DITK Newsletter – Volume 1

FINGER FOODS

Introducing Finger Foods to Your Child

Your baby will probably let you know when he's ready to move up to finger foods by grabbing the spoon you're feeding him with or snatching food off your plate. This usually happens when your baby's between 7 and 9 months old. At first he may just scoop the food with his hand and bring it to his mouth, but eventually he'll use his thumb and forefinger to pick up food saying….I’m ready!!

Scatter four or five pieces of finger food onto your baby's highchair tray or an unbreakable plate, and replace them as your baby eats them. Feed your baby in a highchair rather than in a car seat or in a stroller to reduce choking hazards and to teach him that the highchair is the place to eat.

Your baby may have a good appetite but not many teeth, so start with foods that he can gum or that will dissolve easily in his mouth. As he grows into a toddler you'll be able to give him bite-size pieces of whatever you're eating. Remember that your baby's also learning about texture, color, and aroma as he feeds himself, so try to offer a variety of foods. They should be easy for him to handle but not present a choking hazard.

Signs of readiness for finger foods:

• Picks up objects with thumb and forefinger
• Can transfer items from one hand to the other
• Puts everything in his mouth
• Moves jaw in a chewing motion

Some ideas for finger foods:

• cheerios
• Lightly toasted bread pieces with fruit butter
• Small chunks of banana or other very ripe, peeled fruit, like mango, plum, pear, peach, cantaloupe, seedless watermelon
• Small cubes of tofu
• Well-cooked pasta spirals, cut into pieces
• Thin cheese strips or very small chunks of cheese
• asparagus spears
• Cut-up grapes, cherries (pits and seeds removed), blueberries
• Small pieces of cooked soft vegetables, like carrots, peas, zucchini, potato, sweet potato
• Small (pea-size) pieces of cooked chicken or other soft meat
• Rice cakes broken into small pieces

A sample meal of finger foods is diced carrots, mini turkey meatballs and baked French fried potatoes. I suggest including the word potato when you are talking about French fries. This will familiarize your child with the word potato and hopefully make your child interested in mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, baked potatoes etc.

Some foods may cause choking. Stay with your baby whenever she's eating or drinking, make sure she's upright when you're feeding her solid food, and don't insist that she eat if she cries or resists. Mash or grind food so that it's soft enough for her to gum or chew. Because young children are likely to swallow without chewing, don't give her peanut butter, popcorn, raw carrots, raisins, nuts, grapes, hard candies, uncooked peas, or hot dogs (even in small pieces).

If your baby starts to become too picky don’t let the meal go on too long…after 20 minutes of pushing the food around and not eating the meal is over! It is important to be sensitive with your child and be prepared for gradual acceptances of new foods. Watching your child progress is a crazy and fun ride….enjoy it!