The idea of introducing finger foods to your baby may be exciting, but beginning too early could be a potential health risk. Once you're sure your baby is ready to try self-feeding finger foods, around age 7 to 9 months according to Babycenter.com, it's fine to offer a variety of safe foods for your baby to enjoy. You'll love the independence that self-feeding gives your baby, and your baby will enjoy the new tastes and textures of different types of food.
Step 1
Wait for the right time to start solid foods. Dr. William Sears, renowned parenting expert and associate clinical professor of pediatrics at the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, notes that beginning too early could cause your baby to choke or become uninterested in finger foods. For instance, your baby should be able to sit up, look interested in the foods you're eating and eat without the tongue-thrust reflex that causes babies to push food out of their mouths.
Step 2
Begin with soft fruits that are pleasant-tasting and easy to eat. Bananas cut into quarters, pieces of soft peach and quartered, skinned grapes are all ideal choices, says Parents magazine. Harder fruits like apples should be offered once your baby has teeth to break down the crunchy flesh.
Step 3
Offer cereal pieces that are easy to grasp and easy for your baby to pick up from a tray or a bowl. Look for cereal pieces low in sugar, as recommended by BabyCenter.com. Some baby food companies offer cereal pieces that dissolve easily for beginning self-feeders.
Step 4
Try to offer new foods to your baby, but never try and force your baby to eat a finger food that he doesn't like, warns MayoClinic.com. Forcing your child to eat could make mealtime a struggle with negative feelings attached to it, causing your baby to resist meal and snack times. Allow your baby to try a variety of finger foods, noting which ones he seems to like the best. Then, offer new foods along with old favorites to introduce them to the diet.
Step 5
Purchase a sturdy high chair or booster seat with a tray so your baby can eat sitting up. It may be tempting to allow her to choose a finger food and eat while crawling or playing, but it could lead to choking. Instead, eat with her nearby so you can watch her carefully and look for signs of choking or an allergic reaction, suggests KellyMom.com.
Step 6
Avoid certain foods that are known hazards like hard fruits and vegetables, hard cheeses, hot dogs or small dried fruits like raisins, according to KidsHealth.org, a division of the Nemours Foundation. If you or your spouse suffer from a food allergy, exercise caution while offering finger foods with the allergen present. A visit to your pediatrician may be necessary before you introduce allergens in common finger foods like nuts or eggs.
