into your infant to know how a great deal to consume, rather than you encouraging them to consume more or much less.

Butternut squash is a single of the very best foods to get started with when following the BLW method.

When Can Babies Eat Butternut Squash?

Butternut squash is a single of the foods infant can attempt as quickly as they are prepared to give strong foods a attempt at about the age of 6 months. It is slightly sweet with a bit of a nutty taste. It is a squash that tastes comparable to pumpkin.

It can be pureed smooth in a butternut squash puree, or cooked properly and reduce into bite sized pieces.

butternut squash BLW 2 — Health, Kids

Is butternut squash healthier for babies?

Yes, butternut squash is really healthier for babies! It consists of vitamin A, potassium, and fiber. This tends to make it a nutritious meals to give to your infant as they get started consuming solids. It is thought of a superfood for babies!

It is wealthy in vitamin A for eyesight. High in B vitamins for healthier blood. And it is packed with vitamin C for healthier skin. In addition, it is wealthy in vitamin E for brain improvement.

Is butternut squash a choking hazard for babies?

No, butternut squash is not thought of a choking hazard. You can cook it properly and dice it so that when infant puts it in his/her mouth they can quickly mash it with their gums. You can also puree the squash creating it even less difficult for infant to consume.

While butternut squash itself is not a choking hazard, the seeds inside a butternut squash can be. Make confident to clean and get rid of all of the seeds ahead of cooking the squash for your infant.

Is butternut squash a widespread allergen?

No, butternut squash is not a standard allergen. That is why it is a single of the very best very first foods for your infant. However, handling the butternut squash in your hands has been recognized to bring about an itchy rash, but that frequently goes away rapidly, and is not a bring about for concern.

butternut squash cut in half with seeds removed on circular cutting board

Can you consume butternut squash seeds?

You really should not feed your infant butternut squash seeds. They are a choking hazard for your infant.

Is Butternut Squash straightforward to digest for babies?

Yes, butternut squash is straightforward to digest for babies. The mild flavor, low threat of allergens, higher fiber and and higher nutrient content, along with it is capacity to quickly be digested tends to make it a fantastic very first meals for your infant.

baby in high chair with blue bowl in front of her holding butternut squash bites

How Do You Prepare Butternut Squash For Babies With Baby Led Weaning?

  • Preheat oven to 400F
  • Cut squash in half lengthwise, get rid of seeds.
  • Place squash flesh side down on a sheet tray covered with parchment paper.
  • Pour 8oz water onto the parchment paper.
  • Roast for about an hour till tender. The squash really should be bubbling and caramelized.
  • Allow to cool 10-15 minutes till you can hold it with no a trouble.
  • Peel off the outdoors skin. Allow to cool longer till it is just warm or at space temperature ahead of serving it to your infant.
  • Ensure that is soft, and mushy. Cut into compact crescent moon shapes, or compact pieces mashed with a fork.
  • Serve to infant.

Buying and storing butternut squash

When butternut squash is in season, or on sale, acquire a couple of! They can be stored in a cool, dry location for a couple of months.

When obtaining a butternut squash appear for the following attributes:

  • Firm to the touch
  • Solid beige colour, no brown or dark spots
  • Free of cracks, bruises or soft spots
  • Feels heavy for its size

How to reduce and peel butternut squash for BLW

Make confident to get rid of all of the peel from the butternut squash and assure it is totally cooked, soft, and not as well hot. Then reduce it into a crescent or half moon shape to serve to your infant. If you are not comfy providing your infant chunks, then you can mash it a bit with a fork, and then give it your infant to feed him/herself.

How To Cook Butternut Squash For Your Baby

Cooking a butternut squash for infant led weaning is a great deal the similar as if you had been cooking it for adults. However, it is even less difficult, in some methods, due to the fact you do not want to peel and dice the squash ahead of you roast it in the oven.

Simply reduce the squash in half, get rid of the seeds, and location it in the oven at 400 F, flesh side down on parchment paper. Pour water on leading of the parchment paper to assist steam the squash.

Do not add any oil, salt, or spices.

How To Serve Squash To Babies

You can serve it to your infant in compact bite sized crescent shapes, reduce into pieces and mashed a bit with a fork, or as a puree.

butternut squash BLW 5 1 — Health, Kids

Easy Butternut Squash Recipe For Baby Led Weaning

Here’s a basic butternut squash infant lead weaning recipe.

Ingredients:

1 butternut squash (reduce in half and seeded)

Instructions:

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 400 F. Cut your butternut squash in half and get rid of all of the seeds. If you want, you can peel your butternut squash, and reduce into chunks. It just depends in your individual preference. (I obtain it less difficult to peel the squash right after it is been baked, then to peel it prior to baking.

Step 2: Place your butternut squash reduce side down on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Pour about 8 oz of water on leading of the parchment paper to assist it steam.

Step 3: Bake for about an hour, or till the squash is soft and tender.

Step 4: Allow the squash to cool till you are capable to deal with it with no burning your hands. Peel the skin off of the flesh of the squash. This really should come off rather quickly now that the butternut squash is cooked.

Step 5: Cut the squash into compact bite sized half moon or crescent shapes. Serve to infant. If you choose mash the pieces slightly with a fork, but not so a great deal that your infant can not choose up the pieces.

Or attempt these 9 Tasty Butternut Squash Baby Food Recipes!

Butternut squash is a fantastic, healthier selection for Baby Led Weaning!

baby in high chair eating small bite sized pieces of butternut squash

Check Out These Other Baby Food Recipes and Tips!



Originally published in pickyeaterblog.com