As a parent, you know that every little milestone in your baby's life is a cause for celebration, and introducing them to snacks is no exception. Snack time isn't just about filling tiny tummies; it's essential to your baby's growth and development. From supporting their energy needs to introducing them to various tastes and textures, snacks play a crucial role in a baby's diet.

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Introducing snacks to your baby can start around the 9-12 months mark. Before this, many babies are primarily breastfed or formula-fed, and their little digestive systems aren't quite ready for the complexities of solid foods. However, once they hit the 9-month milestone, it's an exciting time to start experimenting with baby snacks. At this stage, your baby is developing what's known as the 'pincer grasp', which allows them to pick up small items - perfect for exploring snack foods! It's important to note that there's a subtle shift in the types of snacks suitable for a 9-month-old compared to a 12-month-old. Younger babies might need softer, easier-to-digest snacks to minimize choking hazards, while older babies can handle more texture and variety.

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This guide will cover baby snack ideas, ensuring your little one gets essential nutrients. Whether at home, on a road trip, or simply looking for ideas to bridge the gap between meals, we've got you covered. From healthy mini meals for the just-starting-out 9-month-old to more adventurous choices for the older baby or toddler, we’ll explore various delicious, nutritious baby food ideas. Make snack time a fun, nourishing, and essential part of your baby's day!

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Do you find yourself constantly on the go but still want to indulge in healthy foods? The expert chefs at Hungryroot have crafted various delicious recipes, including baby and toddler snacks and groceries delivered straight to your doorstep.

Whether juggling work, family, or other commitments, Hungryroot helps you enjoy mouthwatering foods without compromising your family’s health goals. Get started today by taking our personalized quiz and start your health journey right from day one!

Our Healthy-approved Baby Snacks

Little Spoon Confetti Cake + Pretzel Dipsters: For parents of older babies around the 12-month range, introducing solid foods that require a bit of chewing is an exciting step. This dipster pack offers just that with a healthy twist. This vegan and soy-free snack combines pretzels with an oat-based dip and is a fun and nutritious choice for toddlers. It incorporates a clever blend of hidden veggies, such as carrot and sweet potato, which are integrated into the dip that mimics the flavor of a sprinkle-covered cake. This delightful pairing not only introduces your toddler to new textures and flavors but does so in a way that’s both enjoyable and beneficial for their growing bodies. Each serving of this snack contains 160 calories and a balanced mix of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins, ensuring your toddler gets a healthy, well-rounded snack.

Happy Baby Organic Sweet Potato + Banana Teether Wafers: Another ideal snack for older babies in the 12-month range who can handle solid foods. These are carefully crafted to be gentle on the gums of early eaters, making them perfect for babies who are just starting to explore the world of solid snacks. Made from jasmine rice flour with a hint of organic sweet potato and banana, these teether wafers are designed to dissolve easily, ensuring a safe and enjoyable eating experience for your baby. The combination of sweet potato and banana introduces natural sweetness and essential nutrients in a form that's easy for little ones to handle. Each serving of four wafers contains only 30 calories, making them a suitable snack that won't overpower your baby's appetite.

White Leaf Provisions Organic Pear, Banana + Kiwi Pouch: This vegan, gluten-free, nut-free, and soy-free baby food is not just packed with essential nutrients like potassium and vitamin C but also stands out for its commitment to sustainability. Made with regeneratively farmed fruits, this pouch supports a more sustainable food system, offering the dual benefit of promoting a healthy baby and a healthy planet. The pouch contains a simple yet nourishing blend of organic biodynamic pear puree, banana, and kiwi, providing a delightful combination of sweetness and tartness that will appeal to young palates. Each serving, one pouch of 90 grams, contains 40 calories, making it a snack that won’t overpower a young child’s appetite.

Little Spoon Brownie Batter + Cookie Dipsters: An innovative, vegetarian snack option designed for older babies, particularly those in the 12-month range who are ready to enjoy more complex flavors and textures. The snack features crunchy, junk-free cookies paired with a unique oat-based dip, which ingeniously incorporates hidden veggies like spinach and purple sweet potato, yet tastes indulgently like chocolate brownie batter. Each tray in the pack provides a balanced nutritional profile with 170 calories, 10 grams of fat, and 19 grams of carbohydrates, including 1 gram of dietary fiber. This snack is a convenient, no-heat-required option for busy parents and a clever way to introduce vegetable choices into a child’s diet.

Puffworks Organic Baby Peanut Butter Puffs: These puffs are an ideal snack for older babies, particularly those around the 12-month mark who are ready to explore the world of solid foods and develop their chewing skills. These vegan, gluten-free, and soy-free puffs are tailored for little ones, offering a simple yet nutritious corn and peanut butter blend. With no added sugar, these puffs are designed to dissolve easily on the tongue, making them a safe and enjoyable option for babies. The size of the puffs is also considerate of a baby's small hands and mouth, ensuring a manageable eating experience. This snack is a great way to introduce your baby to new textures and flavors, especially the wholesome taste of peanut butter, while ensuring their snack time is filled with healthful ingredients. Each serving of 12 pieces contains only 35 calories, with 2 grams of total fat and 4 grams of carbohydrates, making it a light yet satisfying snack. 

Little Spoon Organic Sunflower Butter + Jelly Smoothie Pouch: This smoothie pack is crafted with organic ingredients and is an excellent snack choice for older babies in the 9 to 12-month range, especially those who are not yet ready for solid foods. This vegan, gluten-free, nut-free, and soy-free smoothie pouch is designed to offer a nutritious snack experience, mimicking the flavors of a classic lunchbox favorite in a baby-friendly format. The smoothie combines sunflower butter, a creamy spread made from sunflower seeds, with bananas, blackberries, and beets, creating a delicious blend that tastes like a sunflower butter and jelly sandwich. This smoothie is perfect for parents looking for healthy, easy-to-consume options for their little ones. Each pouch contains 100 calories, with 2 grams of total fat, 20 grams of carbohydrates, and 2 grams of dietary fiber, making it a satisfying yet light option.

Happy Baby Organic Tomato Basil Snacker Crackers: Another crunchy snack option for older babies around 12 months who are ready to experience new flavors and textures. These are vegan and baby-friendly, with a meltable texture perfect for little ones just beginning to enjoy more solid foods. Made from whole grains like sorghum paired with a tomato and basil seasoning blend, these crackers offer a wonderfully flavorful yet salt-free snack. Each serving, about half a cup or 7 grams, contains just 30 calories, making them a snack that complements your baby’s regular meals. 

Happy Baby Organic Purple Carrot + Blueberry Puffs: These puffs are excellent finger food for older babies around the 10-12-month age range. The melt-in-your-mouth texture of the puffs makes them ideal for early eaters, especially since they are small enough for baby hands to hold, fostering independence and fine motor skills. The puffs are tasty and combine purple carrot and blueberry flavors. They are also enriched with essential vitamins and minerals like vitamin B12, vitamin E, and choline, which are key to supporting healthy growth in babies. These puffs are also fortified with a range of vitamins and minerals, including calcium, iron, and various B vitamins, to enhance the nutritional value of the snack. 

Little Spoon Organic Strawberry Banana Shake Pouch: This shake pouch is an ideal portion size for younger babies in the 9-month range because it’s easy to consume and doesn’t require chewing. The smoothie has a sweet and creamy texture that resembles a milkshake but is packed with far more nutritional value. Made with a combination of strawberries, bananas, butternut squash, and coconut milk, it perfectly balances fruitiness and creaminess. Each pouch contains 80 calories and is rich in natural ingredients, with 2.5 grams of total fat, including 1.5 grams of healthy fats from the coconut milk.

Peter Rabbit Organic Banana, Raspberry + Blueberry Pouch: This nutritious snack choice is for younger babies, particularly those in the 9-month range, who are starting to explore more diverse foods. This vegan, gluten-free, nut-free, and soy-free puree has four organic ingredients: banana, raspberry, blueberry, and lemon juice concentrate. This combination results in a fruity and delicious snack perfect for babies. The easy-to-squeeze pouch design makes it convenient for on-the-go feeding, potentially making it a parent's secret weapon for hassle-free snack times, whether at home or out and about. Each pouch provides 100 calories,  23 grams of carbohydrates, and 2 grams of dietary fiber, aiding in healthy digestion and providing natural energy. 

Once Upon A Farm Organic OhMyMega Fruit + Veggie Pouch: Another easy-to-consume veggie smoothie pack, this snack is a great option for younger babies beginning to explore a wider range of flavors. The pouch is packed with a wholesome blend of organic ingredients, including apples, carrots, and beets, all known for their health benefits and natural sweetness. The pouch also contains omega-3-rich flax seeds, making it a delicious snack supporting your baby’s overall development. Nutritionally, the pouch is light yet nourishing, with each serving providing 50 calories. With 12 grams of carbohydrates, including 2 grams of dietary fiber, the pouch aids in healthy digestion and provides a good natural energy source.

White Leaf Provisions Organic Apple, Sweet Potato + Beet Pouch: This veggie-focused baby snack is rich in essential nutrients like iron and potassium and is made with regeneratively-farmed ingredients. The pouch features a blend of organic biodynamic apple, sweet potato, and red beet, with a hint of lemon juice concentrate. This combination provides a mix of flavors and textures, making it an appealing and healthy choice for young taste buds. Each serving, one pouch of 90 grams, contains 45 calories, making it an ideal snack that complements a baby's regular meals without being too heavy.

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As you begin introducing your baby to solid foods for snacking, it's exciting to discover options to keep your little one satisfied and nutritionally supported. For younger babies, simple, single-ingredient purees and soft foods can be a great introduction to textures and flavors, while older babies and toddlers can enjoy more complex snacks, like nut butter blends or diverse toddler food combinations. 

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These snacks can easily become a part of their typical day, whether sitting in their high chair or on the go. Remember, the key is offering various foods from each food group, avoiding artificial flavors, and using a reusable pouch for homemade blends. This approach makes mealtime exciting and ensures your baby gets a well-rounded diet rich in all the essential nutrients needed for their growth and development.

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We know life can get hectic, but helping your baby transition to solid foods should be easy. That's why Hungryroot brings custom-selected, healthy groceries that magically turn into delicious recipes delivered right to your door. Our seamless process frees up valuable time and helps you effortlessly embrace a healthy lifestyle. Let us be your trusted partner on your journey to health — because you deserve to feel good, inside and out.

Start your health journey by taking our personalized quiz to get your recipe and grocery recommendations.

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Recommended Reading

• Disocver 40 Kid-friendly Snacks: Healthy, Affordable, And Convenient
• 10 Easy Toddler Meals For Any Occasion
• 20 Nutritious After-School Snacks Kids Will Love

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