Starting Finger Foods

My doctor told me that it is okay to introduce solids like cherrios and mild things like that as soon as they show any interest. He said it was as simple as that. Simple...yeah right :) Good Luck!

Hi! Have you tried the Gerber puffs? Once my little one ate those and swallowed better, I went on to soft foods like mashed potatoes, anything soft. You can tell how they take the baby food. Is she holding it in her mouth and swallowing well or does she struggle? Good luck!

Make sure she is getting enough breastmilk/formula before adding more foods. Her primary source of nutrition for the first year should be breastmilk/formula and foods are the supplement. If she is getting enough of either, then trying cheerios is probably a good idea. They at least have nutritional value. The puffs don't have much there and I would steer clear of crackers because of the amount of sodium in them. You can also introduce mashed egg yolk but steer clear of the whites until she's at least a year old since they can be more of an allergen.

If she wants cheerios, then give her some cheerios. Kids can't choke on them with the hole in the middle. She may not be able to get many in her mouth at first unless she is really good with hand to mouth but all it takes is practice. The finger foods I would wait longer on are the bitter biscuits and stuff since they can be choking hazards.

My advice to you would be to let her try the Gerber fruit or veggie puffs. These are found in the baby food section. The are about the same size as cheerios but they dissolve in the child's mouth so there is really no way to choke. If she does okay with these, she is probably ready. Another good food to start on is eggs since they are so soft or berries cut up very small. There is really no right time to start. If she doesn't do well with the puffs, though, she is probably not ready. My kids always did well with the yo baby yogurt, as well. Good luck.

A.,

Don't rush it. She is still young. I would really try to give her more breastmilk or formula at this age. She really needs that more than anything else.

Take Care,
T.

My son will be 3 this month. He was eating table food at your daughters age but not alot of it. There were only few types of baby food he would eat by nine months that he liked, because he prefered table food. But he loved the baby food desserts. Anyways it is ok for you to give her table foods just make sure that you mush it up really good so she doesn't choke. At your daughters age mine at that age ate some of the following-mashed potatoes w/gravy, cereal-no milk-they have cereal puffs at wal mart in the baby section that desovle when you put it in the babies mouth-my son loved it and I didn't have to worry about him chockig, the baby cereal that comes in a box that you mix with water or formula-it helps keep them fuller longer-i also added a little sugar and cinnamon for flavor for my son, he loved it. and many more. I didn't give him milk or eggs until after he was 12 months and the pediatritian okayed it. They also have in stores like walmart in the baby section solid foods that my son enjoyed, it also gives them the chance to learn to pick foods up with their fingers. They have snacks that desovle in their mouths when they eat it and soft solid foods. Try checkin it out if you haven't already. Let me know how it goes, good luck!!!

I think you can start whenever she seems ready. If she is gumming or chewing her food, then start with tiny little finger foods like Gerber Fruit Puffs, Gerber dried fruits, etc. (I found that my great eater had a hard time with CHeerios at the beginning. They're a little bigger and harder). You can also give her tiny pieces of steamed veggies and very soft fruit. Once she takes that, use bigger pieces, and when you feel comfortable, you can give her some of your own food, broken up a little. Follow her cues, that's what I think. My baby was eating all of our food at 9-10 months.

I started my kids on Cheerios at 6 months. There's also those Gerber Puffs now. As for crackers to start out, I'd get the kind that crumble easy and aren't squares, like Ritz. Just watch how she eats them at first, because they could be a choking hazard until baby gets used to it chewing it.
I also started my son early on the baby food and table food. Didn't have any problems with it, he's 13 months now.

My son fed himself cheerios around 7 months. I prefer the all natuaral snacks, so he had Toasty O's. Before he mastered the pincer grasp I fed him a couple that I had soaked in water, and then just gradually changed the texture, it was very obvious when he was ready. I find now at 8 months that the O's are a great way to give him a nutrious snack as well as keep him busy!

Hi A.,

Here's a link http://kidshealth.org/parent/food/infants/finger_foods.html
I'm not familiar with this website to give you any other info but it seems accurate as far as finger foods. There is a list of time schedules and do's and dont's... Happy reading!

M.

A.
It all depends on how well she can chew? If she can I always started with small pieces of banana & moved on from there. Good luck