I am far from a baby expert…and rightfully so given I don’t have any kids of my own. However between hearing tales about motherhood from my sister and getting first-hand experience whenever I spend time with my nephew Sameer, I feel like I’m constantly learning something new. I’ve learned that Sophie the Giraffe is a godsend during teething. I’ve learned that babies cannot eat honey or salt until at least 12 months. I’ve learned that a full night of sleep is a luxury. I’ve learned that it’s only a matter of months till babies master the art of fake crying. I’ve learned that babies are more drawn to empty boxes than the toy itself.
Something else that I’ve recently learned about? Baby Led Weaning (BLW)! For the non-moms around, BLW essentially means skipping runny purees and instead offering your baby solid foods that are soft-cooked and cut or mashed into small easily manageable pieces. The mom does the cooking, the cutting or mashing and the offering of the foods and then the baby does the rest i.e. there is no pureeing or spoon-feeding involved. Essentially the baby is in control of what he/she is eating.
From what I understand, many moms choose this method of feeding as a way to introduce different textures to the baby from the start. Apparently BLW babies are less fussy when it comes to food than puree babies. Because the BLW approach advocates the baby to make food choices for him or herself & also to follow his/her own instincts, it can also lead to the baby developing a better relationship with food in the long-term.
In terms of feeding Sameer, my sister has adopted a hybrid approach i.e. combining both purees and solid foods. After getting a low down on Sameer-friendly foods, I volunteered to take on lunch duty last week so my sister could finish off some errands given her limited time in Mumbai. Like his masi (=aunt), Sameer loves eggs, cheese and sweet potato…which led me to make him a Baby-Friendly Sweet Potato & Cheddar Waffle. This waffle is for YOU especially if any of the following apply:
- You have a baby/toddler of your own
- You follow a gluten-free diet
- You eat a grain-free diet
- You want a new way to eat sweet potatoes
- You need to add spice to your breakfast (or lunch/dinner) rota
- You only have 15 minutes to spend on your meal…even better if it requires close to no hands-on time
- You want to satisfy your waffle craving in a lean, flour-free & high-protein manner
Even better? All is takes is 3 mere ingredients. Please bear in mind that I’m sharing the baby-friendly version. If you’re an adult, please add salt to taste. Please also leave on the sweet potato skin for extra nutrients. The portion however is suitable for an adult. Sameer wiped out about a 1/3 of the waffle with some avocado puree on the side- I’ll chalk it up as a success!
[yumprint-recipe id=’23’] Mums: What approach to feeding have you taken?
Non-mums: What’s your favorite waffle topper?
This looks so easy and delicious! It’s so cool that this is baby friendly, too. It sounds like you’re doing a great job as aunt!
Haha I hope so- learning along the way ;)!
That looks great! If I had a waffle maker I would definitely be giving it a go!
I don’t have waffles often but if you change that to pancakes my favourite toppings are yoghurt, fruit, PB and honey!
Waffles are just pancakes with abs ;)! Our topping selections are pretty much identical!
Hmmm, I think I need to learn more about this baby led weaning business. Also, I had no idea bout the salt. I think I need a crash course stat.
It’s crazy how much there is to learn about babies- guess you just pick it up as you go along!
Looks like a tasty recipe!
Hope you try it out!
much thanks! i have a six month old, six months in 3 days. how old is sameer? since when has be in eating solids on his own? until he can eat this i am going to make a batch for me 😀
Oh wow congrats on your baby, Ritika! Sameer just turned one. I think my sister started introducing solids after 6 months.
Hi – great idea, def want to give it a go with my 2 yo. Just wanted to ask – do the sweet potatoes go in raw or par boiled?
Raw!