Finger Foods Primer
As you well know by now, everything is a
finger food for your baby. No matter how earnestly he tries to use a spoon,
sooner or later he abandons it for the much more successful use of his fingers.
From the soupiest of pureed vegetables to the stickiest oatmeal, every food
seems perfect for picking up. But when is the best time to offer solid foods and
what kinds are foods are best? Below is an introduction to finger foods for your
baby. When to Offer Solid FoodsYou can begin offering "real" finger foods almost
as soon as you begin to feed your baby solid foods. Until he can chew, however,
he can only suck on most finger foods, like a slice of apple. Although he cannot
eat these foods yet, your baby may still enjoy discovering their different
flavors. If you do allow your baby to explore these foods, make sure you
supervise his meal. Should a piece break off in his mouth, sweep it out with
your finger immediately to keep him from choking. What Kinds of Foods to
Offer You can also offer your baby a few finger foods that he can eat:
bite-size dry cereals, crackers,baby
stores online, and toast will all "melt" in your child's mouth through the
action of his saliva. By six or seven months, your baby will be ready for more
finger foods that he can chew (or gum, as the case may be). Finger foods offer a
terrific opportunity to provide greater variety in your baby's diet. You can
introduceCooked, grated vegetablesCooked, sliced vegetables (carrots,
beans)Chunky mashed potatoesSliced banana or very small pieces of fruit (even a
grape is too big)Cubes or triangles of bread, plain or smeared with hummus, or
butterDry, relatively unsweetened cerealsMacaroni or other pastaRiceLow-salt or
no-salt crackersSmall cubes of well-cooked meat or poultry Eating with his
fingers is fun, fast, and efficient for your baby. It allows him to experience
not only the tastes of a wide variety of foods, but to feel their texture with
his hands as well as with his mouth and tongue. Eating finger foods also helps
to exercise your baby's rapidly improving hand-eye coordination. Best of all,baby safety, finger foods not only
encourage your baby to learn to feed himself, but also keep his hands busy
enough to allow you to feed him in the food he needs.
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