My Baby-Led Weaning Journey Began with a Banana
What to Serve First When Starting Solids
Your baby’s first meal doesn’t need to be perfect to be powerful. It just needs to happen.
Prefer to listen?
Overthinking That First Food?
If you’ve been stuck in scroll-mode, saving “100 first foods” lists and second-guessing every option… take a breath.
You don’t need a color-coded plan.
You don’t need a spiralizer.
You don’t need a tray of Pinterest-worthy produce.
You just need one safe, simple food.
Let’s break down what actually makes a great first food for baby-led weaning, how to serve it safely, and why your baby’s first bite is more about experience than nutrition.
And yes—I’ll tell you why I started my own BLW journey with a banana. 🍌
There’s No “Perfect” First Food — But There Are Great Ones
There’s no magic vegetable or superfood that guarantees a perfect start. What matters more is that your first food is:
✅ Soft enough to mash with gums
✅ Large enough for baby to grasp
✅ Simple enough that it doesn’t stress you out
Great first foods include:
Ripe banana
Avocado slices
Roasted sweet potato
Steamed carrot sticks
Scrambled egg or soft-cooked zucchini
Notice a theme?
These are all soft, safe, and easy to prep—even on a busy Tuesday.
My First BLW Meal Was a Banana — Here’s Why That Was Enough
When I started solids for the first time with my foster daughter, I didn’t have a plan.
I didn’t own a crinkle cutter.
I didn’t plate it beautifully.
I had a ripe banana on the counter… and a whole lot of love. 💛
I quartered the banana lengthwise (not what I’d do now—it was very slippery and breaking it apart works so much better), popped her in the high chair without even a bib, and handed it over.
She squished it.
She smeared it on her face.
She may or may not have tasted it.
And it was magical.
Not because it was fancy.
But because it was ours.
What Actually Makes a Food Great for Baby’s First Bite?
Let’s break it down:
✅ Texture
If it smashes easily between your fingers, it’s safe for baby’s gums.
We’re talking soft, squishy foods that don’t break off into hard chunks.
✅ Size
Think finger-length and thick enough for baby to hold with their whole hand.
Babies at this stage are using their palmar grasp—not a pincer grip—so chunkier is better.
✅ Simplicity
If it stresses you out, it’s not the right first food.
Start with one food. Just one. Add variety later. Day one is about exploration, not nutrition.
What If Baby Doesn’t Swallow Anything?
Then you’re doing it right.
Baby-led weaning starts with exposure—not intake.
If your baby licks, mashes, swats, or squishes their food, they’re learning.
Feeding is:
A sensory experience
A fine motor workout
A trust-building moment
Every squish counts.
5 Takeaways for Baby’s First Meal
Let’s make it simple:
1. Just start with one food.
Banana, avocado, broccoli, sweet potato… any of these are great. Don’t overthink it.
2. Cut for grip.
Finger-sized strips your baby can hold are ideal. Crinkle cutters help, but aren’t required.
3. Focus on texture.
If it passes the finger-squish test, it’s good to go. Think soft, not sticky or hard.
4. Celebrate the mess.
Mess = learning. Licking, mouthing, smashing—it all counts.
5. Enjoy the moment.
Your baby’s first meal is a milestone—not a measurement. Let it be beautiful in its own, messy way.
One banana. One squish. One magical, ordinary, unforgettable moment.
Ready to Start Solids Without the Overwhelm?
Inside my free class, Orientation Day: Baby-Led Weaning 101, I walk you through:
✔️ How to know when your baby is really ready
✔️ What signs matter most—and what doesn’t
✔️ What to do before that first bite
✔️ How to start solids with calm, not chaos
✨ Click here to watch Orientation Day and start your baby’s feeding journey feeling clear, capable, and supported.
Tell Me—What’s Your Baby’s First Food Going to Be?
Drop a comment below or come say hi on Instagram @babyledweaningacademy.
Let’s cheer each other on as we celebrate the mess, the magic, and the milestone of that very first bite. 💛