Solid Foods:Finger Foods

What are good finger foods to offer my baby?

Once your child has become accustomed to eating solid foods, allow them to feed themself finger foods. Most babies are ready to begin finger foods around the age of 9 months. In order for your child to be able to grasp and pick up small pieces of food, they will need to have a pincer grasp developed. This is part of your child's fine motor skill development, which will improve with practice.

Once you begin to let your child feed themself, encourage it as often as possible. Provide a child-sized fork and spoon at mealtimes and allow your child to eat finger foods at snack time.

FInger foods can become a healthy snack for your child. When selecting finger foods for your child, make sure that the food is cooked enough so that it mushes easily and/or melts in your child's mouth. Make sure that the pieces are small enough so that your child does not get choked. Offer your child a large variety of foods to try, even if you do not like the food. If your child does not eat the food at first, offer it again at another time. Research shows that it can take up to 10 attempts before a child will like a new type of food.

Good Finger Foods To Offer:

Cheese
Noodles
Crackers
Cereal
Waffles
Pancakes
Diced bananas
Cooked vegetables
Mini muffins
Mini sandwiches (no peanut butter)
Cottage cheese
Rice
Diced pears
Kiwi
Hard boiled eggs (yolk only for babies under 1 year)

Foods To Avoid

Hot dogs
Peanuts
Whole grapes
Cherry tomatoes
Raw vegetables
Hard fruits
Raisins
Candy
Cherries
Popcorn
Olives
Chips

Comments: Solid Foods - Finger-Foods

Comments 1 to 8 of about 8.

lgk616 - 1251 days ago.
My daughter is 14 months and will only let me feed her cereal, yogurt or pureed fruit. Everything else that she used to eat - pureed beef, chicken and veggies, she no longer eats. So I struggle with lunch and dinner. She will feed herself macaroni and other pastas, the inside of a fish stick or chicken nugget, bread, banana, peaches, cucumber and that's pretty much it! I live in Greece and do not have access to Gerber foods here so I can't even try her on the stages products found back home in Canada! What else can I try with her? She doesn't like Cheerios, cooked peas or carrots or any other veggie and that is what she is lacking in eating the most! Any ideas? Also, she is still breastfeeding and not interested in weaning as of yet. She does not like whole milk or goat's milk - in a bottle, cup or with a straw, warm or cold - she just won't take it! xox

smurfwxmama - 1531 days ago.
OK so my lil guy, just turned 8 mths and he is shoveling anything and everything he can into his mouth, regular jarred food is not cutting it anymore...it's too cute he's so chubby I love it!!

sunshinemaria - 1582 days ago.
If your wee one has teeth, give it a go with just a few Cheerios. If he seems to struggle, get it out of their mouth and try again in a few weeks. :)

luvbeingamom - 1582 days ago.
I started Cherrios at 7 months with my second, 5 mo with my first. they really do melt in the mouth so there is little to know worry about chocking. Also, when they first start, it is rare they would actually make it into their mouth :-) They are recommended to help with cordination.

clarkie3 - 1582 days ago.
Is 7 1/2 months too early to try cherios?

jenakers - 1630 days ago.
Mine loves turkey hotdogs.

Bri - 1630 days ago.
cj - At 11 months I wouldn't be too concerned about what you are feeding as long as it's healthy and your baby has learned to 'eat'. Kekoa was eating steak at 11 months (in little pieces of course). He loved Kal-bi, a Hawaiian spare rib. HAHA! Definately a meat man. Whatever you would fix for yourself then serve that, within reason.

cj - 1630 days ago.
I'm trying to come up with meals for baby. she is almost 11 months and eats what we eat, but I need to have some variety other than pasta and chicken.