Introducing Finger Foods to Baby

Do not force your baby to eat the foods you serve. Believe it or not, toddlers need to try until 10 times before they accept the new foods.

As a beginning, put 5 pieces of Finger Foods in the baby’s plate. Let your baby try to take it by himself. If he finishes it and seems wanting more, you can give him some more. Sit your baby in his eating chair to teach him that eating chair is the place to eat. Some times take him to eat at the dining table together with the family. It is better for you to notice some of these things before introducing Finger Foods.

Introduce your baby with various finger foods that he/she can recognize the variety of foods including its texture, colors and aroma.
Do not force your baby to eat the foods you serve. Believe it or not, toddlers need to try until 10 times before they accept the new foods.
No need to hurry to clean up his/her mouth and hands, as well to his/her floor and seating chair. Let them play with their foods. This is an incredible experience for them. “Aha! I can use my hands to eat,” they say.

Before giving them finger foods, you better look at these things.

Does the food ‘melt’ inside the mouth? If yes, it is save for the toddlers.
Are the pieces small enough for the baby to grip? If not, cut them into smaller pieces.
Is the food’s size appropriate with its texture? The size depends to its texture. A small piece of chicken must be smaller then a piece of watermelon.

What can be finger foods?

Water boiled vegetables, like beans, carrots and pieces of potato as big as thumb.
Fruits cuts, like water boiled apples, bananas, mangos, and watermelons.
Cuts of steamed tofu.
Cuts of soft cheese.
Cuts of water boiled chicken.
Baby biscuits.

Avoid these kinds of food! (These may cause the baby to choke)

Nuts
Small fruits, like grapes and tomato cherries
Hard cheese

Benefits of Finger Foods for Baby

Finger foods are really good to prepare their soft motorist skills which are developing.
Babies will feel tactile sensation at their fingers. Their newly grown teeth will as well be helped with finger foods. Thus, baby will learn to bite and chew.
This is the perfect time for mothers to introduce various kinds of healthy snacks by making them at home or buying baby’s healthy snacks.
To stimulate the growth of teeth. Usually when the teeth are growing, baby will feel itchy in their gum. Finger foods can stimulate teeth growth and as well lessen the itchy feeling since finger foods usually have textures.
Exploration of flavors. Finger foods can also be a media to introduce various food flavors to baby that later on your baby would like various foods with different tastes