By clicking Subscribe, I agree to the WebMD, Smart Grocery Shopping When You Have Diabetes, Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Dogs and Cats, Coronavirus in Context: Interviews With Experts. Scrambled eggs. ", Healthychildren: "Hand and Finger Skills. Do NOT let them have hot dogs, raw vegetables, nuts, meats, hard candy, or sticky textures such as nut butters that have increased choking risks at this stage. How to introduce new finger foods for baby. Avoid any colorful, sugary cereals. Parents might want to lay newspaper or an easy-to-clean vinyl tablecloth on the floor, since it’ll be a while (like, years) before your kid manages to get more food in his mouth than on the floor. Download The Appto explore more tools like Planner+ and Food Safety. Introduce new foods one at a time in case there are any concers about allergies. 12. If he doesn’t respond positively, take a step back and try again later. 4. Is baby ready to feed himself? He suggests steering clear of foods like hot dogs, carrots, nuts, grapes, popcorn, candy and globs of peanut butter. Another thing to keep in mind when you’re picking out the best finger foods for babies is that a lot of adult foods—particularly snacks—can be super salty. Small pieces of soft bread (cut off any chewy crust when first starting out) and... 3. Raisins and popcorn are dangerous for babies. ", Healthychildren: "Language Development: 8 to 12 Months. Finally, never leave baby unattended while she’s eating, and keep an eye out for signs of choking. As baby gets bigger, you can offer steamed carrot sticks or peeled, roasted sweet potato wedges. You should continue to spoon-feed your child initially, “but during the feeding process, they should also be allowed to feed themselves,” Dietz says. All rights reserved. Here are a few of the best finger foods for baby to get started—including finger foods for baby with no teeth! When choosing the best finger foods for baby—whether you’re starting at 6 months or 9 months—experts agree that it’s best to begin with small pieces of soft food that dissolve easily. You may notice these growing signs of motor development: AboutKidsHealth: "Motor Development: The Next Six Months. Sign Up to Receive Our Free Coroanvirus Newsletter. If baby has shown no signs of a dairy allergy, then it’s perfectly safe to introduce soft cubes of cheese as early as 6 months. Remember, too, that this is a messy process. Scrambled eggs. To get the most nutrients out of your vegetables, steam or roast them until soft, and, of course, cut them into small pieces. “Parents shouldn’t force food, but they should be persistent in offering,” Dietz says. McCormack also suggests easing into finger foods by offering thicker purees with a bit of texture to them. Keep your love of runny yolks to yourself for now, however, and cook those eggs thoroughly, cut into small pieces and avoid adding salt. As baby gets older (around 9 to 12 months), you can offer slightly larger pieces or serve bread topped with mashed banana or avocado, or a super-thin layer of hummus or peanut butter. If they eat finger foods while crawling around, they are more likely to choke. These foods should require minimal chewing, as your baby may not yet have teeth. Pureeing or mashing vegetables may make them easier for your baby to eat when they are first transitioning from a liquid diet to solids. Baby finger food safety Whether cooked or uncooked, tofu is a wonderful plant-based source of protein and a perfect finger food for babies. If you offer them at all, do so rarely. I give cucumber, celery, pepper, and very lightly cooked caroot.