This is my second time doing baby led weaning (BLW), and it’s been such a fun journey again! At 7 months, my baby is exploring new textures, flavors, and foods. Since I’ve gone through BLW before, I feel more confident this round, but it’s still exciting (and sometimes a little nerve-wracking) to introduce new foods.
Right now, my baby is still grabbing foods with her palmar grasp (whole hand), not yet with her fingers, so I make sure to prepare foods in bigger, easy-to-hold pieces. She’s also learned how to spit food out with her tongue when she takes a bite, which is such an important skill for safety and self-feeding.
So far, we’ve been cleared for eggs, milk, wheat, peanut, and almond. Next up on our list is fish!
Here are 7 meal ideas I served my 7-month-old this week. Each one is simple, nourishing, and baby-friendly.
1. Sourdough French Toast with Yogurt and Strawberry
This is a soft and comforting breakfast that’s easy for my baby to gum and hold onto. The French toast provides protein and fat from the egg and milk, while the strawberry offers vitamin C and a safe challenge for practicing bites. I keep the strawberry whole and large so it can’t fit entirely in her mouth, which makes it safe for her palm grasp.
Ingredients:
- 1 slice sourdough bread
- 1 egg
- 2–3 tbsp whole milk
- 1 tsp coconut oil
Sides:
- 2 tbsp plain whole milk yogurt
- 1 large strawberry (stem removed)
Instructions:
- Whisk egg and milk together.
- Dip sourdough bread and cook in coconut oil until golden.
- Serve with yogurt and a whole strawberry.
2. Banana Wheat Pancakes with Toast and Blackberries
These pancakes are soft and naturally sweet from banana, which makes them great for early BLW. The toast adds a bit of texture, and the yogurt with mashed blackberries gives some tang and probiotics. I give the pancakes whole so they’re big enough for her whole hand to grab.
Ingredients:
- ½ ripe banana
- 1 egg
- 2 tbsp wheat flour
- Pinch of cinnamon
- 1 tsp coconut oil
Sides:
- 1 slice sourdough bread (I like Izzio Bakery or Whole Foods since it’s made with just 3 ingredients)
- 1 tsp cream cheese
- 2 tbsp plain whole milk yogurt
- 2–3 blackberries (mashed)
Instructions:
- Mash banana, whisk in egg, flour, and cinnamon.
- Cook pancakes in coconut oil until set.
- Toast sourdough and spread with cream cheese.
- Mix yogurt with mashed blackberries and serve.
3. Almond Butter Oatmeal with Fruit and French Toast
Warm oatmeal is cozy and filling, and stirring in almond butter adds healthy fats and protein. I served it with a slice of leftover French toast for variety and golden kiwi for vitamin C. The kiwi has some of the skin still left on so it gives my baby better grip.
Ingredients:
- ¼ cup rolled oats
- ½ cup whole milk
- 1 tsp unsalted almond butter
Sides:
- 1 slice leftover French toast
- 1 golden kiwi (halved with some skin left on the bottom for better grip_
Instructions:
- Cook oats in milk until soft.
- Stir in almond butter.
- Serve with a slice of French toast and kiwi.
4. Almond Butter Muffin, Watermelon, and Avocado
The almond butter muffin is soft and nutrient-dense, with protein, fat, and carbs all in one. Watermelon is refreshing and hydrating, and avocado adds more healthy fats. I slice the watermelon into big sticks so she can hold them in her palm and easily bring them to her mouth. Sometimes she bites off too much, but I’ve seen her learning to spit food out with her tongue, which is a great self-feeding skill!
Ingredients
- 1 ripe banana
- 1 egg
- 2 tbsp unsalted almond butter
- ½ cup flour (wheat or oat)
- 2–3 tbsp whole milk
- ¼ tsp baking powder
Sides:
- 1 slice watermelon (2 fingers wide, ruler-thick, seeds removed)
- ¼ avocado (mashed)
Instructions:
- Mash banana, whisk in egg and almond butter.
- Stir in flour, baking powder, and milk.
- Bake at 350°F for 15–18 minutes.
- Serve muffin with watermelon slice and mashed avocado.
5. Veggie Egg Waffle with Banana and Blackberries
I love offering savory meals to balance out the sweeter fruits. These waffles are soft, cheesy, and packed with veggies, making them both filling and nutrient-rich. I cut them into large strips so my baby can hold them with her palm. On the side, I served a banana with the peel partially on as a handle, and some mashed blackberries for color and variety.
Ingredients:
- ½ cup mashed sweet potato (cooked)
- ½ cup steamed broccoli, finely chopped
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup shredded cheese
- ¼ cup whole wheat flour (to bind)
Instructions:
- Mash the sweet potato until smooth.
- Stir in broccoli, egg, cheese, and flour. Mix well.
- Lightly grease and heat a mini waffle maker.
- Scoop in batter and cook until golden.
- Let cool, then cut into baby-sized strips.
Sides:
- ½ banana (peel partially removed for grip)
- 2–3 blackberries (mashed)
6. Almond Milk Oatmeal with Orange and Yogurt
This is a simple, light breakfast that still gives a good balance of carbs, fat, and protein. I like using almond milk here for a different flavor and texture, and the yogurt on the side adds creaminess and probiotics. The orange wedge is carefully prepped with the membranes removed so it’s juicy and safe for her to gum and hold with her palm.
Ingredients:
- ¼ cup rolled oats
- ½ cup almond milk (I like Califia Farms Organic)
- 1 orange wedge (seeds removed, membranes peeled)
- 2 tbsp plain whole milk yogurt
Instructions:
- Cook oats in almond milk until soft.
- Serve with orange wedge and yogurt.
7. Sweet Potato with Ground Turkey, Orange, and Peanut Butter Yogurt
This hearty dinner is filling but still soft for my baby to manage. Mixing ground turkey into the mashed sweet potato keeps it moist, and adding whole milk gives it an even smoother texture. On the side, I serve yogurt mixed with peanut butter for protein and healthy fats, plus an orange wedge for a little freshness.
Ingredients:
- ½ small sweet potato (steamed and mashed)
- 2 tbsp cooked ground turkey
- 2 tbsp whole milk
Sides:
- 1 orange wedge (prepared baby-safe)
- 2 tbsp plain whole milk yogurt
- ½ tsp unsalted peanut butter
Instructions:
- Mash sweet potato and mix with turkey and milk until soft.
- Serve with an orange wedge.
- Stir peanut butter into yogurt.
Final Thoughts on Baby Led Weaning at 7 Months
As a second-time BLW mom, I’ve learned that every baby’s feeding journey is different. Right now, my baby still uses her palm to grab food, so I serve foods in larger, easy-to-hold pieces. She’s also learning how to spit food out with her tongue, which is such an important safety skill for BLW.
These meals have been a fun way to introduce variety while helping her build confidence with self-feeding. So far, she’s enjoyed eggs, milk, wheat, peanut, and almond. Next up on our list is fish—and I’ll share how that goes soon!
