Delightful Finger Foods for Your Little One

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Updated: Dec. 21, 2020
Originally Published: June 21, 2014

Your baby might be tired of the same old spoon-fed mush, and let’s be honest, you’re probably a bit worn out from the cleanup too. Is it time to dive into the world of finger foods? Absolutely! Just a heads-up: it may not be any less messy than baby food (it could even be messier!), but at least your little one will be feeding herself… sort of.

Ideal Finger Foods for Your Baby

Since babies often start self-feeding before they have a full set of teeth, the options need to be soft enough to gum and swallow easily. Here are some great choices:

• Small pieces of lightly toasted bread or bagels, rice cakes, French toast, pancakes, or crackers that easily mush in the mouth.
• O-shaped cereals, along with wheat or rice puffs.
• Tiny cubes of pasteurized cheese or tofu.
• Small chunks of ripe banana or other soft, peeled, and pitted fruits like plums, pears, peaches, apricots, mango, or seedless cantaloupe, honeydew, or watermelon.
• Well-cooked veggies cut into bite-sized pieces, such as carrots, peas, potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, or zucchini.
• Flakes of broiled, baked, or poached boneless fish.
• Cooked pasta, chopped into manageable pieces.
• Chopped hard-boiled eggs and soft meats, cut into pea-sized bits.

Remember, finger foods should be easy for little hands to grasp without posing a choking risk. Ensure all foods are soft enough to mash easily and cut into tiny pieces. (A whole grape is still too big for your baby right now and can be a choking hazard.) Just like when you introduced solid foods, try new finger foods one at a time and watch for any signs of allergic reactions.

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In summary, finger foods can be a fun and engaging way for your baby to explore new tastes and textures while developing self-feeding skills. Just ensure everything is safe and appropriate for their age!