Baby and toddler recipes
🍠 Soft roasted sweet potato wedges for 6 months
Thick wedges of sweet potato roasted until soft inside, a classic first finger food that baby can hold in a fist and munch. Sweet potato is rich in vitamin A and fibre and naturally sweet, so it is often an early favourite.
Makes about 12 wedges
Ingredients
- 1 medium (about 250g) Sweet potato (scrubbed, skin on or off)
- 1 tbsp Olive oil
- a pinch Paprika (sweet smoked or mild, not hot)
Method
- Heat the oven to 200C (180C fan) and line a baking tray.
- Cut the sweet potato in half lengthways, then into wedges about the size of an adult finger.
- Toss with the oil and paprika and spread out in a single layer so they roast rather than steam.
- Roast for 25 to 30 minutes, turning once, until very soft all the way through.
- Cool to warm. Test a piece before serving: it should squash easily between your thumb and finger.
Serving it to your baby
At 6 months offer wedges big enough to hold in a fist with a bit poking out the top to gnaw. If the skin goes leathery, peel it off for younger babies. From 9 months cut into bite-sized cubes for pincer grip practice. Always stay with baby while they eat and keep them sitting upright.
For the rest of the family
Roast a full tray and season the grown-up wedges with salt, chilli flakes or garlic after taking baby's out. Serve with a yoghurt dip for everyone.
Storing and reheating
Cool, then keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Freeze on a lined tray, then bag up, for up to 3 months. Reheat in the oven until hot through, then cool before serving. Never reheat more than once.
Weaning with OBubba
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Questions parents ask
What size should baby's first finger foods be?
Around the length and width of an adult finger. At 6 months babies grip with their whole hand, so food needs to stick out above the fist for them to reach it.
Is it normal for baby to gag on finger foods?
Yes. Gagging is a noisy, normal reflex that helps baby learn to move food safely, and it usually settles within a few weeks. Choking is usually silent. Learning baby first aid is a reassuring step for any parent.
OBubba gives general information based on UK guidance. It is not medical advice and does not diagnose anything. Every baby is different. If your baby has a known allergy, severe eczema or a medical condition, speak to your doctor or health visitor before starting solids. Learn baby first aid, and in an emergency call your local emergency number (999 in the UK).