Pumpkin, also called squash, is one of the first vegetables along with sweet potatoes and carrots that you can safely introduce to babies around 6 months. They are full of vitamins, fiber, and beta carotene. Pumpkins come in a range of flavors. Butternut squash, for example, is a baby favorite because of its sweet flesh. When choosing a pumpkin for a baby pumpkin puree, look for a small squash variety often called sugar pumpkin. They are sweeter and make creamy purees that kids and babies love. Plus, you can also use pumpkin puree made from sugar pumpkins to flavor baked baby treats like baby pumpkin pancakes or baby-led weaning muffins.
How To Make Pumpkin Puree For Babies
You can also set aside some cooked pumpkin pieces to offer as first finger food to babies. Another option to cook pumpkins for babies is to roast the pieces in the oven.
Making Pureed Pumpkin For Babies
Now that you have cooked the pumpkin, it’s time to turn it into a smooth puree for your little one. You can make baby pumpkin puree using different methods. Each method provides different textures. You can use:
Blender – easiest way as you can blend the cooked pumpkin without adding any ingredients. Food processor – you will need to add some liquid to help the blade turn the pumpkin into a puree. You can add water, breastmilk, or almond milk. Immersion blender – as for the food processor method, you need some liquid to help the immersion blender turn the vegetable into a smooth puree.
First, add the cooked pumpkin pieces into the food processor. Next, blend until smooth, stopping the food processor often to scrape down the side of the bowl. This is the easiest method to make basic pumpkin puree for babies, with no additives.
How To Offer Pumpkin To Babies
Now, you have many options to offer this homemade baby pumpkin puree to your little one. First, you can offer pumpkin puree plain straight pout from the food processor. As you can see in the pictures above, fresh homemade pumpkin puree is thick and dense, but some babies love it. However, you can thin out the puree by adding a few tablespoons of liquid until it reaches the desired consistency. It can be:
Almond milk or your own breastmilk Olive oil Water
Don’t add salt to baby food but instead flavor it with pinches of spices like cumin, paprika, or turmeric. Always avoid cinnamon for babies under 1 year old. It’s not safe for them. You can use this plain homemade baby food to make pumpkin solid food, perfect as a pumpkin baby-led weaning first food. Some of my baby recipes below make good use of this baby pumpkin puree: You can also use this pumpkin baby food puree to flavor baby yogurt or baby yogurt melt or flavor baby overnight oats.
Storage
You can store this puree in the fridge, in a small glass mason jar, for up to 4 days. Another great way to store food for babies is to place small portions in ice cube trays and freeze them for later. When you need some food for your baby, release one frozen ice cube of puree. Thaw at room temperature, or slowly thaw in bain-marie or overnight in the fridge.
Serving Suggestions
Mixing pumpkin with other fruits, vegetables or grains is delicious. You can create delicious food combinations for your little one using pumpkin puree and some of the first-stage baby vegetables, fruits, or grains below:
Avocado Sweet potato Carrot Apple Baby rice
More Baby Recipes
Below I listed more baby recipe ideas for you to try: