Transitioning from bottles to finger food is an exciting time for babies and for parents. Letting your child sit in her high chair and feed herself is a milestone as well as an opportunity to help her practice some independence. But making sure your child is safe is the most important aspect of introducing new foods, and certain finger foods are safer for babies than others.
Toasted Cereal O's
You can find them on the shelves of most supermarkets, making them one of the most convenient and often cheapest finger foods to feed to your baby. Toasted cereal O's provide healthy carbohydrates while also being a low choke risk, according to the University of Michigan Health System.
Cooked Vegetables
Cooked vegetables also provide a healthy option for giving your baby finger food, while at the same time packing a punch of vitamins and minerals. Carrots, zucchini, tomatoes, squash, sweet potato and peas are all effective options, provided they are cooked thoroughly. Steaming vegetables keeps most of the nutrients in, but make sure they're cut up into small pieces and steamed long enough that they are easily mashable with no hardness.
Scrambled Eggs
A quality source of protein, scrambled eggs are a perfect baby finger food thanks to their soft, rubbery texture, according to New Mexico State University. When cooking eggs for children under 1, however, separate the egg yolk from the egg white and cook only the yolk, since egg whites may contain bacteria harmful for babies that age.
Meats
Most types of cooked and ground meat such as chicken, fish and small pieces of beef are safe for babies to pick up and eat with their fingers since the texture is most often soft and malleable. Cut pieces of meat up into tiny bites.
Fruits
Most fruits also need to be cooked or steamed, such as apples or pears. Softer fruits like bananas or orange slice should just be cut up into smaller pieces or perhaps partially mashed in order to break down the fibers in the fruit.
Whole Grain Toast
Another safe and healthy carbohydrate option is whole grain toast. Toast dissolves quickly in the mouth, making it a safe option if you don't cook it too long and remove the crust for your baby.
