Home » Misc » Introducing finger foods to baby with no teeth

Introducing finger foods to baby with no teeth


Giving Baby Finger Foods at 7-8 Months

Written by Rebecca Felsenthal Stewart

In this Article

  • Month 7, Week 3
  • Month 7 Week 3 Tips

Month 7, Week 3

Once your baby is a pro at eating soft mashed foods, they may be ready to move on to finger foods around 8 months. They have the dexterity to pick the food up and release it or mash it, and will become more efficient and independent as they master the pincer grip around 9 months. At that point they'll be able to use their thumb and forefinger to pick up the small chunks of food.

Your baby may grab at everything on your plate, but follow these guidelines for healthy and safe feedings.

  • Start with menu items like pieces of soft cheese; small pieces of pasta or bread; finely chopped soft vegetables; and fruits like bananas, avocado, and ripe peaches or nectarines. These foods should require minimal chewing, as your baby may not yet have teeth. Do NOT let them have hot dogs, raw vegetables, nuts, meats, hard candy, or sticky textures such as nut butters that have increased choking risks at this stage.
  • Introduce new foods one at a time in case there are any concers about allergies.
  • Chop all foods into soft, bite-sized pieces, 1/2 inch or smaller.
  • Watch out for choking hazards: Avoid round, firm foods like carrots, grapes, and hot dogs and skip anything like raw veggies and peanuts. Raisins and popcorn are dangerous for babies.
  • Keep up your formula or breastfeeding schedule, but as your baby eats more solids, they’ll naturally start to take less milk. Your baby needs to start eating more solids and drinking less milk for the nutritional value at this stage.

Your Baby's Development This Week

Your baby is getting stronger and may even be moving around, whether they are sliding around on their belly in reverse, scooting on their behind, or actually crawling forward. If you haven’t childproofed your house already, don’t wait any longer!

You may notice these growing signs of motor development:

  • Your baby is probably now able to sit on their own for several minutes, without using their hands for support and they may be able to get up into a sitting position all by themselves.
  • While you offer them support, they should be able to bounce up and down, and possibly even pull up to a stand.
  • Their little hands are increasingly agile -- they are getting better at passing a toy back and forth from one to the other.

You might wonder about:

  • Their vision. Your baby should be able to see nearly as far as an adult by now and can track moving objects with their eyes.
  • Stranger anxiety. You’re not imagining it: They may fear new people and situations. So give them time to warm up and reassure them if they are upset.
  • What they can understand. Your baby might comprehend more than you realize, so it’s important to keep talking to them about everything you’re doing and try to be consistent about the words you use for familiar objects.

Month 7 Week 3 Tips

  • If food allergies run in the family, talk to your pediatrician about introducing highly allergenic foods like peanuts and eggs.
  • Fried foods are not good choices for babies. If you offer them at all, do so rarely.
  • Avoid feeding your baby juice unless it is fresh-squeezed.
  • By now, your baby’s diet should include grains, fruits, vegetables, and meats, and they should be eating two to three meals a day.
  • In addition to rice, barley, or oat cereal, you can introduce grain products your baby can grab, such as toast, crackers, and dry cereal. Avoid any colorful, sugary cereals.
  • Sit baby in their high-chair for feeding time. If they eat finger foods while crawling around, they are more likely to choke.
  • You’re not done with breast feeding or bottle feeding. Your baby is starting the transition, but breast milk and formula are still key.
  • Pureeing or mashing vegetables may make them easier for your baby to eat when they are first transitioning from a liquid diet to solids.

List of 15 Yummy Finger Foods for Baby with No Teeth

For many parents, feeding their babies is a herculean task. However, as the babies grow up, they like trying out new tastes and textures. No longer will they prefer only mashed food and purees. This is when finger foods should be introduced to your baby. Finger foods for babies do more than just providing nutrition. They help babies work on their fine motor skills too. Wondering which finger foods you could feed your child? Read on to know 15 healthy finger foods that your baby can enjoy even if he doesn’t have teeth yet.

Video : 5 Delicious Finger Food Ideas for Babies With No Teeth

15 Healthy Finger Foods for a Baby Without Teeth

Introducing finger foods to your baby can be a bit of a challenge for parents. They need to be ready for all the mess, allergies or even choking hazards once your baby starts eating finger food. So, does that mean finger foods are not ideal for babies without any teeth? No, finger foods are ideal for babies without teeth if they can pick them up easily and mash them between the gums.

If you are wondering which finger foods you can prepare for your little one, we have you covered. Below are some finger food ideas for babies without teeth. These can be alternated with the other food ideas you have to provide a nutritious snack to you little one every day. Do not miss out on providing your baby calcium-rich foods either, to help his bones become stronger.

1. Pasta

Pasta can be the first finger food for babies with no teeth since it has a very subtle taste. Pasta, when overcooked tends to get very soft, making it easy for babies without teeth to eat it.

Ingredients:

  • Penne pasta/ shell-shaped pasta
  • Olive oil/ butter
  • Tomato puree

How to Make:

  • Boil water and cook the pasta till it is soft and mushy.
  • In a pan, put a little butter or olive oil and add the cooked pasta. Stir for a minute and then add the tomato puree.
  • Let the pasta cool before you serve it to your baby.

2. Homemade Baby Biscuits

Homemade baby biscuits are a great snack for babies 8 months and above. The recipe is for 18-20 biscuits approximately. You may increase the measure to the ingredients if you’d like to make extra biscuits. Also, remember to skip the ingredients your baby is allergic to.

Ingredients:

  • ¼ cup ground oats
  • ½ cup butter/peanut butter
  • 2 tbsp ground flax seeds
  • 1 cup chickpea flour
  • 1/3 cup maple syrup or honey
  • 1 banana (mashed)
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 2 tsp vanilla essence
  • 1–2 tbsp water (if required)

How to Make:

  • Take a cup of chickpea flour and keep it in the freezer for about half an hour (this will help in creating the right consistency and texture for baking).
  • Meanwhile, mix the butter, honey/maple syrup, mashed banana, vanilla essence and baking soda together.
  • In another bowl, take the chickpea flour.
  • Add the ground oats and ground flax seeds.
  • Now using your hands, mix it together till you get a cookie dough-like texture.
  • Make small balls with the dough and keep them aside.
  • Take a baking tray and lay a butter paper on it.
  • Flatten the cookie dough balls on the butter paper.
  • Bake the cookies for approximately 12 minutes in a preheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit or 175 degree Celsius.
  • After 12 minutes, take them out and gently press on the centre of each biscuit with a fork to get rid of air pockets.
  • Give one of the cookies to your baby only after it has completely cooled down.

3. Baby Quiche Cakes

Baby quiche cakes are a good way to feed some extra vegetables to your baby. These cakes can be made in batches and stored for about 3 days in the fridge if you keep them in an airtight container. Let’s find out how they are made.

Ingredients:

  • 2-3 cups whole wheat flour
  • 1/4th cup of olive oil
  • 3-5 cups of diced/ chopped vegetables (carrot, spinach, broccoli/ cauliflower, peas, etc.)
  • 4 bananas (mashed)
  • 1 cup of grated cheddar cheese
  • 1 ½ cups of yoghurt
  • 1 tbsp baking powder
  • Salt to taste (optional)

How to Make:

  • First, steam the chopped/diced vegetables.
  • Prepare a batter by combining the whole wheat flour, yoghurt, baking powder, beaten eggs, cheddar cheese, olive oil, and salt.
  • Add the vegetables to the batter.
  • Transfer the batter into a greased muffin tray.
  • Bake the cakes at 180 degrees Celsius for 20 minutes or until they turn golden brown and firm.
  • Once the cakes cool, you can cut or break them into smaller pieces and give some to your baby.

4. Berry Bites

This recipe requires few ingredients and is sure to make your little strawberry lover happy.

Ingredients:

  • 3 bananas
  • A handful of strawberries/ blueberries
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 1 teaspoon of butter (for greasing the muffin tray)

How to Make:

  • Mash 3 bananas in a bowl.
  • Add some milk to it and mix well.
  • Grease a mini muffin tray with butter.
  • Put a few strawberries/blueberries in each muffin slot.
  • Then, pour the milk and banana mixture.
  • Bake the muffins for about 15 minutes or until the eggs are cooked.
  • Once the muffins cool down, pop them out.
  • You may cut in in smaller pieces before giving it to your baby to enjoy.

5. Sweet Potato Fries

Sweet potato fries are another simple recipe with just 3 ingredients. This recipe is perfect when you are pressed for time and need to give something healthy to your baby to munch on.

Ingredients:

  • Sweet potatoes (medium/ large)
  • 1/4th cup of olive oil
  • A pinch of cinnamon powder (optional)

How to Make:

  • Preheat the oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Clean and peel the sweet potatoes.
  • Cut them into thin strips.
  • Put some cinnamon powder on them.
  • Place the strips of sweet potato on a baking tray over some baking sheet.
  • Bake for 30–45 minutes or till they are tender.
  • Serve when they completely cool down.

6. Banana Pancakes

Include some goodness of bananas into your baby’s snacktime with these banana pancakes. They are easy to make, and your little one is sure to love them.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup whole wheat flour
  • ½ cup milk
  • Water (if required)
  • 1 ripe banana
  • Butter (optional)
  • Honey/maple syrup (optional)

How to Make:

  • Slice or mash the banana in a bowl.
  • Mix the whole wheat flour and milk together.
  • Add the mashed bananas into the wheat flour mix.
  • You may add some water to adjust the consistency.
  • Pour a ladle of the pancake mix on to a nonstick pan and cook the pancakes till they are golden brown. You may add some butter if required.
  • Let the pancakes cool down.
  • Cut them in strips or small pieces that your baby can hold and eat.
  • You may also drizzle some honey or maple syrup on the pancakes to enhance the taste.

7. Cooked Veggies

Cooked vegetables make excellent baby finger foods.

Ingredients:

  • 1 sweet potato (peeled and cut into small sticks)
  • 1 small carrot (peeled and cut into small sticks)
  • 4-5 small florets of broccoli

How to Make:

  • Steam or roast the veggies until soft and tender.
  • Transfer it to a plate and let your baby enjoy.

8. Idli

Idli is a staple in many households. It is not only easy to make but is also highly nutritious for your little one. Here’s how you can make some for your baby.

Ingredients:

  • 1 ½ cups of parboiled rice
  • ½ cup urad dal
  • Salt to taste (optional)

How to Make:

  • Wash the rice and dal and soak it for 5-6 hours in separate utensils.
  • Then grind the dal to make a smooth paste and grind the rice a little coarse.
  • Mix the two ingredients together and add a bit of salt.
  • Add some water to adjust the consistency. The batter should have a flowing consistency, not runny.
  • Leave it overnight to ferment.
  • After the mixture is fermented, steam it in an idli steamer.
  • Cut the idli into small pieces when they cool down and give it to your baby.

9. Steamed Dosa

This is another variety of finger food your little one is sure to enjoy. Let’s check out what you need to make some steamed dosa for your baby.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup parboiled rice or dosa rice
  • 1/3 cup urad dal
  • Few fenugreek seeds (methi seeds)
  • 1 tbsp of flattened rice (avalakki)
  • Ghee (as required)

How to Make:

  • Soak the rice, fenugreek seeds, and flattened rice together in one vessel; and the urad dal in another utensil. Soak the ingredients for at least three hours.
  • Grind the rice, fenugreek seeds, and flattened rice to make a fine paste.
  • Then grind the urad dal to make a fine paste.
  • Mix the rice and the dal mixture together.
  • Add water to adjust the consistency, which should not be too thick or too thin.
  • Let the batter ferment for 6-8 hours.
  • To make the dosa, heat a nonstick pan.
  • Put a dollop of the mixture and spread it out in a small circle on the pan.
  • Add some ghee if needed and let it cook till the base becomes golden brown in colour and you see some bubbles on the top.
  • When the dosa is cooked, remove it in a plate and cut it into small pieces for your baby to eat.

10. Fruit Salad

Yes, fruit salad can also be a good finger-food dish for your little one. You can add as many fruits as you want to this dish and let your baby enjoy varied tastes and textures. You may choose to skip a few fruits if you think your baby could choke on them or leave the ones he is allergic to.

Ingredients:

  • Various types of fruits, like an apple, a banana, kiwis, strawberries, etc.
  • Black salt (optional)

How to Make:

  • Peel and cut the fruits, small enough for the baby to chew.
  • Add little black salt and give it a good mix and let your baby enjoy it.

11. Cheesy Crackers

Cheesy crackers are perfect if you want to add a little crunchy texture that sort of melts in the mouth in no time. This recipe is perfect for your baby’s snack time.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup plain flour
  • 1 cup grated cheese
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • Water, if required

How to Make:

  • Beat the butter and cheese together until it becomes soft and fluffy. It is best to use an electric blender to do this.
  • Add the flour bit by bit to the beaten mixture and mix until you get a crumbly mixture.
  • Add some water to make a moist dough.
  • Wrap the dough in a cling film and keep it in the fridge for an hour.
  • After an hour, remove the film and roll out the dough. Using small round cutters, cut out small round biscuits and prick them with a fork.
  • Then, bake the crackers in a preheated oven for 15 minutes at 180 degrees Celcius (till the crackers turn golden brown).
  • Let your baby munch on these crackers when they are cooled down to room temperature.

12. Zucchini Chips

This recipe is a great alternative for other unhealthy chips. Here’s what you need to make them.

Ingredients:

  • 1 zucchini (cut into thin strips)
  • 1 tbsp olive oil

How to Make:

  • Preheat the oven to 100-110 degree Celcius.
  • Drizzle some olive oil over the zucchini slices.
  • Place the zucchini slices in a single layer on a baking tray.
  • Bake the chips for 30 minutes, take the tray out and flip all the chips.
  • Bake for another 30 minutes.
  • Let the chips cool before you let your baby have some.

13. French Toast Fingers

French toast fingers can be a breakfast recipe or an evening snack. It is a delicious way to feed some milk and bread to your little one. This recipe usually has eggs in them but if your little one is under 1 year, you should avoid adding eggs. You can use corn starch instead. Here’s what you need for some french toast.

Ingredients:

  • 1 tbsp corn starch
  • 1-2 tbsp of milk
  • 2-3 slices of whole wheat bread
  • A pinch of salt (optional)

How to Make:

  • Take the milk and salt in a bowl and add corn starch to it. Mix well.
  • Trim down the crust from each slice of bread.
  • Heat a pan on medium flame.
  • Lightly grease the pan with butter.
  • Dip a slice of bread in the corn starch and milk mixture.
  • Remove it immediately and fry it in the pan till it turns golden brown on both sides.
  • Cut the slice in 3 to 4 strips and let your baby have it when it cools down.

14. Vegetable Parathas

Vegetable parathas are a great way to feed your baby most of the vegetables he resists. Make them in smaller sizes, and you don’t have to worry about cutting them for him. Here’s what you need to make some vegetable parathas.

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup of mashed vegetables of your choice
  • 1 cup of wheat flour
  • Oil/ butter
  • A pinch of salt (optional)

How to Make:

  • Mix the vegetable mash with wheat flour.
  • Add some water and make a soft dough.
  • Roll out small round flatbreads with a rolling pin.
  • Heat a pan and grease it with oil/butter.
  • Cook both sides of the paratha on a medium flame.
  • Serve when the parathas cool down.

15. Paneer Sticks

Paneer sticks are a great way to add some protein into your baby’s snack time. Read on to know how you can make this recipe.

Ingredients:

  • Paneer (cottage cheese)
  • Ghee/oil
  • A pinch of salt (optional)
  • A pinch of turmeric (optional)

How to Make:

  • Cut the paneer into long strips.
  • You may marinate the strips with a pinch of salt and turmeric if you wish to.
  • In a pan, put a little oil or ghee.
  • Lightly sauté the paneer strips over medium heat until they turn golden brown.
  • Bring the temperature down before you feed paneer sticks to your baby.

Introducing finger foods to babies is a good way to get the baby used to different types of tastes and textures. Finger foods improve the baby’s coordination skills and encourage self-feeding. With the 15 finger food recipes above, you can now explore your baby’s taste and liking.

Also Read: 7 Solid Foods for a Baby

Finger food - Encyclopedia Baby food

Viktoria Levchuk©

Finger food is baby food prepared in the form of pieces of boiled soft food so that the child can independently take it and transfer it to the mouth, chew it or swallow it without anyone help and any problems.

Finger food is a fun way to encourage the development of motor coordination and skills for biting, chewing and self-feeding. Food in pieces should be easy to grasp by children's fingers and long-term storage, and should not contain bones or seeds.

As soon as the child begins to take food with his fingers and put it into his mouth with reasonable hand-eye coordination, then the fun begins! Let your child experiment with soft snacks such as a banana or peach that can be “hand-mashed” to the right consistency. The more a child experiments with finger food, the faster he will masterfully feed himself.

Finger food helps keep a child's food interest. As soon as he begins to feed himself on his own, then new taste horizons open up for him. What child refuses to try to bring the product to his mouth on his own, even if he didn’t really like it before.

Contents:

Very often mothers think at what age should they give finger food to their baby.

Honestly, even for me it's a difficult question. It's just that sometime between eight and nine months, the baby began to eat small pieces of food. The change in the consistency of food by age is very well described in the WHO recommendation, so it should be guided by.

Food consistency up to a year. Click on me!!!

However, you should not do it blindly and try to feed the baby in pieces at a certain age, perhaps he will not be ready yet. Children are all different, some want food in pieces, almost from the beginning of complementary foods, others are not ready for lumpy food for up to a year or more. Therefore, any decision on finger food is made based on the child and his readiness. An excellent preparation for finger food is a nibbler, which will prepare the child for lumpy food.

The child has no teeth

Click on me!!!

A child's gums are incredibly strong, as is the tongue, so the number of teeth is not an indicator of whether to give finger food or not. If the decision has been made to start complementary foods and the baby is doing well with mashed foods, then you can safely start giving small pieces of soft food when the baby is ready for it. At this stage, it is important to let the child try to eat food of a different consistency, more complex, in order to train the maxillofacial apparatus. Thus, the child gradually prepares for the full chewing of food with the help of the entire jaw, teeth and tongue.

Knowing if finger food is safe for a child

A good rule of thumb to help prevent choking is to avoid anything hard (e. g. raw carrots), round (e.g. whole grapes), sticky (e.g. , spoon of nut butter) or too much gummies (such as gummies). At first, the child is given pieces of food in the form of sticks, which can be easily clamped in the child's chick, later, when the child begins to control the finger grip better, you can move on to cubes. At first, finger food should be soft, boiled and melt in your mouth. As a child learns to manage with such products, it is possible to complicate the task and switch to fresh soft foods, etc.

Foods that squeeze easily between fingers are good for older children and for younger children. Around 16-18 months, many babies are ready for more complex textures. During this period, cutting food into pea-sized pieces is also a good idea - many babies tend to put large pieces of food in their mouths, so small cubes are used to avoid choking. We always adjust the sizes of products according to the age and eating experience of our own child.

Usually the first finger food is biscuits or baby biscuits, which are very soft and dissolve easily in the mouth. The baby first sucks it, procrastinates, and learns to roll pieces of food in the mouth with the help of the tongue. A little later, when the teeth appear, you can give the product a little harder, for example, a soft apple, some parents play it safe and give a baked apple without a peel. Later, as new foods, vegetables and fruits are introduced into complementary foods, they are offered in the form of finger food, such as boiled broccoli or cauliflower. In general, the child can be offered almost all products in the form of finger food, which is introduced into baby food.

Should the product be peeled or not?

We give an apple to a child without a peel.

The first finger foods in the form of vegetables and fruits are given without skins. Yes, the skin of many fruits and vegetables contains valuable nutrients. It is often recommended to leave the skin on in order to take full advantage of the nutrients contained in the product. But removing the top layer from fruits and vegetables helps reduce the amount of pesticides that may be in the product. Peeling fruits and vegetables helps avoid choking hazards due to the rough texture of the skins. The peel also usually sticks to the palate in the child's mouth, thereby hindering him, and can be there for a long time, and when the child swallows, the probability of choking in the absence of an adult nearby is higher. Getting rid of the skin at the beginning of complementary foods also helps prevent disorders

Banana is convenient to eat with a small hand

digestion. And we also take into account that there are some vegetables and fruits, such as pumpkin and avocado, which need to be peeled, because their peel is really inedible. It is not worth getting rid of the product from the peel for a long time, only at first. Usually the first couple of months of complementary foods and exposure to finger food. Then the product with the peel is given to the child in the presence of an adult, after which it is advisable to check the baby's mouth to see if he swallowed everything. Forcibly open your mouth should not be, play the game "Show your tongue or where are your teeth." By the age of 1.5, the child copes well with the peel of fruits and vegetables, if it is too rough, then it easily spits it out.

Choking

The presence or absence of teeth does not mean that a child can chew. Sometimes children can bite off a piece of food, try to swallow it whole and choke, so never leave a child alone while eating. Some children can store food in their mouths like hamsters, so we always check to make sure the child has swallowed everything before leaving the kitchen. You can read the article on suffocation here.

Our finger foods

At first I gave biscuits to my first child, later I switched to a fresh apple, mostly fresh fruits, he sucked and procrastinated them more than he ate. Later, food appeared in the form of a toy, i.e. we crumbled it, crushed it, and sometimes something got into our mouths. However, since breast milk is always given at the end of complementary foods, I was not too worried about whether the baby was full or not.

With the second child, finger food was a gradual transition from the nibbler. We used it for about a month, then I ventured to give the first pieces of food. But to be honest, the child himself tried the first pieces of food, namely, he stole an apple and took a bite. The first experience of finger food is always scary, because at first the child often coughs and spits out food, he is learning, so it is important to be with the child, if something goes wrong, then the parent will be able to provide first aid. I remind you that the child is suffocating quietly, not a single sound. If he coughs, clears his throat, then everything is within the normal range, you need to help get rid of the food that interferes. Rules for helping with choking know before introducing finger food into complementary foods. It is imperative to look and study, and then give a new consistency of complementary foods.

Of course, at first, only one type of finger food is placed in front of the baby, later a plate is bought, divided into three to five sections, which is filled with finger food. The baby is already given a choice of what to eat, so you can easily determine the taste preferences in nutrition.

Finger food quick hacks

  • The first finger food should be well kneaded between the gums.
  • Food in pieces should be age appropriate - do not offer whole eggs to an 8 month old baby .
  • If the child cannot raise his head and sit up without help, do not offer him finger food.
  • The child should always sit in an upright position, not walk, especially at the first meeting, when he is offered baby food in the form of pieces, to avoid suffocation.
  • NEVER leave your child unattended when serving finger food.

Examples of finger food

The first finger food is a biscuit or a baked apple. Those. food that does not need to be chewed, it melts easily in the mouth without additional help from the child. You can start with foods that have been well received by the child in a pureed form on a spoon, serving them in convenient cubes or pieces - the size of a pea for harder items, the size of a stick or wedge for softer foods.

Examples of finger food are:

Click me!!!
  • pieces of soft bread or crackers
  • Soft cheese, Chedder or Mozarella
  • Banana
  • Ripe pear without peel
  • Ripe soft green apple without a peel, the first time you can give boiled
  • Boiled cabbage
  • . carrots
  • Boiled potatoes
  • Boiled green peas
  • Boiled pumpkin
  • Boiled fish
  • Boiled meat in the form of meatballs
  • Pasta
  • Quail eggs, etc.

*All products must be familiar to the child or introduced into complementary foods.

Finger Foods to Avoid

When it comes to feeding your baby with morsels, the biggest problem is preventing choking. So we do not allow him to eat anything without the presence of parents or any adult nearby. And we exclude any food that can get stuck in the child's airways:

Click me!!!
  • Popcorn,
  • Nuts, peanuts,
  • raisins and other dried fruits,
  • raw vegetables (e. g. carrots),
  • grapes,
  • Cherries without bones, hard fruit and vegetables with a peel of
  • Zhivalino Confinctions
  • popcorn, pretzels, corn chips and other snack foods
  • marshmallows, etc.

Most doctors do not recommend these foods until the child can eat them safely - around 4 years (although it depends on the child, closer to 3 or 5 years).

Why is the finger food principle important when introducing complementary foods?

This is my pain, 99% of parents are afraid to give their child something other than mashed food. The situation gets worse and worse every year, because the puree-consistency becomes more and more homogeneous. The introduction of solid food is independent of the presence of teeth. This is a big myth. Parents wait until there is a full mouth of teeth and miss the moment when the child can eat semi-solid food. Solid food should not be introduced to a child at an early age, while he still does not know how to properly sort food in his mouth. We are talking about semi-solid food, the consistency is about boiled carrots. When we offer semi-solid food to parents and children late, this leads to the fact that children do not chew well. A huge layer of children who do not know how to chew is a problem for parents, children chew for hours or just swallow. This is a very difficult process, you have to grab food. Why is it called "finger food"? Because it stimulates food interest. For example, a child sits right before eating. Closer to 8 months, they have a pincer grip, they can grab food, they have to bring it to their mouth, this coordination of movement is not so simple. Next, they must sort the food in their mouth and push it back. For a child who does this for the first time in his life, a very difficult process. We must teach it.

At first, the child will have a food ejection reflex. Mom may think that this is not the right time to introduce semi-solid foods, but this is not the case. In the early stages of introducing complementary foods, we recommend industrially produced food, because it is precisely proven food, without preservatives, nitrates, pesticides. She goes through very strict control, I was at two factories, they conquered me with how strict control is. You can't trust your grandmother's vegetables unless you've tested the water and soil. The first lure still goes industrial. And when we introduce semi-solid foods, we buy industrial meatballs. Food must be labeled as to whether it is suitable for children under three years of age. It is very important to buy a quality product. This should be done at 8-9months, approximately 1.5-2 months after the introduction of complementary foods. Any mother's eyes will pop out of her forehead, there is a fear that the child will choke. He must understand how to chew. Most children cough, this should not stop you, you should avoid dangerous foods. But about 2 months after the first introduction of complementary foods, we offer the child first mashed or mashed food, this does not work for all children, then finger food. Finger food is good, except for training fine motor skills, developing speech with food interest.

Learn more