When babies begin feeding themselves — a new task most really enjoy —
they'll find that they like trying new tastes and textures.
By the time they're 9 months old, most babies have developed the fine motor skills
— the small, precise movements — needed to pick up small pieces of food
and feed themselves. You may notice that yours can take hold of food (and other small
objects) between forefinger and thumb in a pincer grasp. The pincer grasp starts out
a little clumsy, but with practice soon becomes a real skill.
Let your child self-feed as much as possible. You'll still help by spoon-feeding
cereal and other important dietary elements. But encouraging finger feeding helps
your child develop independent, healthy eating habits.
Finger feeding — and using utensils a little later — gives babies some
control over what they eat and how much. Sometimes they'll eat the food, sometimes
not, and that's all part of the process of learning self-regulation. Even little kids
can tell when they're hungry or full, so let them learn to recognize and respond to
these cues.
What Should a Baby Eat?
Now that they're joining the rest of the family for meals, older babies are ready
to try more table foods.
This means more work for whoever makes the meals for the family, but dishes often
can be adapted for the baby. For instance, your little one can have some of the zucchini
you're making for dinner. Cook that serving a bit longer — until it's soft —
and cut it into pieces small enough for the baby to handle. Pieces of ripe banana,
well-cooked pasta, and small pieces of chicken are other good choices.
Before giving your child a finger food, try a bite first and ask yourself:
- Does it melt in the mouth? Some dry cereals and crackers that are light and flaky
will melt in the mouth.
- Is it cooked enough so that it mushes easily? Well-cooked veggies and fruits will
mush easily, as will canned fruit and vegetables (choose ones without added sugar
or salt).
- Is it soft? Cottage cheese, shredded cheese, and small pieces of tofu are good
examples.
- Can it be gummed? Pieces of ripe banana and well-cooked pasta can be gummed.
- Is it small enough? Food should be cut into small pieces. The sizes will vary
depending on the food's texture. A piece of chicken, for instance, needs to be smaller
than a piece of watermelon, which even a pair of baby gums will quickly smash.
If your child doesn't like a food, don't let that stop you from offering it at
future meals. Kids are naturally slow to accept new tastes and textures. For example,
some are more sensitive to texture and may reject coarse foods, such as meat. When
introducing meat, it's helpful to start with well-cooked ground meats or shreds of
thinly sliced deli meats, such as turkey.
Present your baby with a variety of foods, even some that he or she didn't seem
to like the week before. Don't force your baby to eat, but realize that it can take
10 or more tries before a child will accept a new food.
Finger Foods to Avoid
Finger feeding is fun and rewarding for older babies. But avoid foods that can
cause choking and those with little nutritional value.
Choking Hazards
Parents and caregivers can help prevent choking by supervising the baby during
eating. Foods that are choking hazards include:
- pieces of raw vegetables or hard fruits
- whole grapes, berries, cherry or grape tomatoes (instead, peel and slice or cut
in quarters)
- raisins and other dried fruit
- peanuts, nuts, and seeds
- large scoops of peanut butter and other nut or seed butters (use only a thin layer)
- whole hot dogs and kiddie sausages (peel and cut these in very small pieces)
- untoasted bread, especially white bread that sticks together
- chunks of cheese or meat
- candy (hard candy, jelly beans, gummies, chewing gum)
- popcorn, pretzels, corn chips, and other snack foods
- marshmallows
Hold the Sweets
At first bite, your baby probably will love the taste of cookies, cake, and other
sweets, but don't give them now. Your little one needs nutrient-rich foods, not the
empty calories found in desserts and high-fat snacks, like potato chips.
It's tempting to want to see the baby's reactions to some of these foods, but now
is not the time. Grandparents and others may want to rush your baby into trying triple-chocolate
cake or some other family favorite. Politely and firmly explain that the baby isn't
ready for those foods. You can blame this tough love on your child's doctor —
the doctor won't mind.
