When to Start Finger Foods???

One thing that you can try and cut down on choking risk is the mesh feeders. I used them with my dgtr around that age (maybe older) and she would eat fresh fruit or the teething biscuits (she had almost choked on a large chunk she got off one day - so I didn't give them to her straight again) in them. She LOVED them! He sounds like he could be ready for finger foods - just make them really soft and let him try them! But the mesh feeder things were great too for a little more independence so I didn't have to watch every bite she took (she would STUFF her mouth FULL - still does - 26 mos old!!).

Hi A. L,

I had the same problems with my baby girl. She's 9 1/2 months now and hates the store bought baby food. An easy beginner finger food is bananas. I also use the website wholesomebabyfood.com to give me insight, tips and recipies on baby foods and suggestions on when to start finger foods and what foods to begin with. Try the website. I'm not disappointed with it. Also, use your own discretion on what you feel your baby can handle. Good luck and let me know how it works out.

Kind regards,
K.

my daughter is 8m old and when she started doing that, i just started trying to give her some pieces of our food, when it was healthy enough and soft enough, to see how she did. she did great! so now i make her some regular food to feed herself when i'm in the mood for the mess that comes with it! some of her firsts include:

diced banana in cheerio crumbs
small white/red beans
veggies out of low sodium veggie soup
tiny pasta stirred into stage 2 jars
lentils cooked with carrot pieces
quiche
tofu cubes

If he's showing that he can munch down some foods, try pasta. My husband makes homemade macaroni and cheese and I was nervous alittle bit about feeding it to him, but I dut the macaroni in half and gave it to my son and he did fine and then before you know it he eats the whole macaroni. give him bananas and I have biten off the blueberries and gave i to him one time and he did well. Give him the soft ones and then one day and not realizing at the family reuniton the corn in this food was harder and he ate it with no problem...it can be scary but I went thorugh it three times and my third one is 11 months and eats real good and alot of food too!! :) ha,ha,ha. Let us know how it goes and ask Jesus for His wisdom if you believe in Him....I will pray for you Congrats!!!

He sounds ready! My son loved small chunks of well cooked sweet potato, over ripe banana, well cooked carrots, tofu chunks. My kid only ate table food from about 8 months (including spicy Indian take out!!) Just stay next to him and give him small chunks/little portions at a time to decrease choking hazard. Have fun!

I just started trying things and seeing how it went. Especially if he has the dexterity to pick things up, it all has to do with how good he is at using his gums. My two kids were completely different - my daughter started with foods very early but my son is just getting used to them now, at 10 months.

Some ideas from my experience - peas because they are easy to gum, broken blueberries, meatloaf, turkey meatballs (or other), any cooked soft veggies (though I have found that if you can make them in stick form, they find it easier to hold).

But watch very closely when they are just starting. My kids both gagged several times when I was trying new foods as they learned to swallow things that were bigger and a little harder. They never choked, but I watched pretty closely to make sure that they were able to really eat what I was giving them.

Also, with my son, it has been very helpful to give him something in his hands (cracker, veggie, etc.) while we feed him by spoon. He will take both at the same time.

Hope that helps - enjoy the exploration of solids with your little one!

my little one (our 3rd) was solely on table food by 8 months...so if he is acting ready, go for it...just keep a close eye on him for choking.

PS...if he's this independent now...watch out!! His terrible 2's may start around 14 months!! (I speak from experience!!LOL)

J.

Your son sounds advanced, like mine. If he is already eating puffs and biscuts he can certainly have pasta and fruit. My son loves cheerios, pastas, bananas, gerber freeze dried apple bits are great too. He eats green beans cut up, peas, carrots, chunky applesauce. His doc said to give him everything, so we pretty much do. All but eggs, nuts, shellfish and honey. Everything else goes. If you are afraid of him choking they make this thing that looks like a pacifier with a net instead if a nipple, you put food in it and they can hold it and eat without fear of choking. hope this helps.

google "baby led weaning" or "baby led solids". there is no need the baby has to eat spooned baby food. if you wait until your baby has the pincer grasp, and doesnt push the food out of his mouth with reflex, he will be ready for regular foods. when i say regular, i mean healthy things like giving well steamed brocolli. what you can do is not give him small pieces, instead give him a larger piece that he can grip and gnaw on to get pieces off, similar to the way he eats the biter biscuits. smaller pieces are easier to choke on since the baby will swallow whole vs larger pieces the baby chews off.

i used to think you should only give a baby baby food until a year old and followed that regiment with my first daughter. now i am more confident in making more independant choices. after much research, i feel the baby led weaning is a better, more natural choice. good luck.

If he can crawl, he can eat finger foods! Also, if he is showing good chewing motions with those puffs and the biter biscuits. To be honest, I gave son finger foods when he was still army crawling (not belly up yet), because he wanted them so badly. And he did great!

Try very small, mushy stuff. Banana is good! Slimy stuff (like pears) can be harder for him to pick up, though he'll still love the taste. Cheerios, very cooked veggies (carrots, squash, etc.), small pieces of fruits, crackers, Baby Mum Mums (my son's absolute favorite!), small pieces of toast, small pieces of cheese (once you get the ok from your doc), small pieces of very cooked pasta, etc.

It's so fun! Enjoy!

Hi A.! Aren't you lucky ... Your little guy wants to eat, mamma! I have an 8 mo, who won't try anything I offer him! lol

My doctor told me around 6 months old it was fine to start offering him cut-up, soft veggies and fruits, even soft cheeses and super-soft pastas. As long as baby is showing interest, it is time to start giving him those things.

Good luck ... how exciting!

-T.

If he's ready, do it now...pasta is perfect, little bits of fruit, especially bananas, ground meat, etc. My older son was 15 months before he wanted finger foods, but my younger son was about six months (adjusted) when we started with the pasta, crackers, etc. It will make dinner so much easier!