Name: Best Baby Finger Foods
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Best Baby Finger Foods

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×Share or Save It for Later!Jump to RecipeIntroducing finger foods to your baby can be exciting and overwhelming! Here is everything you need to know about serving them to babies 6 months and older so that they are safe and delicious!Jump to:If you've decided to start solid foods by taking the baby led weaning approach, you will be introducing big, soft-cooked finger foods from the start.If you are taking the traditional weaning approach of starting with purees, you will most likely start offering finger foods around 8-9 months of age when you and your baby feel ready to move forward with texture.Regardless of which method you choose, the goal is to offer finger foods by 9 months at the latest.That's because familiarity is a BIG part of taste and acceptance, and the earlier the exposure to all the different flavors and textures, the greater their acceptance.If your baby stays on pureed textures for too long, it may be much more difficult to get them to accept different textures later.If you're feeling anxious about offering textured foods from the start and want to take the traditional weaning route where babies are spoon-fed purees or the combination approach (you do you!), here's how to safely move forward from purees to textured foods.Learn all the secrets to starting solids safely while optimizing nutrition!While you might think babies can’t eat foods that aren’t pureed until they have teeth, the reality is they don’t need teeth to enjoy table/finger foods.Did you know that we actually chew with our molars, not the front teeth?&nbsp;And if you wait until the molars come in (normally around 12-18 months)&nbsp; to move on to table foods, you would totally miss that critical “window of opportunity” for developing food preferences.Not to mention, failure to move from purees to textured foods by 9 months may lead to increased risk for feeding difficulties later in life.So how are they able to handle table foods without the molars? With their strong gums! And it is our responsibility as parents to make sure that the foods are appropriately cooked and served, and that’s what I want to share with you!Do keep in mind, I’m sharing general timelines &amp; guidelines here. What’s most important is to follow your baby’s lead as every child is so different and they develop at their own pace.Research actually shows that there’s no greater risk of choking with baby led weaning in comparison to the traditional feeding practices.What's most important is to avoid these top choking hazards.Choking is different from gagging, which is very common and to be expected. Gagging is a safety mechanism to prevent choking and contrary to how it appears, it doesn’t really bother the babies.&nbsp;Sit on your hands, remain calm, and let them work through it.&nbsp; Do NOT try to fish out the food from their mouth. Here are some additional tips on how to get through the first month of baby led weaning.Be sure to click on the links for more details on each of the specific foods.Iron is arguably THE most important nutrient for babies and it is one of the primary reasons that we start solids when we do. Be sure to incorporate one of these foods at every meal to help meet their high needs.Related: Top Iron-Rich Foods for Babies and ToddlersAnd as you see in the image above, do not be afraid to season your baby's food from the start!Also check out: Vegetables for babies (with 30+ recipes)First foods - Fruits vs. VegetablesHere are some quick and easy ways to incorporate protein, iron, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains into your baby's diet.Get the recipeGet the recipeGet the recipeGet the recipeGet the recipeGet the recipeGet the recipeGet the recipeGet the recipeGet the recipeGet the recipeGet the recipeGet the recipeGet the recipeGet the recipeGet the recipeFor more, check out this master list of Baby Led Weaning RecipesIn this section, you will learn how to cut and cook the finger foods so they are the appropriate shape and texture according to age.Cut so that the food is about the size of 1-2 adult fingers pressed together widthwise and the length of an adult pinky finger (or longer).Contrary to what you might think, serving big pieces of food will actually minimize choking risk and make it easier for your baby to grab with their fist (referred to as the palmar grasp). Initially, everything will likely get demolished, but with practice, your baby will learn to have better control of hand force.Foods should be firm enough to grasp but soft enough to easily smoosh between two fingers or mash with the tongue on the roof of the mouth.&nbsp;Roll slippery foods in ground nuts, seeds, flour, etc to make it easier for your baby to pick up. Crinkle cutters can also be very helpful (this tool is great!).By this age, babies are learning to move food side to side within their mouths as well as forward and backward. They are also starting to learn the concept of biting (hopefully anyways).Your baby is mastering their pincer grasp and able to pick up small pieces of food between the thumb and index finger. Therefore,&nbsp;you can begin to cut food into small bite-sized pieces.But do continue offering larger pieces of food so they can learn to take bites.You can start serving slightly firmer foods by shortening the cooking time for veggies, roasting more often rather than just steaming, etc. Depending on the number of teeth your baby has, chewing ability, and your comfort level, you can start offering finely grated raw fruits and veggies.If your baby constantly turns into a competitive food eater (like mine did), here are some things you can do to help slow them down:You may also be interested in: healthy baby snacksAgain, try to encourage your child to learn to take bites by not cutting up the food as much. As always, role modeling can do wonders in helping them to learn this new skill.If your child is continuing to shove food, learn how to teach them to take bites.You've done the hard work! At this point your child should be able to handle almost all textures and eating like the rest of the family. Can you start offering crunchy vegetables? Yes! Here's a guide on how to introduce raw vegetables to your little one in a safe and fun way.All the images you see in this article are actual meals I served to my babies.If you are feeling confused and overwhelmed by what foods to serve, how to prepare foods so they are safe, how to introduce allergens and a wide variety of foods, how to adapt family meals so you don't spend hours slaving away in the kitchen making two separate meals every.single.day, and on and on...My 3 month program will save you time, energy, money, and sanity!I’ve done all the hard work for you so all you need to do is follow the daily and weekly game plan and watch the cooking demos for EVERY.SINGLE.MEAL you will make for 3 months. By doing so you’ll be able to serve all the meals you see here plus 130+ effortlessly!&nbsp;I’ve also heard from so many parents that an unexpected benefit to following this program for their baby was that it encouraged their older fussy eater(s) to start trying new foods and expanding their food choices.Check out this 3 month mastering self-feeding program! It’s the closest thing to me being in your kitchenAnd be sure to follow me on Instagram for more helpful videos!No ratings yetPrintPinRateShare or Save It for Later!hi is my 1yr old required to finish everyting thats put in front of her? she tends to sample as opposed to consume all her food and i worry about lack of satiety.ReplyJump to RecipeGive your baby a head start on solids even before their first bite!Jump to RecipeLearn all the secrets to starting solids safely while optimizing nutrition!Jump to RecipeArm yourself with these strategies that will transform your mealtimes!This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.NecessaryNecessaryNecessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.SAVE &amp; ACCEPT

×Share or Save It for Later!Jump to RecipeIntroducing finger foods to your baby can be exciting and overwhelming! Here is everything you need to know about serving them to babies 6 months and older so that they are safe and delicious!Jump to:If you've decided to start solid foods by taking the baby led weaning approach, you will be introducing big, soft-cooked finger foods from the start.If you are taking the traditional weaning approach of starting with purees, you will most likely start offering finger foods around 8-9 months of age when you and your baby feel ready to move forward with...

Best Baby Finger Foods

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