Best finger food for 6 month old baby

13 Best Finger Foods for Baby

Introducing finger foods for baby is an exciting and nerve-racking time. Between the mess, possible allergies and potential choking hazards, it’s enough to give some parents white knuckles as they hover over the high chair. But while you should certainly exercise caution, there are lots of great baby finger food ideas that will make mealtime fun and nutritious, and let your growing child practice the important art of self-feeding.

In this article:
When can babies eat finger foods?
Baby finger food safety
How to introduce new finger foods for baby
Best finger foods for baby

When Can Babies Eat Finger Foods?

There’s no hard and fast rule in terms of when babies can start eating finger foods, says William Dietz, MD, PhD, director of the Sumner M. Redstone Global Center for Prevention and Wellness at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at the George Washington University in Washington, DC, and co-editor of the American Pediatric Association’s (AAP) Nutrition: What Every Parent Needs to Know. Rather than focusing on baby’s age, says Dietz, “the first indicator you should look for is that the baby is interested.” So how can you tell when baby’s interest is piqued? Reaching for the food as you’re feeding her, grabbing the bowl or spoon, putting the spoon in her mouth and fussing when she sees you eat (because she wants in!) are all signs your child may be ready. “Babies generally want to feed themselves,” Dietz says. “That’s a normal drive.”

Being able to sit independently is another good clue that babies are physically ready to try finger foods, says Susan M. McCormack, MA, senior speech language pathologist at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and a board-certified specialist in swallowing and swallowing disorders. If they can sit up in the high chair, then they might be ready to try their hand at finger foods.

Some guides suggest waiting to introduce baby finger foods until your child has mastered a pincer grasp—the ability to pick up small objects between the thumb and forefinger—but Dietz says this isn’t totally necessary. “Initially when children start to feed themselves, they don’t have a pincer grasp,” he says. “So they’re using their whole hand and putting their hand in their mouth. And that’s fine.”

If you’re waiting for your infant to sprout teeth before moving on from purees, think again. “Babies don’t need teeth to learn to eat solids and learn to chew,” McCormack says. Those strong little gums are perfectly capable of mashing up soft solids—if you’ve ever let baby teethe on your finger, then you have some idea of just how powerful they are!

Baby Finger Food Safety

When choosing the best finger foods for baby—whether you’re starting at 6 months or 9 months—experts agree that it’s best to begin with small pieces of soft food that dissolve easily.

As your infant grows and becomes comfortable eating finger foods, you can branch out, McCormack says. “As a baby develops better tongue patterns to control food pieces as well as more mature chewing, he can better ‘chew’ the foods that break apart, like pieces of fruits and vegetables. A one-year-old can also bite off pieces of food that a 6-month-old can’t.”

Avoid giving baby finger foods that are large, sticky or don’t dissolve easily, because they’re potential choking hazards, Dietz warns. He suggests steering clear of foods like hot dogs, carrots, nuts, grapes, popcorn, candy and globs of peanut butter.

Another thing to keep in mind when you’re picking out the best finger foods for babies is that a lot of adult foods—particularly snacks—can be super salty. “Often parents will doctor a food so it appeals to their tastes, and their taste may have bigger amounts of sodium than a baby’s taste,” Dietz says. When preparing food for baby, leave out the salt whenever possible. (You can always add it separately to your portion if you’re cooking for the family).

How to Introduce New Finger Foods for Baby

When babies first start on finger foods, breast milk and formula will still be their main source of nutrition, followed by purees. You should continue to spoon-feed your child initially, “but during the feeding process, they should also be allowed to feed themselves,” Dietz says. Put some finger food on her high-chair tray and let her try to get it into her mouth in between the spoonfuls of food you’re feeding her. If she gets really frustrated, go ahead and help her out.

Most important, follow your child’s cues and “let your baby be the guide,” McCormack says. If he doesn’t respond positively, take a step back and try again later. But keep in mind that babies often crinkle up their faces when they try something new, which can look like they don’t like something, Dietz says. It can take up to 20 times before they’re used to certain foods. “Parents shouldn’t force food, but they should be persistent in offering,” Dietz says.

McCormack also suggests easing into finger foods by offering thicker purees with a bit of texture to them. “Try alternating bites of the smooth puree with a slightly thicker or mashed food to help your baby get used to the new textures in her mouth,” she says.

Remember, too, that this is a messy process. Parents might want to lay newspaper or an easy-to-clean vinyl tablecloth on the floor, since it’ll be a while (like, years) before your kid manages to get more food in his mouth than on the floor, Dietz advises.

Finally, never leave baby unattended while she’s eating, and keep an eye out for signs of choking. It may be tempting to hold off on introducing finger foods until your child is older, but helping baby develop this skill has multiple benefits, McCormack says, including “development of independence, fine motor skills and self-feeding skills, as well as development of oral patterns to support texture progression.” Whether you start baby finger foods at 6 or 9 months, just follow baby’s lead and let him have fun with it.

Best Finger Foods for Baby

If you’re looking for baby finger food ideas, think about options that are soft, small and easily gummed. Here are a few of the best finger foods for baby to get started—including finger foods for baby with no teeth! While the same finger foods are as appropriate for a 6-month-old as they are for a one-year-old baby, you can begin to offer slightly larger pieces that they can bite off themselves as they become more confident. Stick with these healthy options, and you’ll start baby off on the right path for healthy eating.

Image: The Bump

1. Puffs and dry cereal. Puffs and O-shaped dry cereal are some of the most popular first finger foods for good reason: They let baby practice the pincer grasp by picking up one at a time. And as McCormack explains, they also “mix well with saliva and are easy for the infant to manage in their mouth without choking.”

2. Teething biscuits and lightly toasted bread. Teething biscuits and small pieces of lightly toasted bread are another great starter finger food, since they soften quickly. Just note that some breads can turn gummy and stick in baby’s mouth; lightly toast the bread and cut into very small pieces to avoid a choking hazard. As baby gets older (around 9 to 12 months), you can offer slightly larger pieces or serve bread topped with mashed banana or avocado, or a super-thin layer of hummus or peanut butter.

3. Scrambled eggs. Doctors used to advise waiting to introduce eggs, but the AAP now recommends early exposure to potentially allergenic foods. Which is great news, since scrambled eggs are an ideal early finger food! Keep your love of runny yolks to yourself for now, however, and cook those eggs thoroughly, cut into small pieces and avoid adding salt.

4. Soft fruit. Very ripe fruit is naturally soft, making them some of the best finger foods for babies. Ripe banana, peach, watermelon, raspberries, blueberries and cantaloupe cut into small pieces are all great finger food options.

5. Avocado. A rich source of omega-3 fatty acids—which can help boost baby’s brain development—avocados are, like puffs, often one the first baby finger foods, even when your little one has no teeth. Be warned: Avocado can get messy fast, but it’s well worth it (and can result in some hilarious pics for the baby album).

6. Pasta. Though recipes often recommend cooking pasta al dente, when it comes to feeding baby, you’ll want to slightly overcook it so it’s nice and soft. To start, try small pasta shapes like orzo or mini shells, or cut up fusilli or penne. Initially serve it plain, but as baby is introduced to more foods you can toss the pasta in a little butter, olive oil or low-sodium tomato sauce.

7. Tofu. Whether cooked or uncooked, tofu is a wonderful plant-based source of protein and a perfect finger food for babies. Opt for firm tofu, which is still quite soft, as opposed to soft or silken tofu, which will likely fall apart in baby’s hand and frustrate her.

8. Cooked vegetables. Though it will be a while before baby can hit the crudités platter, cooked vegetables make excellent baby finger foods. To get the most nutrients out of your vegetables, steam or roast them until soft, and, of course, cut them into small pieces. Try sweet potato, carrot, broccoli, cauliflower or beets (opt for yellow beets for less mess) to start. As baby gets bigger, you can offer steamed carrot sticks or peeled, roasted sweet potato wedges.

9. Cheese. If baby has shown no signs of a dairy allergy, then it’s perfectly safe to introduce soft cubes of cheese as early as 6 months. Opt for small bites of a pasteurized cheese that’s soft but not overly sticky or stinky, like Monterey Jack or cheddar.

10. Beans. Looking for more protein-rich, vegetarian baby finger foods? Try beans. Opt for canned, low-sodium beans for convenience, or soak and cook dry beans yourself to save money (they’ll freeze well too!). When first introducing beans, smash them just a bit between your fingers before serving to baby.

11. Homemade muffins. While store-bought muffins are often loaded with sugar, there are plenty of healthy muffin recipes out there. Use whole-wheat flour, sweeten with applesauce instead of sugar and add healthy ingredients like mashed banana or grated zucchini. Bake in a mini muffin tin or use a standard-size tin, and, once baked, break off into small pieces for baby.

12. Meat. After soft foods, diced chicken breast and ground beef are pediatrician-approved next-stage finger foods for baby. Just make sure they’re thoroughly cooked and cut into very small pieces.

13. Fish. Fish is another allergenic food that doctors now say can be introduced before baby is a year old. Be sure it’s thoroughly cooked, and opt for a low-mercury fish like flounder, cod or salmon. Most important, make sure to remove any tiny bones.

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.

Plus, more from The Bump:

Baby-Led Weaning Basics

Why Variety Matters in Baby’s First Foods

The Dos and Don’ts of Homemade Baby Food

15 Finger Foods For A 6 Month Old Baby

May 6, 2021

Written by Jo Charnock

May 6, 2021

Written by Jo Charnock

Has your little one already started purees, and now you’re wondering what to use as finger foods for a 6 month old baby? Or maybe you’re skipping the purees and want to try baby led weaning instead? Knowing which finger foods to feed your baby can be a worrisome problem for parents. Here we list 15 safe finger foods for a 6 month old baby.

15 Finger Foods For A 6 Month Old Baby

1. Sweet Potato, Pumpkin & Carrots

While you might think of these three veggies as perfect for purees, they also make great finger foods too. For the best results you can steam or roast these and then either roughly mash them or cut them into small pieces. The veggies should be soft to touch, but not too mushy. Sweet potato, pumpkin and carrots are rich in protein, beta-carotene, and vitamin C.

2. Avocado

Avocados are a rich source of potassium and omega-3 fatty acids which are said to help boost your baby’s brain development. They are a great finger food for a 6 month old baby, but make sure they are perfectly ripe and soft, so your baby doesn’t hurt their tiny mouth.

3. Bananas

Bananas are also a rich source of potassium and omega-3 fatty acids. They are also super easy to prepare; just peel a ripe banana and cut into small pieces!

4. Broccoli & Cauliflower Florets

To get the most nutrients out of your broccoli or cauliflower florets, steam or roast them until soft, and, of course, cut them into small pieces. Be careful not to overcook them as then they will turn to mush. Broccoli and cauliflower are good sources of vitamin C which helps make your baby’s bones stronger.

5. Cooked Apples & Pears

Raw apples and pears may be too hard for a baby’s first finger foods. So it’s better to peel and chop the apples and pears into finger-sized wedges, just big enough for your baby to grasp. You can then steam the pieces for a few minutes so that they are soft enough for your baby’s mouth.

6. Pasta

Experts generally recommend introducing pasta at around 5 or 6 months of age. When it comes to cooking pasta for your baby, you’ll want to slightly overcook it so it’s nice and soft. To start, try small pasta shapes like orzo or mini shells, or cut up fusilli or penne. Initially serve it plain, but as your baby is introduced to more foods you can toss the pasta with a little butter, olive oil or a homemade, low-sodium tomato sauce.

7. Eggs

Doctors used to advise waiting until your baby was at least 1 year old before introducing eggs. However, the American Academy of Paediatrics now says that early exposure to eggs might help prevent food allergies in the future. So now you can whip up a soft omelette or some scrambled eggs that will make perfect first finger foods for a 6 month old baby.

8. Cheese

If your baby has shown no signs of a dairy allergy, then it’s perfectly safe to introduce cheese as early as 6 months. Cheese is a good source of protein and will help expose your baby to different sources of nutrients. Use mild flavour pre-sliced cheese or cut a mild cheddar into small cubes which your baby will love.

9. Toast

Since bread can be soft and chewy, and can stick to your baby’s mouth it’s best to toast bread first. The toast can be cut into manageable ‘fingers’ which your baby will love to ‘gum’ or chew on. Later you can add spreads such as hummus, cream cheese or avocado for a tastier snack.

10. Soft Fruits

When soft fruits such as peaches, plums, mango and apricot are ripe, they make perfect finger foods for a 6 month old baby. Make sure you remove any pips or stones and cut the fruit into small pieces. Very ripe fruit is naturally sweet which means your baby will be asking for more!

11. Melon

Ripe melon has a soft, watery texture that’s easy to bite into and swallow. Make sure you remove the seeds and serve ripe melon in small pieces to avoid any choking hazard. In addition, please be aware that if your baby does develop a rash that can be traced to melon, it is most likely due to the melon’s ‘acidity’ and not to any allergy.

12. Meat

After soft fruits and vegetables, diced chicken breast and ground beef are pediatrician-approved next-stage finger foods for your baby. Just make sure they’re thoroughly cooked and cut into very small pieces. Chicken and beef provide much needed protein for your baby.

13. Zucchini & Eggplant

Zucchini and eggplant can be introduced as soon as your baby is ready to eat solid foods. You can roast, boil, grill or steam zucchini and eggplant slices as first finger foods.

14. Baby Cereals & Puffs

Special baby cereals and puffs offer complex carbohydrates which can provide fibre. They also provide a variety of different textures, vitamin B, and more. Dry baby cereal and puffs are some of the most popular first finger foods for babies, as they let your baby practice the pincer grasp by picking up one at a time.

15. Tofu

Whether cooked or uncooked, tofu is an awesome plant-based source of protein, and a perfect first finger food for your baby. However, rather choose firm tofu, which is still quite soft, as opposed to soft or silken tofu, which will most likely fall apart in your baby’s hand and create a huge mess!

Tips For Feeding Finger Foods To A 6 Month Old Baby

Check the age recommendation on any recipe before feeding your baby.
Make sure you follow the 3 day rule when introducing new foods to be aware of any allergic reaction.
Always be in the room with your baby when they are eating.
With any new food, only introduce small amounts at a time.
Never force your baby to eat anything, and let them decide when they have had enough.
In case of any doubt, consult your doctor.

Finger food helps to give babies some control over what they eat and how much. Sometimes they’ll eat the food, sometimes not. But 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.

For more information about what and when to introduce finger foods to your baby we have created a handy feeding schedule for a 6 month old baby for your convenience.

If you have any tips or can recommend any other finger foods for a 6 month old baby please feel free to comment below!

Reference:

Finger Foods for Babies – KidsHealth.org

The best afternoon snack for a child under one year old

— Ekaterina Borisovna, what is an afternoon snack and why is it important for a child?

— An afternoon snack for a child is an intermediate meal, more often between lunch and dinner, with four meals a day. With a five-time regimen, a second breakfast can also be called an afternoon snack.

Despite the fact that this is the smallest meal in terms of volume, it is no less important for the proper, full growth and development of the baby than the others.

The child will not have time to be very hungry between main meals, and will be able to get additional energy.
Snack regulates metabolism and prevents sharp fluctuations in blood glucose levels, eliminates the need for dry snacks in the form of sweets, cookies.
Snack preserves the normal rhythm of the gastrointestinal tract, excluding long pauses between meals, during which the gastric mucosa is exposed to the irritating action of gastric juice.
Properly selected afternoon snacks help to diversify the children's diet with tasty and healthy dishes.

How is afternoon tea related to metabolism? The child's body requires a regular supply of nutrients to ensure vital activity, intensive growth, high physical activity, but it still does not know how to accumulate and quickly release energy from the depot in a timely manner. A child is very sensitive to fluctuations in blood glucose levels, and it is extremely important to avoid sudden jumps and drops in this indicator. A delicious afternoon snack is a great help with this task: it smooths out the glucose drop curve from lunch to dinner. After a light afternoon snack, the crumbs have enough energy until the evening.

— At what age is it best to teach to have an afternoon snack on different types of feeding?

- More often this is the age of 6-8 months - the time of the second feeding. Each baby has his own regimen, but it is important to observe the intervals between meals.

The type of feeding does not affect the timing of the introduction of an afternoon snack and its food composition. Both formula and breast milk may well become an independent afternoon snack for a child up to a year old.

- Is it possible to completely exclude afternoon snacks from the children's diet?

— Most people associate the notion of an afternoon snack with preschool children and with the diet in kindergarten. In fact, the child begins to receive an afternoon snack much earlier. With 5 or 6 meals up to a year, the fourth or fifth meal between lunch and dinner will be an afternoon snack. But someone considers it a full-fledged feeding, while someone arranges a lighter snack. Of course, there are children who categorically refuse intermediate meals. In this case, you should not strongly insist, an afternoon snack may be optional.

- Does the size of the afternoon snack depend on the daily activity of the child?

— To a greater extent, the volume and nutritional value of an afternoon snack depend on the daily routine and eating habits. When a long break is planned between afternoon tea and dinner, for example, a long walk in the fresh air, then the afternoon snack should be quite satisfying: you can increase the portion or calorie content of the dish so that the baby does not have time to get hungry. And if the child is used to having dinner early, then you should not load him with a high-calorie voluminous afternoon snack.

The proportions are arbitrary and depend on the daily diet, menu and taste preferences of the child.

— What to offer the baby after sleep?

— Afternoon snack should be nutritious and easily digestible, no need to load the digestive system with long digestion of complex foods. At the same time, the diet for children younger than a year is different from the menu for babies after a year, but both of them cannot do without dairy products.

Healthy snacks for children

— The afternoon snack for older children allows the imagination to run wild, and the little ones can enjoy all sorts of flavors. A set of products may remain the simplest, but the cooking technology is becoming more diverse. But the diet should be expanded gradually, it is impossible to give several different products at the same time. It is better to start diversifying the menu with fermented milk products and cottage cheese-based products.

What not to give to children under one year old during the afternoon snack

— Ekaterina Borisovna, what should parents do if a child asks for sweets and other prohibited foods? How to accustom him to a healthy afternoon snack?

- The child always asks for sweets - regardless of the time of day. And, of course, you can not deprive him of goodies. But he should not get sweets before or during a meal, but only after the main course eaten. Having enjoyed a candy shortly before dinner, he is more likely to refuse to eat later. It’s definitely not worth loading the main meals with sweets, but an afternoon snack is just perfect for a small dessert.

If a baby refuses an afternoon snack, and after half an hour starts begging for sweets, it means that you should gently insist on a snack, and then reward him with sweets. If the baby did not have time to get hungry after a hearty lunch and daytime sleep, then it is better to offer an afternoon snack a little later.

Not all babies need an afternoon snack - some easily skip this meal if there is a short break between lunch and dinner. Each mother knows her child better than anyone else, and will always be able to understand whether it is worth feeding him an afternoon snack.

— Can I give my child ready-made food from the store for an afternoon snack, or is it better to prepare food yourself?

— Products from the store, of course, you can give — this is a quick snack for a child that does not require cooking. It is important that this is exactly the baby food that is appropriate for the age of your baby. And the attitude that everything for a child needs to be prepared only by oneself is erroneous.

— MAMAKO 9 fruit purees are the best for an afternoon snack of cottage cheese products for children0076 ® with goat curd. They have an unusual creamy taste that will appeal to even the little one. Puree does not contain harmful additives, thickeners, preservatives and flavors, it contains only healthy fruits and cottage cheese. The fruit component enriches the baby's diet with vitamins and fiber, serves as an additional source of calcium, which is so necessary during the period of intensive growth.

Afternoon snack is perhaps the most favorite meal of the day for children, in which they quite legally get various delicacies. It should be not only tasty, but also healthy and planned meals. It helps the baby to recuperate during the long break between lunch and dinner, regulates the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, relieves the mother of the need to give the child random and, perhaps, inappropriate food. A varied light snack menu will be the key to a good mood and healthy digestion of your baby.

* Breast milk is the best food for babies. WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of a child's life and continued breastfeeding after complementary foods are introduced until the age of 2 years. Before introducing new products into the baby's diet, you should consult with a specialist. The material is for informational purposes and cannot replace the advice of a healthcare professional. For feeding children from birth.

which one to choose, what can be put inside, from what month and how to use it correctly, rating of the best silicone nibblers and mesh nibblers

Long before these items of children's use appeared on the market, in families where babies were growing up, the first primitive nibblers were made with their own hands.
Because, firstly, breastfeeding all the time is not always convenient, and secondly, sooner or later the child must be accustomed to ordinary food - and this must be done safely so that the baby does not choke and choke.
Therefore, women took a thin cloth, ideally gauze, wrapped pieces of food in a flap: bacon, bread, fruits, and gave their child to chew.
The baby is full and busy, plus - his delicate gastrointestinal tract gets used to food other than breast milk or formula.

What is a baby nibbler

This is a special device for introducing complementary foods, usually looks like a large pacifier.
- A modern nibbler consists of a special handle, a fabric or silicone mesh, a plastic ring for its fixation and a protective cap for storage, says pediatrician, pediatric gastroenterologist, nutritionist Alena Chubarova . - Fabric or silicone - the choice largely depends on your preferences. A mesh (nylon) nibbler is usually larger and can hold larger pieces, while a silicone nibbler is somewhat easier to clean.

From what month you can use the nibbler

Many parents are ready to buy everything that is sold in children's stores even before the birth of the baby. But a nibbler for a newborn is a completely unnecessary thing. You can use it for its intended purpose much later.

- Nibbler can be used no earlier than the age when it is already possible to introduce complementary foods, i.e. not earlier than 16-17 weeks of life, says Alena Chubarova.

However, some parents give silicone nibblers to the child before, but without food inside - as a toy or teether. However, this is not entirely rational: the baby can quickly gnaw through silicone (especially if the first teeth come out early) and for such purposes it is better to buy a special teether.

Which nibbler for children to choose

So, what nibblers are:

silicone,
fabric, with mesh.

There is no fundamental difference between them, you can buy something that seems more convenient to you. Other selection criteria are more important. When buying a nibbler, you should pay attention to the shape and size of the handle, the quality of the product, the shape of the “nipple” itself. Sometimes it happens that due to the strange shape, part of the food in the nibbler remains unchewed, and some models are inconvenient to care for. These are all things to consider too, so it's helpful to read reviews from other parents before buying a nibbler for kids.

Silicone

Photo: yandex.market.ru

Looks like a large nipple container with small holes. Such nibblers wash well, many models can be scalded with boiling water, boiled, washed in a dishwasher and prepared in an electric sterilizer. However, for example, it will be problematic to chew a hard apple through such a nibbler, since silicone as a material is quite dense.

With mesh

Photo: yandex.market.ru

In this case, instead of a pseudo-dummy, a nylon mesh is used, this option is just as close as possible to the self-made prototype of a nibbler. Such a device is not very convenient to maintain, because the mesh is cleaned worse than silicone, manufacturers do not recommend boiling it, and mesh bags will have to be changed more often.

But in such nibblers, due to the low density of the material, almost all products can be used, with the exception of liquid ones.

Rating of the top 5 best nibblers for children

On sale you can find both silicone models and nibblers with nylon mesh. In fact, they are all similar, differing mainly in size, shape, design and price. When choosing a nibbler, the first two criteria are especially important: it depends on whether it will be convenient for the baby to chew food and how easy the nibbler will be to care for.

BRADEX - Bunny

BRADEX - Bunny. Photo: yandex.market.ru

Nibbler with a soft silicone "nipple" will help to introduce porridge, any fruits and vegetables into the baby's diet. Judging by customer reviews, a child can even cope with a piece of an apple, thanks to this device, since there are many holes on the “nipple” and they are large enough for fragments of not very soft food to seep through them. In this case, the risk of choking is excluded.

Inside there is a special piston that pushes the food to the holes. Therefore, the baby will be able to eat almost everything that adults put in the nibbler. And after that, little will remain in the “nipple”.

The handle is designed in the form of bunny ears: the child will be comfortable to hold the nibbler, regardless of the size of the hand. Between the ears there is a ring, where, theoretically, you can attach a chain so that the nibbler does not fall in the process. But the diameter is small, so it may not be convenient for everyone to use it. A protective cap is provided for storage.

Key features

Material	Silicone
Age	From 6 months
Features	Has a special piston that pushes food to the tip of the structure

Pros and cons

Ease of use; a piston is provided that helps the child finish eating everything; interesting design.

Banal choice of colors: only pink and blue.

Mepsi

Mepsi. Photo: yandex.market.ru

Simple and easy to use nibbler. The product consists of a base with a handle, two interchangeable soft silicone meshes and a cap, which is necessary to keep the nibbler clean. By the way, silicone nets of different shapes - you can choose the one that is convenient for your baby, and the manufacturer notes that they are simply designed for different types of food.

Fruits, berries, vegetables and even meat can be placed in the nipple. There is no special piston that helps push food. But some parents in the reviews note this as a plus - there are no extra parts, it's easier to use the product and take care of it.

The handle is closed, in the form of a "heart", designed so that it is convenient for the baby to hold the nibbler in his hand. But if the palm is large, it may not be so easy for the child to cope with the device.

Key features

Some food may remain inside the nibbler; no color options.

Roma+Mashka

Roma+Mashka. Photo: yandex.market.ru

Another silicone nibbler in our rating is designed for babies from 4 months. Inside the grid you can put fruits, vegetables, cookies or a piece of bread. In this model, the handle is also a press that helps to push food out through small holes in the “nipple”.

The handle itself, by the way, has an unusual shape - two rings, like scissors. This may not be very convenient for some children.

Equipped with piston handle; low price in the segment.

Custom handle.

"World of childhood"

"World of childhood". Photo: yandex.market.ru

You can find nibblers with nylon mesh on sale, this model is just one of them. The design consists of a plastic base with a ring and a fabric mesh. The kit also includes a protective cap. Ring-handle of unpretentious form. Judging by customer reviews, it is large enough in diameter so that a child can safely hold a nibbler in his hand. In addition, the device can be hung on a chain so that it does not fall to the floor while eating.

Soft mesh is thinner than silicone and provides more contact between baby and food inside. However, it needs to be washed more thoroughly so that no food particles remain on the fibers. However, in the reviews they note that it does not create problems. There are no additional nets in the kit, but they can be purchased separately.

Main features

Material	Nylon
Age	From 6 months
Features	Wide ring handle

Pros and cons

Convenient ring-shaped handle; mesh cleans well.

Hard to find commercially; a modest selection of colors.

How to use the baby nibbler

As we said, this simple device helps to introduce new foods into your baby's diet. However, do not rush to immediately run to the store or pharmacy: think about whether you really need a nibbler.

- The Nibbler is not a must-have item. We can easily introduce all complementary foods without it, - emphasizes Alena Chubarova. - Nibbler can be used as an intermediate step for children who are resistant to the introduction of complementary foods. That is, in order to at least in this way introduce the child to new tastes and sensations.

How else can you use a nibbler for children at home?

The Nibbler can help your baby eat slippery foods that are hard to hold, such as peaches or avocados.
Suitable for reducing teething discomfort as chilled product can be put into it.
It can perfectly occupy the baby for a while to relieve the parents a little.

How to use the nibbler correctly? Everything is as simple as possible and nothing new has been invented since the prototype of this device was used by our mothers and grandmothers.

The product you want to give to the child is placed in the net, then the net is fixed. You need to give the nibbler to the baby and, perhaps, to begin with, help him by slightly pressing on the “nipple” (if you have a silicone model): to show that there is a “yummy” inside.

— The nibbler has an easy-to-grip handle and requires less coordination than eating with a spoon or fingers, says Alena Chubarova. - However, at the same time, the baby does not learn to take food with his hands, and this is important for the development of fine motor skills. In addition, parents should understand that a nibbler does not teach a child safe chewing lessons. When children take a bite of a piece of food and move it around in their mouth, they learn to chew. For a baby, this is a huge yet unknown job, which requires significant coordination, strength and endurance of the muscles of the jaws, cheeks and tongue. This is not an innate skill and a child can only develop it through practice. Nibbler teaches the child only to clench and unclench the jaws, but does not help to understand the process of chewing. So even if you use a nibbler, don't do it all the time. And remember that there is no urgent need for it: you can simply give products that match the age of the child in terms of consistency and texture.

What can be put in a nibbler

Today there are many variations on the market that allow you to introduce almost any food into your baby's diet. The main thing to remember here is that complementary foods should be appropriate for the age of the baby. Of course, you can put mango or pineapple in a nibbler, but not at 4 months - at this age, the child's gastrointestinal tract is not yet ready to get acquainted with the exotic.

In addition, it is important to consider the individual tolerance and consistency of the products themselves. For example, putting raw carrots in a silicone nibbler is pointless, as well as liquid puree in a nibbler with a fabric mesh. In the first case, the child will not be able to get to the vegetable and will remain “unsalted slurping”, and in the second, everything will flow out before the baby puts the nibbler in his mouth.

The following options are ideal for feeding with a nibbler: banana, pear, apples, peaches, cooked vegetables: zucchini, pumpkin, cauliflower, boiled meat. Some nibblers can be used for puree.

Apple and pear

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These are hypoallergenic fruits, which are included in infants' complementary foods earlier than others. For example, applesauce is usually allowed to be given to babies from 4-5 months.

It is important to choose the right products. Fruit should be ripe, but not too ripe, ideally grown in the region where you live. Apples are better to take green varieties. Before putting the pieces in the nibbler, you need to prepare the products: wash, peel, cut into medium-sized pieces. If you're just introducing fruits into your diet, it's best to lightly bake them first.

Apples

Pears

Zucchini

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As a rule, the very first vegetable introduced to children. This product is suitable for everyone, does not cause allergies and carries many useful substances. Of course, you can’t give it raw to children. But you should not cook either: it can lose many valuable substances and lose its shape. Optimal - steam the zucchini, cool, cut into small pieces and put in a nibbler.

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Peach

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The most important thing is to thoroughly wash the fruit and peel it from the "velvet" peel. A ripe peach is quite juicy, so the child can easily taste a new taste even through a dense silicone mesh.

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Potatoes

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It would seem that such an elementary product, but it is not introduced into the baby's diet immediately - but closer to 7 months. All because of its starchy nature. Pre-peeled potatoes are best cut and kept in water so that excess starch is washed out. And then it can be baked or boiled and given to the baby in a nibbler (after cooling, of course).

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Rabbit meat

Of the protein-rich foods, this dietary meat often appears first on the menu of a growing child. Choose a product from a trusted seller with a good reputation, wash thoroughly before cooking. It is desirable to cook without salt at all. Considering that meat is a fibrous product, get ready for the fact that most of it will remain inside the mesh. But the child will get acquainted with new sensations, prepare his body for such food and saturate it with useful nutrients.

Reviews of doctors about nibblers for children

“There are certain precautions,” says pediatrician Alena Chubarova. - When you give a nibbler to a child, there should always be an adult nearby. In the process, the child should sit in the same way as during normal feeding. You need to wash the nibbler after each use, and if you notice that it is damaged or has begun to wear out, immediately replace it with a new one or remove it if it is no longer necessary. If the child does not like the nibbler, do not insist - postpone it for a week or two.

- When choosing a nibbler, you need to pay attention to some characteristics:

no foreign taste and smell of the product,
strength and safety of materials (must meet quality standards),
ease of use and maintenance.

It is better to choose models that are lighter in weight, and it is also important to pay attention to the clasp - it must be reliable and airtight, - says pediatrician Ekaterina Mikhaltsova .