The Benefits of Finger Foods for Baby

Written By No. 1 baby & children’s cookery author Annabel Karmel

Whether or not you have started out weaning with smooth purees or have adopted a baby-led weaning approach from the start, by six and a half months you’ll be starting to offer some soft and textured finger foods anyway as it’s around this time when babies show a real interest in picking up and playing with foods themselves.

Babies are naturally inquisitive and exploring their food is how they learn. And they can learn a lot from handling food; from finding out how to hold something without dropping it, to getting to grips with different shapes, sizes, weights, tastes and textures. After all taste is just one of the five senses that a baby will use when exploring food.

Finger foods and self-feeding are such an important part of a baby and toddler’s nutrition and development. There are so many positives associated with finger foods -

• Babies who are given the opportunity to explore a wide variety of foods for themselves from the very start could be less fussy later in life.
• Regularly handling foods improves their dexterity and hand-to-eye coordination.
• It is thought that a baby is less likely to over-eat if they are allowed to choose what to eat from a range of nutritious foods. It also encourages babies to eat at their own pace and decide when they’ve had enough.
• It gives them confidence in their own abilities as they discover things for themselves.
• Mealtimes become a social occasion. When baby is eating what you’re having, they feel included and will mimic and copy you.
• Less time spent in the kitchen! Your little one is eating what everyone else is having which means… less meals to prep. Plus, your meals will become healthier too.

Finger food grip tips!

There’s no denying that putting baby in charge of feeding themselves can be big on the clean up front! Dropping food (and throwing food!) is common when babies are starting to quite literally get to grips with self-feeding. And certain foods are just that little bit more slippery than others – think avocado, nectarine, pear and peach! However, there are a few tips and tricks to make certain foods that little less slippery and easier for tiny hands to hold on to.

• Use a crinkle cutter or cut out small triangle ridges to add texture. These little ridges make it easier for babies to grab hold of. Plus, a crinkle cutter can make everyday veggies that little more interesting (and appealing) for fussy toddlers too.
• Add a new texture (and a nutrient boost while you’re at it!) by coating in ground flaxseeds or linseeds, desiccated coconut, or breadcrumbs.
• Leave a little of the skin on the bottom so that your baby can grab hold of this while munching and gumming down on the top half.
• If you offer cooked florets to babies upside down, they are likely to pick them up by the stem.
• Some babies will squeeze a banana and it turns to mush so it’s often a good idea to leave some of the skin on. Simply run a knife around the peel (about 3cm from the open end). Gently peel back the skin leaving just the 3cm deep handle at the end for your baby to hold. Et voilà – a banana ‘lollipop!’

I’ve got a dedicated Weaning Hub over on my app which has the very latest advice on how to safely serve finger foods to babies from the very start of weaning. So, whether your baby is 6 months, 9 months or 12 months, it covers individual foods and how to prepare them so that they are safe for your little food explorers.

An important point to make here is that babies develop at their own pace. Both baby-led weaning and spoon-feeding allow your baby to explore a variety of different tastes, flavours and textures.  The important thing is to ensure a variety of foods (particularly much-loved family foods), allow your baby to go at their own pace and have fun!

Looking for mealtime inspiration for your baby or toddler? Annabel’s award-winning recipe app is home to over 1,000 simple and delicious ideas for the whole family, PLUS new recipes every week.

Packed with expert weaning support, including Annabel’s #1 listen-along guide, it’s a kitchen essential for happy, healthy mealtimes.

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