Delicious Corn on the Cob for Baby-led Weaning

Why Corn Is Good For Babies and Toddlers

There are many health benefits to feeding babies corn on the cob. Corn contains Lutein which is similar to Vitamin A.

Lutein helps protect our eyes by preventing illnesses such as macular degeneration and cataract. It also contains lots of fiber which help kids move their bowels. 

Corn is also a great source of carbohydrates and vitamins such as zinc, phosphorus, and magnesium (source)

You may also like: BLW Brown Rice & Mushroom Risotto

Why I Love This Recipe For Baby-led Weaning

Corn on the cob is such a great food to feed kids for baby-led weaning. Its natural design promotes independent feeding because babies and toddlers can hold it themselves.

The natural sweetness of corn also appeals to little babies and makes them gnaw on the cob to promote their jaw development.

Corn is a huge part of African cuisine. I remember roasting corn with my grandparents at the farm after a long day of farming. We would gather around a fire, roast or boil some corn and enjoy it with some mushroom soup.

Now that I have kids, I try to recreate some of my family’s traditions with my kids. And eating corn on the cob is one way I do this.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. For more info please see the disclaimer

Serving

This corn-on-the-cob recipe serves 1 adult and 1 toddler and 1 baby. So make sure to scale up the recipe depending on your family size

Ingredient Lists For Baby-led Weaning Corn on the Cob

• Butter (salted or unsalted) to coat the surface of the corn
• 2 Corn on the cob (get it delivered with Amazon fresh)

Cooking Instructions

• Place your corn in a deep enough pot
• Pour enough water into the pot to cover the corn
• Boil for about 20 minutes or until corn is soft enough to squish between your fingers.
• Lather some butter on the corn
• Serve when cooled

Make It A Complete Meal

Corn is so versatile that you can add a variety of food on the side. To make it a complete meal

Add a protein

Protein will help your kids feel and stay full. You can add any protein you have lying around the house. Some quick proteins are chicken, ham, fish, and sausage. In this recipe, I gave my kids a side of sausage as a protein.

Add some fruits on the side

Fruits are a great way to get your vitamins and minerals. You can add any fruit you have lying around the house.

My kids love blueberries, cut apples, and strawberries so that’s what we mostly use as a side.

Add some veggies 

Salad goes really well with corn on the cob. If you’re giving this meal to a baby who’s new to baby-led weaning, you’ll have to skip the salad. It’ll be too hard to eat.

Toddlers on the other hand can handle salads really well as long as the dressing appeals to them. My toddler loves this deep-roasted sesame dressing from Amazon, so we put that on almost everything that requires a dipping sauce. 

How to serve corn on the cob for baby-led weaning

How to prepare corn for a baby 6 – 9-month-old

You can serve cooked corn on the cob to a baby aged 6-9 months old by cutting it into flat round pieces. This will allow your baby to hold the corn independently and self-feed. 

If you’re nervous about feeding corn on the cob to your infant, then you can offer them just the cob with no corn attached. They will be happy to gnaw at it to help strengthen their jaws.

Ensure you’re serving boiled corn instead of roasted corn, as roasted corn can be too hard to chew for a baby. 

How to serve corn to a 1-year-old

A 1-year-old can have boiled corn on the cob. You can also make corn fritters or corn patties instead of whole corn on the cob. 

Some parents are more comfortable mixing corn with other food because it is easier for younger kids to eat.

How to serve corn to toddlers 12 Months old and beyond

At 12 months, your child should be able to eat corn in any form. You can give them the corn pieces, make fritters with them, or give them on the cob. 

Pin Me For Later!

FAQs About Corn For Babies

When can babies eat whole corn?

Babies can eat whole corn as soon as they’re able to eat solids, which is around 6 months old. You can prepare corn in a safe way by boiling it instead of roasting it. For younger babies, cut the corn into round flat pieces so it’s easier for them to hold.

Is corn hard to digest for a 1-year-old?

The outer layer of corn which contains cellulose (a type of fiber) is hard for babies to digest. They will poop those out. The inner layer of corn is easier for babies to digest. That’s the layer that has all the nutrition we want our kids to have. 

So don’t be nervous when you see pieces of the outer layer of corn in your baby’s poop. They’ve already digested the part that’s necessary.

Notes on this baby-led weaning corn recipe

If you’re worried about the sodium content in the butter, then stick to unsalted butter for your baby. Although I think the amount of butter you put on the corn isn’t significant enough to worry about the sodium content. 

You can also experiment with spices like black pepper, curry, or any spices you want your baby to try.

How did you like this BLW recipe?

Please comment below to let me know how the recipe turned out for you. If there’s anything you did differently, I’d like to know as well.

Other BLW Lunch Ideas

BLW Brown Rice & Mushroom Risotto