Baby's First Finger Foods! by Liza Huber, Sage Spoonfuls

By Liza Huber, Sage Spoonfuls · 5 items added

posted in Baby

How do you know your baby is ready for finger foods? At some point around 7-8 months, he will start reaching for his food and trying to grab his spoon. This is a good sign that he wants to try and feed himself. A great way to start is by placing small pieces of age appropriate finger foods on his tray when he is seated in the highchair. Let him explore trying to pick up the pieces, some may even make it into his mouth! As always, never leave your baby unattended when he is eating.

Liza Huber, Sage Spoonfuls's Sort| Most List Worthy| Most Comments

Low sugar "o" cereal
http://www.sagespoonfuls.com

Liza Huber, Sage Spoonfuls says: "Low sugar "o" shaped cereal is perhaps the most perfect finger food to start with, because while your baby will be able to gum it and practice chewing, it will also dissolve in her mouth, so it poses little choking hazard."

sagespoonfuls.com · Share Item · Comment (2) · Link to item

1 Repost
1 Repost
- Scarlet: Another great list! Thanks for the info. I can not wait to see what you do next! You obviously are full of ideas, are a prolific writer and seem to to have found your niche. Congratulations on your recent award, U GO GIRL - GOOD FOR U!
- outbound33: A great trick is to put something sticky like cream cheese on their spoon so the little dried cereal sticks and doesn't go flying about and they feel so proud they can "use" their spoon. http://alaskanbambino.blogspot.com/
Low sugar "o" cereal Low sugar "o" shaped cereal is perhaps the most perfect finger food to start with, because while your baby will be able to gum it and practice chewing, it will also dissolve in her mouth, so it poses little choking hazard.
Cooked apple
http://www.sagespoonfuls.com

Liza Huber, Sage Spoonfuls says: "Bite sized pieces of cooked apple are a delicious and appropriate finger food for this stage, but DO NOT give your baby raw apple at this stage. Major choking hazard."

sagespoonfuls.com · Share Item · Comment (1) · Link to item

1 Repost
1 Repost
- Scarlet: Love the emphasis on, DO NOT! Caught my eye!
Cooked apple Bite sized pieces of cooked apple are a delicious and appropriate finger food for this stage, but DO NOT give your baby raw apple at this stage. Major choking hazard.
Cooked veggies
http://www.sagespoonfuls.com

Liza Huber, Sage Spoonfuls says: "Bite sized pieces of soft, steamed veggies like butternut squash, carrot, zucchini and parsnip make excellent finger food choices. It's important to remember the veggies must be cooked and soft so as not to pose a choking hazard. Never feed your baby raw veggies at this stage."

sagespoonfuls.com · Share Item · Comment (3) · Link to item

1 Repost
- Read all comments (3)
- Scarlet: I always see kids with carrot sticks, celery and the like, I also doubt that they had been steamed. What about pickle slivers and hard boiled eggs> They are major favs at our home!
- Liza Huber, Sage Spoonfuls: Hi Scarlet, yes you're totally right that kids love having raw celery and carrot sticks as snacks. However, as you can imagine, they are a major choking hazard for young babies. I don't recommend pickle slivers for young babies as they are full of excess sodium and are highly processed. Hardboiled eggs are indeed a healthy snack in moderation, but can be an allergan and are best introduced after your baby's first birthday.
- Scarlet: Thanks again for sharing your thoughts!
Cooked veggies Bite sized pieces of soft, steamed veggies like butternut squash, carrot, zucchini and parsnip make excellent finger food choices. It's important to remember the veggies must be cooked and soft so as not to pose a choking hazard. Never feed your baby raw veggies at this stage.
Soft, ripe fruit
http://www.sagespoonfuls.com

Liza Huber, Sage Spoonfuls says: "Bite sized pieces of ripe, soft fruit, such as banana, pear, avocado and peach. These fruits make great finger foods because they taste great and are easy to swallow."

sagespoonfuls.com · Share Item · Comment (6) · Link to item

1 Repost
- Read all comments (6)
- Scarlet: What about tuna fish or peanut butter? They are definitely soft and popular snack items.
- Liza Huber, Sage Spoonfuls: Hi Scarlet, while tuna and peanut butter definitely have soft textures, they are not appropriate foods for a 7-9 month old.
- Scarlet: Oh. Can you be more specific if possible, the girls love tuna.
- Scarlet: Thanks for responding!
- Liza Huber, Sage Spoonfuls: While tuna is delicious, I am a big fan myself, it is also unfortunately very high in mercury. It is best for pregnant women and young children to avoid fish containing high levels of mercury.
- Liza Huber, Sage Spoonfuls: My pleasure :)
Soft, ripe fruit Bite sized pieces of ripe, soft fruit, such as banana, pear, avocado and peach. These fruits make great finger foods because they taste great and are easy to swallow.
Choking Hazards
http://www.sagespoonfuls.com

Liza Huber, Sage Spoonfuls says: "While there are lots of good choices to give your baby as finger foods, there are also many that could pose a choking hazard. Never give your baby pieces of hot dog, raisins, jelly beans, nuts, popcorn or pretzels. Soft bread can also pose a choking risk as well as teething biscuits and hard raw fruits and veggies like carrots, grapes and apples."

sagespoonfuls.com · Share Item · Comment (2) · Link to item

1 Repost
1 Repost
- Scarlet: If that is your daughter - she is a chic mini fashionista! Cute beyond words!
- Scarlet: A big problem I have with finger foods is that usually within 10-15 minutes, the food is being thrown or fed to the dog! I know the tactile and developmental benefits of this stage, but meals are not projectiles, any thoughts?
Choking Hazards While there are lots of good choices to give your baby as finger foods, there are also many that could pose a choking hazard. Never give your baby pieces of hot dog, raisins, jelly beans, nuts, popcorn or pretzels. Soft bread can also pose a choking risk as well as teething biscuits and hard raw fruits and veggies like carrots, grapes and apples.