Starting Finger Foods

Bethany - posted on 03/18/2009

I didn't cook the apple pieces but I also waited until he had mastered a bunch of things before trying that- including the little freeze-dried apples from Gerber. They were really little pieces- maybe 1/2cm little cubes...like I said, I also tried thin little slices but they got stuck...I know that it is recommended to cook some fruits and vegetables first- hopefully someone else can share cooking times...
For the banana I cut a hunk off and then quartered it lengthwise- like if you were making carrot sticks- and then cut the quarters into 2-3mm width slices. If it was the wide part of the banana I might even cut the quarter into a skinnier piece before slicing.

I think how big or soft to make each food depends on when you introduce them and how your baby is taking to them...if you start with the fruit and make them really little it might be easier to go down but she might need help getting them to her mouth...but after she's getting better at chewing (with her gums!) you might find that going to a bigger piece is still safe and will help her pick it up. Or maybe her little pincers are already good at picking little pieces up- but if not don't worry...I found Eric's grasp developed quite quickly after starting finger foods- at first he couldn't find the last piece of the mum mum hidden in his fist and now he can find and pick up a tiny little sliver of a white apple on his white tray and get it to his mouth...

Charmaine - posted on 03/17/2009

Thanks ladies. Bethany, with the apple pieces do you cook the apple as it seems pretty hard as is. If so, how long do you do it for? Also how did you cut the banana? Hmm Pita Bread, I never thought of that. Thanks again for your help.

Bethany - posted on 03/17/2009

We started with MumMum rice rusks...and my niece started with them too when she didn't have any teeth.

I always make sure that Eric is sitting down and watched him really closely at first- I did give him the whole cracker because it gave him something to hold onto in his fist... he basically just sucked and gummed it until a piece broke off- it can be nerve racking at first but I find he is really good at coughing up any pieces that might cause choking and most of the time he doesn't put too much in his mouth.

I am also constantly looking at new foods for him and he's now had: cheerios, Gerber puffs (even though the pack says 1 year- go for it!), cheese, bananas, freeze dried apples (also by Gerber- LOVES these), breadsticks (although with these he likes to put a lot in his mouth), pita bread (regular bread gets really mushy), real apples (although pieces seems to work better than slices which got stuck on the roof of his mouth), animal crackers.

I just saw that you are in Australia so not sure if the things I mentioned are available- but just look through the babyfood aisle- that's where I found everything!

Good luck! You are going to love finger foods! Shelby is right- put them in their chairs with some cheerios and they will love feeding themselves while you get the rest of their lunch ready. And it's also great as a distraction when you are out somewhere!

Shelby - posted on 03/17/2009

We started with Gerber's yogurt melts. They melt in their mouths and they taste like freezed dried ice cream. They are easy for her to pick up and put in her mouth. Anything they can gum is great. She can now eat all sorts of stuff, like bananas, mac and cheese, cheese, other Gerber finger foods. She just started on cheerios but those are harder to dissolve in the mouth. I try out new things when she is not full and not starving. She sits in her high chair and gets a chance to practice. This is a time to practice with her sippy cup too. I can get the dishes done while she has a great snack. I hope this helps.