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Finger Foods

Finger foods are bite-sized pieces of food that your baby can pick up and eat independently. Finger foods are great for keeping your child occupied while you prepare their meal - or you could make a whole meal of finger foods.

The introduction of finger food is a fun time for baby, it’s a messy time for you but ultimately it's an important early step for your baby toward independence and the development of fine motor skills and coordination.

Just remember - never leave your child unattended whilst eating. It is very easy for a baby to choke on even very small pieces of food.

When to Start Finger Foods

It is optimal to introduce finger foods when baby is between 7 and 9 months old. Signs of readiness include – signs of wanting to self feed such as grabbing the spoon when you’re feeding or attempted stealing of food off your plate!

It will take some practice for your baby to become proficient at self feeding – expect mess and many failed attempts as baby masters the pincer grasp and coordination.

How to Introduce Finger Foods

Simply scatter four or five pieces of finger food onto your baby's highchair tray or an unbreakable plate. A suction baby bowl is a great way to introduce finger foods and minimise spillage. It can be a good idea to invest in a good quality floor/mess mat to place under the highchair that you can simply wipe down our take out side and shake off. Good quality bibs that again can be wiped down can be a incredibly helpful to reduce the amount of washing required!

It is important to feed your baby in a highchair or the Little Beetle portable highchairs (rather than in a car seat, on the play mat or in the buggy). This will teach baby that the highchair is the place to eat, the importance of sitting down to eat and the place for structured mealtimes. It also is safer as it can reduce the risk of choking. If you are eating as a family, make sure you include your baby so they can also understand the social aspects of eating and can learn from you.

Tips for Finger Foods

Offer plenty of variety to stimulate your baby’s learning and experience of finger foods
Look for foods that are easy for baby to pick up and to handle
Start with food that does not require chewing (i.e it will dissolve easily or your baby can ‘gum’). Remember your baby may not have teeth (or if they do they won’t have many) so make sure you avoid any foods that can cause a choking hazard.
As he grows into a toddler, you'll be able to give him bite-size pieces of whatever you're eating.
As your baby gets older you can broaden the finger foods offered - make sure to choose food that's appropriate for your baby’s age. The book New Complete Baby and Toddler Meal Planner is great to give you recipes and finger food ideas for all ages.

Finger Food Ideas

Start with...

Lightly toasted bread, bread sticks or bagels (spread with vegetable puree or Vegemite for extra vitamins)
Small chunks of banana, avocado or other very ripe peeled and pitted fruit, like mango, pear, or seedless watermelon
Small cubes of tofu
Small pieces of well-cooked vegetables, like zucchini, potato, or sweet potato

Ideas From 9 months

As above but increase the variety and options

Very small chunks of cheese, grated cheese
Cut-up raisins, softened dried apricots, or stewed prunes
Well-cooked pasta spirals, cut into pieces
Cooked vegetables like well-cooked broccoli or cauliflower "trees", and carrot
Soft fruit such as banana, seedless grapes, summer fruit (nectarines, peaches, plum), slices of apple and pear, kiwifruit
Pea-size pieces of cooked chicken or other soft meat
Rice cakes or crackers broken into small pieces
Mouse traps, little sandwiches

Our Difference:

Yum Yum Kids is all about making eating easy by providing parents with nutritional advice and information along with genuinely useful products that encourage healthy eating.