20 Finger Foods for Baby

Now that Kaya is starting to figure out the self-feeding thing, and baby food just isn't enough for her any more, I would like to share with you a few ideas for pick-up foods that baby can eat.

When to introduce finger foods:

Between 8-9 months, a baby will begin to show interest in feeding themselves by grabbing the spoon or trying to snatch food off of your plate.  

How to introduce finger foods:

Spread four or five pieces of finger food onto baby's highchair tray.  At first, baby may attempt to pick the pieces up by scraping them into the palm of his/her hand, but eventually (s)he will figure out the pincer grasp and pick the pieces up with their thumb and forefinger. 

20 Finger Food Ideas for Baby

• Cheerios (or any doughnut shaped grain cereal
• Diced soft cooked carrots
• Soft cooked peas
• Scrambled egg yolks
• Diced pieces of banana
• Sweet potato fries
• Diced ripe pear
• Avocado slices
• Peeled peach chunks
• Cut up cooked pasta (macaroni, rotini, etc.)
• Shredded cooked chicken
• Small tofu cubes
• Diced pieces of cheese
• Small bagel
• Lightly toasted bread
• French toast cubes
• Cubed melon
• Soft cooked green bean bites
• Small bites of low-mercury fish
• Cooked apple cubes

*** Be sure that bites and cubes are all small enough for baby to eat without choking - about pea-sized.***

And for the baby with a more creative palate - here a few finger food recipes to try!