What Is the Safe Baby Age for Finger Foods?

Babies will let their mothers know when they are ready to feed themselves.

Babies grow very quickly, and parents hardly notice it. As your baby becomes more independent, he will attempt to do many new things. One of those things is feeding himself.

Time Frame

Even though many parents are willing to start their baby on finger foods as early as 6 months, it is normal for a baby of 7 to 9 months to become interested in feeding himself. BabyCenter notes: "He'll probably let you know that he's ready to start feeding himself--by grabbing the spoon you're feeding him with or snatching food off your plate."

Considerations

There are other things parents should consider when trying to wean their babies. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, it is important for a baby to be "able to sit independently and grab for things to put in her mouth." This will decrease the risk of choking.

Introducing Finger Foods

To start a baby on finger foods, place him in a high chair and put small, soft pieces of food on the tray. If he is ready to feed herself, he will put the pieces in his mouth. According to KidsHealth, "Nine months is a good time to allow finger feeding. At that age most babies have developed fine motor skills," which means they are able hold food in their hands and feed themselves.

Warning

To avoid the risk of choking, babies must be supervised at all times when starting on finger foods.

References

• BabyCenter: Finger foods
• American Academy of Pediatrics: Getting Started with Solid Foods
• KidsHealth: Finger Foods for Babies