Infant Finger Food Ideas
When it comes time for baby to start acting like the older folks in the family, one activity that is marked as a big milestone is eating finger foods. There are many options to consider when introducing your baby to finger foods. When to start these foods and what types of foods to use can be confusing, but the American Academy of Pediatrics offers several helpful guidelines.
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When to Offer Finger Foods
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Generally, babies get their first taste of rice cereal between the ages of four to six months, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. The time to test out finger foods arrives somewhere between the ages of seven months and 10 months. A good way to gauge whether your child is ready is for finger foods is to see whether you can answer "yes" to each of the following questions:
Can your baby sit up on his own?
Does your baby have the coordination to bring food to her mouth?
Is your baby showing interest in the foods that are eaten by others at mealtime?
Types of Finger Foods
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All finger foods should be broken into small pieces. The foods should also be ones that are small and easily swallowed. Some examples are shown below by food group.
Grains: dry "O"-shaped cereal (Cheerios); cooked, cooled pasta (just be sure the pieces are small enough not to cause choking); pieces of bread (avoiding ones with large grains); baby crackers
Vegetables: well-cooked, small pieces of green beans, carrots, peas, or potatoes
Fruits: soft fruits such as bananas, watermelon and strawberries
Proteins: well-cooked and cooled pieces of ham, poultry (check to see that it is not stringy in texture), hamburger, tofu, hot dogs or hard-boiled eggs cut into small pieces
Dairy: very small pieces of cheese
See "Feeding at a Glance" in the resources section for an age-appropriate guide.
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Warnings
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Starting finger foods can be a difficult process, and chances are that your baby will nibble on something the wrong way at least once. Because of this, it is a good idea to be prepared for the worst. Learning the Heimlich Maneuver for use on infants is helpful. (See the Resources section)
Parents should also realize that just because their baby does not like something the first time she tries it, the food might not be to blame. If the child is not hungry or is tired, the piece of banana you offer might not be as appetizing as it would be if it were offered at a different time of day. The American Dietetic Association recommends offering a new food about four times before deciding that your baby does not like it. Parents should also offer one new food at a time to test for allergies.
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