BLW Meal Plan for the First Week
BLW Meal Plan for the First Week – 7 Days of Baby-Led Weaning First Foods
Kick-off baby-led weaning with this BLW meal plan for the first week—balanced, iron-rich and parent-approved.
Parents often ask, “What should I eat the first week of BLW?” or “What to give baby in the first week of weaning?”. Instead of guessing, follow this BLW Meal Plan for the First Week that pairs safe textures with nutrient targets. You’ll also find a Blw meal plan for the first week PDF free to print, plus a downloadable Blw meal plan for the first week free calendar that plugs into your fridge. Every day respects the 4 day rule and the definition of BLW first foods.
1. Readiness recap & serving posture.
Before day one, tick the six readiness signs—upright sitting, no tongue-thrust, eager to grab food, good neck control, palmar grasp emerging, and roughly six months adjusted age. Seat baby in a high-chair following the 90-90-90 guideline; see our safety guide for details.
2. What should I eat the first week of BLW?
Your infant’s first menu must feature iron, vitamin C and healthy fats. Each meal in this plan offers one iron “hero”, one vitamin-C “sidekick”, and one soft carb or fat booster. Use the printable Blw meal plan for the first week pdf to check each food off once served.
| Day | Iron Hero | Vitamin-C Sidekick | Carb/Fat Booster |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Soft-boiled egg quarter | Ripe avocado spear | Steamed sweet-potato wedge |
| 2 | Baked salmon finger | Mango cheek | Greek yogurt pre-loaded spoon |
| 3 | Slow-cooked beef strands | Broccoli “tree” | Olive-oil roasted butternut stick |
| 4 | Red-lentil patty | Strawberry half (oat-rolled) | Oat-banana bar |
| 5 | Chicken thigh strip | Kiwi half (scooped) | Avocado spread on toast finger |
| 6 | Tofu batons sautéed in iron skillet | Orange segment (membrane removed) | Quinoa-apple porridge finger |
| 7 | Turkey meatball (soft) | Steamed zucchini stick | Full-fat cottage cheese spoon |
Introduce water in an open cup from day one to practice sipping.
3. What to give baby in the first week of weaning?
3.1 Iron priority.
Paediatric dietitians emphasise haem and non-haem iron sources from the start. Rotate animal (salmon, beef) and plant (lentil) heroes throughout the week.
3.2 Vitamin-C partners.
Serving mango, avocado, or kiwi alongside iron improves absorption. Log each pairing in the Baby-led weaning food Chart included inside the Blw meal plan for the first week pdf free.
3.3 Safe texture & shape.
- Pieces are finger-length, thumb-width, and squash easily between fingers.
- Slippery foods (avocado) can be rolled in ground flax for grip.
4. What is the 4 day rule for baby-led weaning?
The 4 day rule spaces new foods four days apart, simplifying allergy detection. In week one we follow a 3-2-1 pattern: three staple foods stay constant (sweet-potato, avocado, Greek yogurt), two new foods rotate every four days, and one iron hero headlines each meal. Track reactions on the printable log within the BLW Meal Plan for the First Week.
5. What is BLW first foods?
BLW first foods are whole, minimally processed items rich in iron and soft enough to squash. Examples: soft-boiled egg, salmon strip, avocado spear, banana half, steamed broccoli. These appear repeatedly in our 7-day rotation to cement familiarity and motor skills.
6. Meal-prep blueprint in 15 minutes a day.
- Sunday night: bake two salmon fillets, roast a tray of sweet potato and butternut; store in airtight containers.
- Monday morning: boil three eggs (6 min soft centre); refrigerate for Days 1–3.
- Mid-week: slow-cook beef chuck overnight; shred and freeze half for Week 2.
- Daily: slice fruit fresh to preserve vitamin C.
A time-stamped prep sheet resides in the Blw meal plan for the first week pdf for reference.
7. Downloads & next steps.
- Blw meal plan for the first week pdf – colour one-pager.
- Blw meal plan for the first week pdf free – immediate email delivery.
- Blw meal plan for the first week free calendar – editable Google Sheet.
Bookmark this BLW Meal Plan for the First Week to revisit daily. Pair it with our First Foods Checklist to streamline grocery runs. Cheers to a stress-free, mess-positive start to baby-led weaning.