Starting solids has been such an exciting journey, and with baby-led weaning I’m also being intentional about introducing allergens early on. Each week, I focus on just one allergen and offer it in different ways for 4–5 days. For week two, our allergen was egg — a nutrient-rich food that can be prepared simply and safely for babies. Here’s how I introduced it.
My Approach to Introducing Allergens
When introducing common food allergens, I like to follow a few key guidelines that make the process safer and easier to track:
- Start with tiny portions: Offer just a taste at first – like a small swipe of thinned peanut butter or a sprinkle of almond flour! Slowly increase the amount if your baby shows no reaction.
- Choose the right time of day: I like to introduce allergens in the morning when I can keep a close eye on my baby for a couple of hours afterward. Most reactions happen fairly quickly, so this makes it easier to monitor.
- Focusing on one allergen at a time: That way, if there is a reaction, I’ll know exactly which food caused it. I’ll still serve other new foods during the week, but I avoid offering two allergens at the same time.
- Offer regularly once it’s tolerated: After an allergen is safely introduced, I keep it in the meal rotation. Even a small serving a few times a week helps maintain exposure.
These steps give me peace of mind while also making allergen introduction a smooth part of baby-led weaning.
I always pair new foods with ones my baby has already had, so the allergen is the only new item on the plate – at least for the first 3 days. This way, I can carefully watch for any reaction and keep track of her exposure. For week two, our allergen was egg.
Here are the 4 Ways I Served Egg
Eggs are such a versatile food for babies, and they can be prepared in so many simple, safe ways. Here are the four methods I used this past week:
1. 3-Ingredient Banana Pancakes
I mixed together mashed banana, an egg, and a bit of oat flour, then cooked them into soft pancakes. They’re easy to cut into strips and have a naturally sweet flavor that babies enjoy. HERE is the recipe! I made a batch and my toddler enjoyed them too.
2. Thin Egg Strips
I whisked an egg, cooked it in a thin layer, and sliced it into strips. These were easy for little hands to grab. My baby tasted and played with them a lot — which is all part of learning how to eat!
3. Mashed Hardboiled Egg with Avocado
I hardboiled eggs, mashed them, and mixed with avocado, a familiar food she’s already had many times. This combo not only added creaminess but also gave her more practice with her spoon — she’s been getting better at grabbing it and bringing it to her mouth.
I offered this spoon & she does so well with it! She actually loves grabbing her utensils!
4. Mashed Hardboiled Egg with Sweet Potato
I also paired hardboiled egg with mashed sweet potato. Since sweet potato is a familiar food, this was another safe way to serve egg without introducing anything new besides the allergen.
Why I Like This Method
By introducing egg in multiple ways over the course of the week, my baby got familiar with its texture and taste. Repeating the allergen over several days helped me feel confident that she was tolerating it well.
Baby-led weaning isn’t just about nutrition — it’s also about skills. Watching her explore textures, taste, and even practice spoon-feeding is all part of the journey.
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