Vegan Baby Led Weaning Recipes - 18 Delicious Ideas - Mummy to Dex (2024)

FAQs

What baby led weaning? ›

What is baby-led weaning? Popular in the U.K. and gaining traction in the U.S., baby-led weaning is a practice where babies 6 months old or older jump straight to finger foods as soon as solids are introduced, bypassing purées and mashed-up foods.

With careful planning and preparation it can be a healthy diet for your child. If you choose to wean your baby onto a vegan diet, you want to make sure they are receiving all the nutrients they need. We would advise you seek advice from your GP or Health Visitor before you begin weaning.

Breastmilk is the number one choice for many new moms, including vegan ones. It contains antibodies that protect babies from infection, plays a role in the prevention of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and can lower a child's risk of developing asthma and allergies later in life.

' A study last year led by University College London, including 187 vegan, vegetarian and meat and dairy-eating children aged five to 10 years old, found children on vegan diets were on average three centimetres (1.2 inches) shorter, suggesting they were growing more slowly, or potentially could be smaller as adults.

Pediatric experts now recommend starting solid foods at 6 months. Most 6-month-old infants can grasp food, bring it to their mouth, chew and swallow. These skills mean babies can more independently feed themselves while weaning from human milk or formula nutrition.

BLW has some obvious downsides. The infant may not get enough energy, iron, zinc, vitamins, and other nutrients, or too much protein, saturated fat, salt, or sugar. The risk of choking, which must be distinguished from the physiological gagging reflex, has not been ruled out by scientific studies.

If the idea of feeding your baby 100 foods before one sounds overwhelming…it doesn't have to be. This approach simply involves introducing 1 new food per day, 5 days per week. That's 20 foods per month and in just about 5 months your baby will have tried 100 new foods before turning one.

For example, a cooked zucchini stick or floret of broccoli (steamed, boiled, roasted, or stir-fried) can be easy for babies to grab without having to pinch food between their thumb and forefinger, a great BLW first food. Having food that's easy to handle can make things less frustrating (and more fun) for everyone.

What are vegan first foods for babies? ›

Wholegrains (oats, quinoa, brown rice), legumes, soy products, potatoes, nut pastes Offer a variety of plant foods. Use in pudding and cereals Make a fruit or milk pudding. Add chia seeds to plant-based milk, stir and soak for at least 20 mins, or chill overnight.

For most of the first year, you can ensure a healthful vegan diet for your newborn either by breastfeeding or by offering a soy-based infant formula approved by your pediatrician. Sometimes vitamin B12, vitamin D and iron supplements are given during the first year, but be sure to ask your pediatrician.

Yes it is possible. In fact I have friends who have been vegan since they were born. Your parents should be able to know how to give you the right nutrients though otherwise you may not get the full and correct nutrients to help you grow.

For most of the first year, you can ensure a healthful vegan diet for your newborn either by breastfeeding or by offering a soy-based infant formula approved by your pediatrician. Sometimes vitamin B12, vitamin D and iron supplements are given during the first year, but be sure to ask your pediatrician.

Foods such as beans, pulses, nut butters, oats and quinoa are all great ways to increase the protein in your baby's diet. Quinoa, amaranth and buckwheat are all complete proteins, meaning they contain all 9 essential amino acids, so we love including these in our Mamamade recipes!

Focus on serving lots of green vegetables and nutrient-dense foods. Serve good fats such as nut butter, hemp or avocado. Serve plant-based protein such as hemp seeds, legumes or tofu everyday.

Vegan infants

For those children who do not have diagnosed allergies and are not on hypoallergenic formula, unsweetened calcium-fortified milk alternatives, such as soya, almond and oat drinks can be offered from one year of age as part of a healthy, balanced diet which contains plenty of calcium, protein and energy.