How to Prepare Corn for Babies (BLW Easy Recipes)
Corn is a great first food to introduce to babies as soon as they are showing the signs of readiness to begin solid foods, this is usually around six months of age. Corn offers essential nutrients and gives many opportunities for babies to try new foods such as corn on the cob, sweetcorn fritters, corn puree, and cornbread. I’ll share with you how you can prepare corn safely for babies as well as a few easy BWL recipes that babies will love!
How to Prepare Corn Safely for BLW
When to Introduce Corn:
You can introduce corn at 6 months of age when your baby is showing the readiness signs to begin solid foods. Corn on the cob causes less of a risk of choking than loose whole corn kernels do. Corn on the cob is also easy for a 6-month-old baby to hold and gnaw on which is great for their jaw muscles.
6 to 8 Months
Serve 2-inch round pieces of cooked corn on the cob. It can be a good idea to wait until your baby has a tooth before offering corn on the cob. If you are concerned about the loose kernels you can cut off the kernels and just give them the cob. Remember, at the beginning of BLW, your baby is working on feeding skills and developing jaw muscles rather than consuming much food. Most of their nutrition is still coming from breast milk or formula. As they keep practicing they will begin to eat more food.
You could offer corn puree on a pre-loaded spoon for your baby to self-feed. This can be a great way to introduce corn to a baby who may not have a tooth yet or you don’t feel comfortable giving corn on the cob too.
9 to 11 Months
You can make mini and serve mini cornbread muffins. Make sure the baby has been introduced to all other ingredients in the muffins before offering this delicious way of eating corn!
Continue to offer corn on the cob at this stage.
12 to 24 Months
At 12 months you can introduce whole corn kernels. At this time the pincer grip has developed and the baby or toddler is capable of picking up individual kernels of corn. Begin with just a few kernels at a time to avoid the child putting too many kernels in their mouth at one time. Corn on the cob remains a great option at this age also.
Recipes and Ways to Serve Corn
I am always looking for easy ways to offer corn to my babies. Here are 4 corn recipes I have loved that will offer some variety for a developing eater and are great for younger babies.
Corn on the Cob: Boiled or steamed
Ingredients
- 2 fresh corn cobs
- Unsalted butter
Directions
- Remove husks (if any)
- Boil a pot of water over medium-high heat.
- Cut off the ends of the corn and cut pieces into 2-inch rounds.
- Cook until kernels are bright yellow. Either boil on the stovetop for about 5 minutes or steam in a microwave-safe dish for about 4 minutes. Check to make sure kernels are tender.
- Spread unsalted butter onto the piece of corn, allow to cool and serve.
How to SerVE
- Serve 2-inch round pieces of cooked corn cobs for self-feeding.
- As the baby gets older you can offer larger pieces of corn on the cob.
- Cut off the corn and offer the cob to the baby.
Broccoli and Sweetcorn Fritter
A sweetcorn fritter is a great finger food for babies and a great way to add some extra vegetables. You could add sweet potato or spinach to this as well!
Ingredients
- 1 cup sweetcorn (cut off the cob, frozen or canned with no sodium)
- 1 cup of steamed broccoli
- 1/4 of an onion
- 1 clove of garlic
- 50 grams milk of any kind/breastmilk
- 1 egg
- 50 grams all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 Tbsp olive oil or avocado oil
Yield: 12 Fritters
Directions
- Add sweetcorn, broccoli, garlic and onion to a food processor. Pulse until roughly chopped.
- Mix together flour and baking powder in a separate bowl.
- Add egg, milk and flour mixture to the food processor. Pulse until combined.
- Heat a frying pan or skillet with oil over medium heat.
- Use a cookie scoop or tablespoon to measure out and make 2-inch rounds.
- Cook in a single layer for a couple of minutes until golden brown on each side. Similar to making pancakes.
- Let cool and serve warm or refrigerate for later.
How to Serve
- Serve as small rounds or cut into strips. Allow the baby to self-feed these cooked fritters.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. You could also freeze these fritters.
Cornbread Mini Muffins
Looking for a great snack? Try these cornbread mini muffins are the perfect size for little hands and provide a new texture profile for corn. Do not use honey if making for a child under the age of one. Agave syrup is a suitable substitute, or you could leave it out altogether.
Corn Puree
Make this corn puree recipe as a great way to introduce corn without any choking hazard of loose kernels.
How to Serve
Offer corn puree on a pre-loaded spoon and allow the baby to self-feed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is corn okay to give your baby for baby-led weaning?
Yes! Corn can be a great beginning food for baby-led weaning. You will want to make sure to prepare it safely. There are many fun ways of cooking corn to offer to a baby.
Is corn an allergen food?
No, corn is not a common allergen food. When introducing corn, you can introduce a small amount over a few days to watch for any signs of an allergic reaction. Again, corn is not a common allergen food.
How do you prepare corn for baby-led weaning?
We want to prepare corn in a way that allows the baby to self-feed. Corn on the cob is a great way to do that. You can also make sweetcorn fritters, cornbread, or a corn puree for greater variety and textures.
Can 6-month-olds eat corn on the cob?
Yes, typically 6-month-olds can eat corn on the cob but it is a good idea to wait until they have teeth. Once a tooth pops through that is one of the telltale signs that they would be ready for some delicious corn on the cob.
Is corn on the cob safe for babies?
Offering corn on the cob is a better option than offering loose corn kernels. A whole large cob doesn’t pose as much of a choking risk. If you are concerned about loose kernels falling off the cob you can cut off the kernels all together or offer corn in another way, like cornbread muffins or a sweetcorn fritter.
Is corn a choking hazard for babies?
Yes, loose corn kernels pose a potential choking hazard. For this reason, make sure the corn is cooked thoroughly and that your baby has at least one tooth to help “pop” those kernels when they are gnawing on the corn cob. You could also find ways to offer corn that doesn’t pose a choking hazard, like a corn puree or cornmeal porridge offered on a pre-loaded spoon.
Does corn help a baby to poop?
Corn most certainly can help your baby poop because it is high in fiber. Our bodies work hard to digest food and yet we still often see bits of corn in poop, what’s this about? Well, the outer shell of corn is made of an insoluble fiber which makes it harder for our digestive systems to digest.
Is corn healthy?
Corn contains many beneficial nutrients that can support a baby’s immune system, however, it is one of the highest genetically modified foods, so make sure to buy Non-GMO corn from a clean source.
Corn is a naturally gluten-free carbohydrate that contains vitamin C as well as B vitamins (folate). Sweetcorn is a good source of fiber and has many beneficial nutrients to offer.
Baby-Led Weaning vs. Purees
Check out this blog post for differences between baby-led weaning and purees.