Best Finger Foods for Babies
As a baby grows, you will notice that the baby tries to grab at food that you are feeding or eating. This generally happens when the baby is about seven months old and it means that the baby is ready to have solid food. But most mothers are afraid to introduce solid food to babies and are unsure what type of finger food to serve them. Finger food should be introduced to a baby when he/she is about 7-9 month old. You need to make sure that the finger food that you serve is bite sized and is easy to eat. Most babies develop their motor skills by picking food with their fingers and putting them into their mouth. So you should let them pick up their own food from the plate or bowl.
Best Baby Finger Foods
Ideally, finger food for babies should be small and bite sized. The food that you serve as finger food to babies should be easy to handle so that the baby is able to pick it up. Avoid giving babies hot or spicy food as this might upset their stomach and irritate their mouth. Try to serve different varieties of baby food that has different flavor, aroma and texture so that the baby is introduced to new foods and does not get bored with the same taste. Given below are some ideas on what constitutes as good finger foods for babies.
Fruits
Fruits are one of the safest baby finger foods. You can serve small pieces of sliced bananas, sliced apples, diced melons (very small dice) and slices of avocado. All these fruits have a sweet taste that babies are sure to like. You can also serve diced peach, mango and plum as finger food for babies. Refrain from serving whole grapes as finger food for babies as they might be a choking hazard.
Vegetables
Some vegetables make excellent finger food for babies. Cooked peas that are mashed a bit with a fork and cooled down works as a finger food. Smaller broccoli florets that has been steamed and cooked carrot sticks and potato sticks also works well. Avoid serving highly salted French fries to babies as the high sodium content in the fries are not appropriate finger food for babies.
Cooked Pasta
One of the best finger foods for babies is cooked pasta. But by cooked pasta and noodles, it does not mean that you serve the adults versions of it, smothered in pasta sauces. Al dente pasta that has been cooked in boiling water and then cooled are suitable for a baby. You can even serve cooked noodles that have been cut up into bite size pieces.
Cereals and Breads
Cereals that are low in sugar and lightly toasted makes good finger foods for babies. You can also try small pieces of soft bread that is cut into small pieces as finger food. Place small bite sized pieces of toasted bagel or toasted bread on a tray and watch how your baby love this tasty treat.
Cheese
One of the best finger food for babies is cheese. Cut semisoft cheeses like mozzarella or cheddar into small chunks and place them on a table for the baby to eat. To introduce baby to cheese, start off with milder cheese that does not have a sharp and distinctive taste. Avoid soft cheeses like Brie or blue cheese at this period.
You can also serve hard-boiled eggs that has been cut into small chunks and strips of pita bread to the baby. When the baby is having finger food, avoid fussing over him and don't rush to feed him/her if the baby is not able to grasp the food. However it is wise to keep an eye on him in case the baby chokes when he/she is eating finger food.
