Most doctors will say that you can introduce solid foods such as cereal to babies as young as 4 to 6 months of age, according to Baby Center and Keep Kids Healthy. And Keep Kids Healthy says that you don't even have to wait until your baby has teeth to introduce many solid foods or finger foods. The site also points out that even if your baby has a lot of teeth, he won't use them to chew until he's older anyway.
Bread
You can give your baby lightly-toasted bread or bagels, according to Baby Center and Keep Kids Healthy. Baby Center even recommends spreading vegetable puree or humus on breads to offer extra nutrients that are tasty too.
Fruit
Baby Center recommends a variety of fruits, including bananas, seedless watermelon, mangoes, plums, pears, peaches, raisins, apricots, stewed prunes and cantaloupe. Wholesome Baby Food recommends berries, cherries and dates. You should cut fruits into small cubes or strips so baby can grip them and so they don't present a choking hazard. Grapes are also a great finger food, but should be cut into quarters. Some parents even remove the grape skin because it can be difficult for a baby to chew and swallow. There are also prepackaged, dried fruits available at most grocery stores that are perfect for your baby, even if she doesn't have teeth yet. Some are specially made for babies and melt in their mouths. Baby Center says that the recommended daily serving of fruit for your 11-month-old is ¼ to ½ cup.
Vegetables
Vegetables that make great finger foods for your baby are bite-sized, soft-cooked veggies such as peas and carrots, according to Baby Center. They also recommend zucchini, potato and sweet potato. Other green vegetable choices that babies seem to enjoy are green beans and olives. Baby Center says that the recommended daily serving of vegetables for your 11-month-old is ¼ to ½ cup.
Cereal
Baby Center recommends feeding your baby iron-fortified, low-sugar cereals that include rice, barley, wheat or oats as their major ingredients. They also recommend O-shaped cereals, as they're easy for baby to grip.
Cheese
Soft, pasteurized cheeses--cheddar, gouda, muenster, provolone and Swiss--are the best choice for baby, according to Baby Center and the website Wholesome Baby Food. Baby Center advises giving your baby no more than ½ oz. of cheese per day.
Pasta
Keep Kids Healthy, Baby Center and Wholesome Baby Food all point to pasta as a great finger food for your 11-month-old. They all recommend spiral pasta that's fully cooked and cut into pieces.
Tofu
Packed with protein, tofu is a great finger food choice when cut up into small cubes for your baby. It also does not need to be cooked. Its soft consistency is easy for baby to manage, too.
Eggs
Hard-boiled egg pieces are excellent finger foods as well. They offer a great source of protein and a consistency that's easy for babies to chew and swallow, even if they're short on teeth.
Meats
Baby Center says it's okay to give your baby pea-sized pieces of cooked chicken or other soft meats at this age. You should take into consideration though your baby's ability to chew such foods at this point. Many 11-month-olds do not have all of their teeth yet. Keep Kids Healthy also recommends small pieces of well-cooked meat.
