What are Finger Foods for Babies?

Finger foods are bite-sized foods prepared in appropriate sizes that your baby can take by himself, chew and swallow so that he can eat easily. In order to give these foods, the child must be able to sit comfortably and for a long time and grasp small objects with his fingers. Self-feeding your baby with finger foods will be a fun activity for him and will improve his motor skills and coordination.

When should I introduce finger foods to my baby?

You can start when your baby is 8 to 9 months old, when he is ready to start feeding himself. He will indirectly tell you that he is ready when he puts his hand into the food on the plate and starts trying to eat it himself with his fingers.

How should I introduce finger foods to my baby?

When your baby is sitting in the high chair, it is enough to place 4 or 5 finger foods in front of him in an unbreakable plate. As your baby eats those foods, you can add new finger foods instead.

What kind of foods make good finger foods?

Your baby may be a hungry baby, he may be missing many teeth in these months, or maybe his teeth have not yet emerged. We should choose the best finger foods, those that have a texture that can stick to their teeth or palate and break down easily in their mouth.

A few tips for good foods to give to babies:

The texture of the food that babies eat, Do not think that he/she has a preference about the smell and aroma and that he/she will eat anything you put in front of him.

Try to introduce your baby to different tastes.

In these periods, you can provide your baby with what we call quality food, which is both healthy and contains vitamins and protein. Try to introduce it to foods rich in minerals and minerals.

Your baby does not need foods with empty calories.

Foods should be easy to eat, and there should be no round or hard foods that may pose a choking hazard. Vegetables should be cooked so you can easily turn them into mush. Food should be soft and everything should be cut into tiny pieces. Even a grape is too big for your baby at this time and could pose a choking hazard.

Make sure you choose foods that are appropriate for your baby's age. Very young children should not be given foods that may cause food allergies, such as eggs, fish or peanuts.

Here is a list of finger foods:

Mango, plum, apple, pear, peach, melon, seedless watermelon, banana or other very ripe peeled and seedless small pieces of fruit

 Well-cooked pasta, cut into small pieces

Very small pieces of soft cheese

Chopped boiled eggs

Boiled potatoes

Small pieces of well-cooked vegetables such as carrots, peas, zucchini, potatoes or sweet potatoes

Small well-cooked pieces of broccoli or cauliflower

Chicken pieces, ground beef or turkey or other tender meat

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