Contents:
- Medical Video: Tips for parents of picky eaters
- When should I introduce finger foods?
- What are the best finger foods?
Medical Video: Tips for parents of picky eaters
What do you mean finger foods?
Every piece of baby-sized food that you can take by yourself is called finger foods. Eat finger foods not only fun for babies, but also an important step so that babies can develop fine motor skills and coordination.
Eating while playing can be very messy, but don't rush to clean it. Let your baby enjoy it as well as a learning experience.
When should I introduce finger foods?
When a baby is between 8 and 9 months old, he may try to 'tell you' that he is ready to start eating alone. You do this by grabbing a spoon while you are feeding it, or grabbing food from your plate.
At first, your baby may only take food and put it in the mouth, but in the end he will look for ways to use his thumb and forefinger to take food. These fine motor skills are called pincer grasp.
What are the best finger foods?
Your baby may have a good appetite, but he doesn't have many teeth yet, so start with foods that can dissolve easily in the mouth. When he grows up to be a toddler, you can give him any food pieces you eat.
Remember that babies learn about food texture, color, and aroma, so try to offer a variety of foods. Do not give sweets such as cakes or pastries, and high-fat snacks like and chips. Your baby needs nutrient-rich foods, not empty calories.
Food must be easily grasped but does not cause a choking hazard. Vegetables must be cooked so that they are soft enough to swallow easily, and all must be cut into small pieces. Wine is too big for your baby right now and can make it choke, so it should be avoided first.
Always make sure to choose the right food for his age. Experts say don't give eggs, fish or peanut products to children who are still too small because it can increase the risk of food allergies. But a recent study from the American Academy of Pediatrics says, there is no evidence that allergies in infants occur because of early recognition of one type of food. (Although peanut butter still has to be limited because it is too sticky to swallow at this age)
However, some doctors advise caution when introducing food to children. If you are worried that your child has an allergy to certain foods, introduce food one by one and watch for allergic reactions.
Here's a list of favorite finger foods that can be introduced to your child:
- Roasted oat cereal or other low-sugar cereals
- Small pieces of toast or bagels (mixed with vegetables for extra vitamins)
- Small pieces of banana or other ripe fruit such as mango, plum, pear, peach, melon or seedless watermelon
- Tofu
- Cooked spiral pasta then cut into pieces
- A small piece of soft cheese
- Chopped boiled eggs
- Small pieces of cooked vegetables, such as peas, zucchini, potatoes, or sweet potatoes
- Cooked broccoli, or cauliflower
- Chicken, beef or turkey, or other soft meat that is cut into small cubes and cooked
