Baby Finger Foods

The best person to decide when you can start feeding the baby finger foods is your baby himself. At the dining table, you may find him trying to grab food from his plate as you feed him or eventrying to pick food off your plate. Your baby may also take the food in his hand and drop it again. These signs indicate your baby's interest towards finger foods. Initially, finger foods are used to supplement your baby's diet. Slowly, they become a meal by itself. Introducing the baby to finger foods often takes place when your baby is about nine months old when he is able to grip objects between his thumb and index finger. Once he has mastered this motoring skill called the pincer grasp, you have to be very careful that he does not pick up very small objects and pop them into his mouth because these may choke him. Always pay attention as the baby tackles finger foods so that he does not choke.

Feed your baby finger foods only after seating him firmly and not when he is crawling or toddling around. He should be able to hold his head up and sit without any one holding him. You should feed him according to his age. The first baby finger foods that you can offer must be those that he can swallow easily without much chewing. The very first teeth that are formed help your baby to bite the food but not chew them. It is also advisable to try those foods first that he has tasted earlier either as pureed or mashed foods. Introduce the baby to finger foods that need proper chewing only after his first set of molars have developed. One of the best ways to give your baby finger foods is to place about four to five pieces of the food on an unbreakable plate in front of him. As he eats them, you can add more to the plate.

Tips to Consider When Giving Baby Finger Foods

• Can my baby swallow the food without chewing? Do they have the melt-in-the-mouth texture?
• Does the cooked food have a soft texture? Well-cooked vegetables and fruits have this texture.
• Is the uncooked food such as cheese soft enough for my baby's gums?
• Will my baby's gums help to mash the food?
• Is the food small enough for my baby's gums to smash?

Some good choices of finger foods are rice mixed with daal or spinach, soft chappatis, idli, bread, fruits and boiled vegetables. Remember not to cut the finger food into very small pieces as they can pose a choking hazard. In addition, they should not be so big that your baby finds it difficult to grasp the food with his fingers.

• How can I help my baby eat his finger food?
• Finger food for 10month baby?
• Finger foods that should be avoided
• Online shopping for feeding your baby?

How can I help my baby eat his finger foods?

Some tips for you to make finger foods exciting for your baby are:

• Get started with one finger food at a time. Have a variety of colours and shapes in his finger food.
• Allow him to experiment with his food. Do not worry about the mess and encourage him to touch, play, smell, taste and do whatever he wants with the food.
• Offer him only 4 to 5 pieces at a time.
• Make slippery food such as bananas easier to hold by coating them with cereal powder.
• If your baby refuses one particular kind of food, do not force him to eat it. Offer it again after a few weeks. His tastes may have changed by then.
• If your baby's teeth are beginning to develop, give him some cool food to soothe his gums.

Can you please tell me some finger food that I can give my 10 months old baby?

You can offer your baby almost any food that is healthy and can be made into a good finger food. But do take care to give them to him only after you cut the food into bite-sized pieces. Some examples of good finger foods are:

• Wholegrain bread or toast strips
• Rice flakes or oat flakes that he can easily swallow
• Pasteurised cheese that has been shredded or cut into small cubes
• Fruit that is soft, ripe and peeled such as bananas, peaches, mangoes, seedless watermelons and plums
• Soft cooked and tender vegetables such as carrots, broccoli, sweet potatoes, peas and cauliflowers
• Tender meatballs cooked in sauce so that they do not form a crust
• Baked fish with all the bones removed
• Cooked lentils and tofu
• Pasta cooked in different shapes and sizes
• Egg yolk that has been cooked well

Are there any finger foods that I should avoid during the initial stages?

You should avoid foods that pose choking hazards or contain high calories without nutrition content. Some such foods include:

• Large chunks of raw vegetables or hard fruits
• Raisins, whole grapes, cherry tomatoes and nuts. (You can give him finely chopped grapes and cherry tomatoes.)
• White bread
• Hard cheese pieces
• Chocolates, cinnamon, yeast and any other food that can cause allergies

Where can you buy essentials for feeding your baby online?

That’s Cute has vacuumed feeding plates with anti-slip grip for safe feeding of solids for your baby. Sunbaby is an online Indian store that provides a whole lot of feeding accessories such as feeding bowls with spoons and lids, moulded plates and bowls to make solid feeding exciting.