Enjoying Finger Foods
By about nine months, your baby will have the motor skills to grasp small objects and put them to her mouth. It's time for finger foods! The foods on the list below are nutritious and easy to eat. Remember, babies should always be supervised whenever they're eating or drinking.
Fine finger-food dining
- Crackers
- Rice cakes
- Tiny cheese cubes
- Fruit, such as ripe bananas, peeled apples and pears in small pieces, or halved or chopped grapes
- Cooked vegetables, such as peas and finely chopped squash, potatoes and carrots
- Well-cooked pasta bits
- Toasted oat cereal
Even though your baby is trying new foods, the primary source of nutrition for her first year still should be breast milk or an iron-fortified formula. For babies six months and older, NESTLÉ® GOOD START® 2 with Omega-3 and Omega-6 is specially designed to meet your older baby's changing needs.
Foods to be careful with until those molars come in
Some nutritious, seemingly safe finger foods can actually be unsafe unless they're prepared the right way. If your baby only has her front teeth, she's capable of biting off a chunk of an uncooked carrot but she can't actually chew it up, which means she could choke on it. Here's a list of foods to be careful with until your child reaches the age of four:
- Hard raw vegetables pieces, such as carrot and celery sticks. Grate or finely chop into small pieces.
- Small round foods such as whole grapes or olives. Be sure to chop into halves or quarters.
- Hot dogs should be cut lengthwise into small pieces
Foods to avoid until those molars come in
Until she's much older and has her molars, some finger foods aren't safe no matter how they're prepared, such as:
- Raisins
- Any nuts, such as peanuts, almonds or cashews
- Popcorn
- Marshmallows
- Hard candies, suckers, jellies or gum
Foods to avoid until after the first birthday
Your baby has so many food choices, so it's always a good idea to expand her horizons with new tastes and textures. But there are some foods your baby shouldn't try until after her first birthday:
- Chocolate
- Whole cow's milk
- Egg whites
- Honey
- Nuts
- Peanut butter
- Seafood
- Citrus and fruit juices
In general, avoid sweet and salty foods. Your baby's taste for these will come soon enough.
NESTLÉ BABY: Enjoying Finger Foods