The weaning adventure you embark on with your little one is one of the most thrilling phases of parenting. Combine that with Christmas, and you've got one excited Mummy and baby! Whether your baby is six months or twelve months old, there's a wealth of Christmas food options for you both to enjoy, along with some to be cautious about or avoid entirely. With Christmas just around the corner, let's explore some delectable holiday treats that your baby can savor...
Turkey
A classic Christmas dinner centers around turkey, and this white meat is an excellent source of protein for your baby. For younger babies, serve it in finger-length strips for easy gripping, and for older babies, cut it into pea-sized pieces to practice their pincer grip.
Many people opt for alternatives to turkey these days, such as goose, ham, salmon, or even beef. All these are suitable for baby-led weaning, as long as the ham doesn't have a honey coating (honey should be avoided for babies under one due to the risk of botulism) and you monitor the salt content.
Roast Potatoes
Nothing beats a Christmas roast potato—crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Our first baby was happiest on Christmas Day munching on two or three of these, and we served them in strips for easy gripping. Cutting roast potatoes into strips also ensures they cool down quickly, which is essential to avoid any trips to the emergency room due to baby's burnt mouth!
Steamed Veggies – Carrots, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Green Beans
No Christmas dinner is complete without vegetables, and you can't go wrong offering your baby a variety of veggies. Every family has their unique Christmas dinner traditions, but whatever vegetables you serve, make sure to give baby a generous portion. Cut vegetables appropriately (finger-sized sticks for carrots instead of coin-sized pieces) and for younger babies, steam them until soft for easy chewing or gumming.
Cheese and Crackers
One of my favorite Christmas snacks is a cheese board! We love indulging in various cheeses, crackers, and enjoying some big juicy grapes. Baby can also enjoy the cheese board, although it's best to avoid mold-ripened soft cheeses like Brie and Camembert due to the potential presence of listeria bacteria. Always quarter grapes before serving to prevent choking hazards. Baby can enjoy Gouda, Cheddar, Mozzarella, Edam, and almost every regional cheese you can think of!
Yorkshire Puddings
Is a Christmas dinner complete without Yorkshire puddings? I don't think so! We love making pancakes for the baby and toddler in our house, and Yorkshire puddings are made with similar ingredients, only they're baked in the oven to create soft or crispy bites of deliciousness! You can tear the Yorkshire pudding into strips for younger babies or give them whole for older ones.
Roasted Veggies – Carrots, Parsnips
Roasted vegetables are another great way to feed your baby on Christmas Day – we find that carrots and parsnips make the best roasted vegetables as you can cut them into finger-sized pieces for baby before roasting, making them easy to pick up.
Clementines
Clementines are a traditional Christmas food, thanks to St. Nicholas, who, according to legend, threw bags of gold down the chimney in the story of 'the three purses'. In memory of this, it is now customary to put clementines in children's stockings. Clementines are delicious and a great fruit to offer to baby. For younger babies, I squish the segments, and for older ones, I cut each segment into two or three pieces to practice their pincer grip.
Mashed Veggies – Potato, Sweet Potato, Carrots, Swede
Mashed vegetables are the perfect option for weaning babies – although if you are a strict baby-led weaner, you may not believe in spoon-feeding. Here you have a couple of options – pre-loaded spoons or simply let baby at it. I sort of prefer the latter option, but to avoid too much mess, be prepared with a coverall bib and get the bath ready for after the meal!
What about Christmas foods to avoid?
Pigs in Blankets
Sausages and bacon are extremely salty, so I would be inclined to avoid giving these to baby on Christmas Day. Not only that, but the small chipolatas are a choking hazard. However, if you do decide to offer them, make sure they're sliced appropriately first.
Gravy
Gravy is another no-no as it can be extremely salty – especially if you're using the pre-packaged or instant kind. If you're making your own, you can source low-salt stock cubes, but I'd still offer it only in moderation.
Whole Nuts
Another favorite Christmas snack is nuts. I used to love getting the nutcracker out and helping myself to a huge variety of nuts while watching a Christmas film, but whole nuts are a huge choking hazard for children under 5. I think we'll leave nuts completely off our Christmas shopping list this year as it's just not worth the risk.
Chocolates
Christmas is a time of indulgence, and no Christmas would be the same without chocolates – selection boxes, chocolate coins, and tins of Roses and Celebrations, to name a few of the Christmassy-style chocolates you'll find at this time of year. Babies shouldn't really have sugar under the age of 1, so cut chocolates off the menu this year – there will be plenty more years for your child to enjoy chocolate advent calendars and Ferrero Rochers!