12–18 months
Softly cooked pear pieces
SnackPrep 8 minCook 8 minPortions: 3
Ingredients
- 2 ripe pears
- A little water
Method
- Peel and core the pears and cut them into finger-thick pieces.
- Steam with a little water until the pieces hold their shape but have softened.
- Check one piece: if it is completely soft it is ready.
- Let it cool to warm, and let your child feed themselves sitting upright with someone beside them.
Texture
A piece firm enough to hold but soft enough to squash under your finger, with no slippery skin left.
Serving
Give one piece at a time and let your child pick it up.
Preparing for choking safety
The skin and core must be removed — slippery skin can slide out of the hand and in the mouth. A firm pear is never given raw and the pieces are not cut round.
Key nutrients
Fibre
Storage
Serve as soon as it is made. If you want to keep what is left over, refrigerate it and use it within 2 days. Throw away a half-eaten portion rather than storing or reheating it.
Safety
Your child should be sitting upright and someone should stay with them while they eat. No salt or sugar is added to these recipes; honey is not given before one year. Their back teeth may not be through yet, so cut small round foods such as grapes and cherry tomatoes into quarters. Whole nuts and popcorn are never given. Children do not all manage the same texture at the same age — follow your child's pace rather than pushing. If your child has an allergy, eczema, or a family history of allergy, talk to your family doctor or paediatrician before introducing new foods.
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Recipes are a suggestion; they do not replace breast milk, formula, or your child's own feeding plan. If there is an allergy or a specific dietary situation, speak with a health professional.