Finger foods

Month after month, your little treasure discovered new flavors. After the mother's (and/or formula milk), it tried the first spoonfuls of vegetables, enjoyed sweet fruits and cereal porridge. But its adventurous spirit is in search of something different. You have probably already noticed how the child instinctively reaches out with its little hand towards your plate while you are having dinner, or towards the croissant you are nibbling on the go during your walk outside. Let this be a signal for you. Vethat you can start with finger foods and let the child feed itself almost entirely. Watch carefully the first few times when the babyit tastes new food, to ensure that it can manage on its own, without forchoking.. Vary the flavors and you will provide it with real pleasure!

• What are finger foods

These are bite-sized foods that the baby can hold in its hand and consume by itself. This type of food provides your child with fun because it can play with them and is the first important step towards self-feeding. Even if it gets messy, don’t rush to clean it up. Allow it to experience this important process of learning and rediscovery, which will develop fine motor skills.

• When to offer finger foods for the first time

Your child will likely show you when it is ready for them, when it starts reaching for the spoon while you are feeding it, or if it digs into your plate. At first, the baby may lift food with its whole palm and bring it to its mouth, but later it will hold it using just its thumb and index finger (the so-called pincer grasp).

• How to introduce finger foods into the child's menu

Offer this type of food in the morning for breakfast. If your baby turns out to be allergic to any of the ingredients, it will show by the end of the day. Offering new food at dinner carries the risk of a restless night. On the other hand, if you offer these foods when your child is the hungriest, and you also need a little snack, it can be beneficial for both of you. Usually, in the morning, babies are the hungriest and in the best mood for new skills, such as eating. If you are still breastfeeding your child, offer it finger foods at the end of the day when the amount of breast milk is the least, and the baby remains undernourished. Always offer food after breastfeeding. Choose a moment of the day when you are calmer, because you will need patience while the little rascal tears, spreads, squeezes, and throws food all over the room. Don’t scold it – this is just part of the game.

• Which foods are suitable for finger feeding

Despite its big appetite, the baby may not have enough teeth to eat this type of food. It is best to start with foods that can easily be mashed between the gums or that quickly dissolve in its mouth. Remember that with each different type of food it tries, the baby learns to recognize different colors, tastes, and textures, so make sure it receives a variety of foods. They should also be easy to hold but not pose a choking hazard. Adjust the quantity according to the child's age.

Favorites among finger foods:

• lightly toasted slices of bread or baguette (spread with vegetable puree for the daily dose of vitamins);
• boiled bagel;
• small pieces of banana or well-ripened fruits (mango, plum, peach, melon, watermelon…);
• well-cooked spiral pasta;
• thin strips of cheese or very small cubes of cheese;
• finely chopped grapes, cherries (without seeds and pits);
• small pieces of boiled vegetables (carrot, zucchini, potato);
• broken into florets and steamed broccoli and cauliflower;
• small pieces of boiled chicken or other lean meat;
• rice or plain biscuits.

Both bread and pasta contain wheat, to which small babies are particularly sensitive due to the gluten content. To reduce the risk of allergy, introduce wheat foods after rice, buckwheat, and oats. Carefully read the ingredients for preparing these snacks and assess whether they are suitable for your child. If you have any doubts about any of them, discuss them with your pediatrician.

• How to prevent choking in children

Stay close to the child every time it eats or drinks, pay attention to whether it is upright, and do not make it laugh. Since small children often swallow without chewing, avoid giving popcorn, raw carrots, raisins, nuts, whole grape berries, candies, peas, or sandwiches (even in small pieces) – at least until the child is 4 years old.

•  How to offer foods for little hands?

Place the treats in the child's favorite plate or bowl. Preferably, it should have a suction base to avoid unwanted spills. A silicone mat is also very convenient. Special feeding sets are a great choice for the first independent finger feeding.