At around 9 months of age, their newly developed dexterity and coordination make many babies interested in do-it-yourself feeding methods. Parents accustomed to spoon-feeding their baby fruits, vegetables and cereals might wonder how to feed their newly independent eater. While O-shaped cereals make convenient and tasty finger foods for babies, introducing nutrient-rich table foods will introduce him to many different tastes and textures while allowing him some independence. Before giving any table foods to your baby, minimize his risk of choking by making sure they are mushy, "gummable" by baby's toothless gums, naturally soft or cut into very small pieces.
Fruits
Pediatrician William Sears, M.D., suggests starting your baby with small pieces of cooked fruit like apple or pear. If you want to give her raw fruits, he recommends "the four P's: peaches, papaya, pears and prunes" as some of the safest uncooked fruits for your baby. Kids Health advises parents to offer raw banana slices because of their "gummable" texture. Because of its soft texture, canned fruit---the type without added sugar---makes a good finger food for babies. Avoid feeding her large pieces of hard fruit, raisins and whole grapes since these foods might cause choking.
Vegetables
Since it is high in healthy Omega-3 fatty acids and naturally soft and mushy, avocado--technically a fruit but treated as a vegetable in most U.S. households--makes a good first finger food for your baby. Dr. Sears also suggests mashed potatoes, cooked carrots, squash and cooked peas. Well-cooked broccoli florets also work well, although they can make some babies gassy so watch for any negative digestive side-effects in your infant.
Cereals and Breads
Most small, sugar-free cereals make good finger foods for babies. Look for brands containing extra iron and whole grains to boost the snack's nutrition content. Light and flaky crackers can melt in baby's mouth---just make sure to choose low-sodium varieties. The Baby Center website also recommends well-cooked pasta spirals, rice cakes torn into bite-size pieces and lightly toasted bagels and breads.
Proteins
Try cutting tofu into small cubes and offering it to your baby---the smooth texture and bland taste appeals to many babies. Hard-boiled egg-yolk crumbles or chopped hard-boiled eggs might be appropriate for your baby, but talk to your pediatrician first to determine when he advises offering eggs to your baby. Some pediatricians advise against feeding them to babies less than one year of age. Dr. Sears also suggests one of his family's favorite baby foods---a small chicken leg bone with a small amount of cooked chicken still on it. You can usually feed your baby small chunks of cheese as long as he shows no signs of any dairy allergies or intolerances.
