Green Beans for Baby-Led Weaning
Green Beans make for the perfect finger food for baby-led weaning! You can serve them as a baby food puree on a self-feeding spoon, cooked and in long sticks for baby-led weaning or cooked and chopped for a finger food. Great for babies 6 months and up.
Medically reviewed and cowritten by Jamie Johnson, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), and Lauren Braaten, Pediatric Occupational Therapist (OT).
Green Beans for BLW
Looking to serve green beans to your baby, but not sure how?
Then this guide is for you!
In this guide, we will go over all the information you need to serve green beans to your baby as a puree, as a finger food, or for baby-led weaning. Below you will learn the benefits of green beans for your baby, how to prepare green beans in 3 easy ways, and feeding tips for baby-led weaning.
First time making homemade baby food? Then, I would suggest that you start by reading my very in-depth Complete Guide to Baby-Led Weaning. You can also check out my best-selling cookbook for even more information and recipes!
Spices to Add
Adding spices to your baby’s foods is a great way to introduce more complex flavors at an early age. Some great spices and herbs to add to cooked green beans are a pinch of garlic, parsley, basil, oregano, thyme, or a splash of fresh lemon juice.
How to Prepare Green Beans for Baby-Led Weaning
There are several different ways to prepare green beans for your baby. Here are some of our favorite ways:
Steamed
In a medium pot, bring 2 inches of water to a boil. Add the trimmed green beans to a steamer basket, cover, and cook over medium heat for 8-10 minutes or until fork tender. Let cool slightly.
Roasted
Toss green beans with a little olive oil and any seasonings you want to use. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cook in the oven until tender and browned in spots, about 15 minutes at 425°F.
Boiled
Place green beans into salted boiling water. Cook them for about 5 minutes. Drain the green beans and add any seasonings. The goal is to cook the green beans until they are soft enough for your baby to eat (or gnaw on) yet still firm enough for your baby to pick and self-feed.
Green Bean Puree: You can offer purees and still allow your baby to lead the way with self-feeding by offering the puree on a self-feeding spoon, by placing a few spoonfuls of the puree directly on the tray or in a bowl for your baby to dip their fingers into, or you can even use the puree as a dip for solid foods such a banana or piece of toast.
How to Serve Green Beans for Baby-Led Weaning
Green Bans can be a choking hazard for your baby, regardless if you are doing baby-led weaning starting at 6 months or during the finger foods stage at 9 months, so it is important to cook and serve them properly.
Long Sticks – cooked (6+ months): Make sure they are cooked until soft and serve whole green beans in the shape of long sticks, which will be easier for your baby to pick up at this age and will reduce the risk of choking as your baby chews.
Chopped – cooked (9+ months): Baby starts to develop the pincer grasp around this age, so serving chopped pieces will help give them practice. Continue to cook them until soft.
Sticks or Chopped – raw (12+ months): Baby should be able to handle to the texture of raw green beans at this age, but of course, you can continue to cook them if you prefer.
Get the recipe: Green Bean for Baby-Led Weaning
Ingredients
- 2 cups green beans, trimmed
- 1 tsp lemon juice, freshly squeezed (optional)
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, bring 2" of water to a boil over high heat. Add a steamer basket and add the green beans, cover and cook for 8-10 minutes or until tender when pricked with a fork. Remove from heat and let cool.
- Squeeze a little lemon juice (if using) on the green beans and toss, then cut in an age-appropriate way.
Notes
- Place a few spoonfuls of purees directly on the tray or in a bowl for your baby to dip fingers into. Model how to dip your fingers into the puree and bring them to your mouth, to taste some.
- Offer your baby a pre-loaded self-feeding utensil and hold it out for them to grasp or set on their tray.
- Use a solid food as a dipper. You can also offer a soft stick-shaped piece of food, such as a soft roasted carrot or bread lightly toasted and cut into strips to dip into the puree.
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