Hi,
Can anyone give me suggestions of what all finger foods can be introduced for a 10 month old.
Thanks
Suja Veera replied. wow what an info hetal! thanks!!

yes my baby can pick up and put into mouth. I always wondered what to give, dint want to give too much maida-biscuits.

thanks so much
Veera Hetal replied. finger foods are those foods that babies can eat with thr first finger and the thumb..they master these two in thr first 8months and onwards and so its right time from 8months onwards to 15months that if you teach them to eat with it,,they will master thr skills of eating, chewing, sucking,,finger picking and such coorrdnatn skills...its a part of development ! also like other developments it is not at all necessary that every baby starts accepting finger foods or is ready for finger foods,,from 8months onwards,,it totally depnds on how thr hand and eyes coordination is , and as to how they are able to control thr mouth muscles and thr jaws and as to how good they are in swallowng foods...it does not matter that babies need to have teeth !

so yes veera, if your baby is eating ne food by himself without your assitance or is able to pick things from ground with his fore finger and thumb or even fist,,he is ready for finger food and those foods are finger foods.....
list of finger foods :
1.pieces of roti,parathas, tiny pieces of idli,,dosa,uttappam,cut them in diff funny shapes with help of cookie cutters and your baby will love it ! garnish with some grated carrots and peas and its a colourful medley !!
also try other dishes from vairous culture like dhokla, muthia ( wheat flour and vegies rolls cooked in steam,,its dish from gujarat,,soft like idlis etccc),,raagi balls,,suji balls and such otherr alternatives...
2.pastas,,,comes in diff shapes and sizes,,,i guess now in india also, now stuffed pastas/raviolis are available,,just right for lil fingers,,lots of stuffng varieties are available in there,,namely,,3 cheese, chicken, eggs,spinach,mix vegetables,,5cheese,,sea foods and lot many more ! just look for the one that is made with single grain(6-8months) pastas,,whole grain to multigrains(9months and onwards)
3.small bit size pieces of vegies, cheeses (cheese above 8months),pieces of fruits or tiny fruits like grapes,small strawberries,pieces of banana,,ans such are allgreat egs of finger foods,,
4. it also includes,,pieces of tofu,soya chunks,paneer pieces,,cheese sticks,meat pieces(offer strained before 9months),or scrambled eggs(mostly above1 year) make big pieces and with light gravy of vegies or melted cheese...
ne pieces that baby is able to pick up and place in his mouth by himself !
5.the other that you yourself can make :
--1. rice balls,(overcook rice, add in some ghee, some salt/light salt and some vegie puree, ormake it a sweet delight with some banana in it or some sweet potato in it,,,and make tiny balls of it,,babies love to play nd pick them ans eat them,,best to start your child with !
2..simillarly,,you can make single grain cereal balls, pasta balls, paneeer balls and onwwards,,
3.i used to make upma, let it set in plate nd cut it in small pieces,,once set,,and my 9month old used to njoy playin with it,,in diff pieces i would add some funny colour like carrot puree, spinach puree for green,beets(above 8months) for red and it was fun for her...otherwise she would gag upma !!
4. i used to do the same with khichdi and cracked wheat khichadi,,and it was fun...also try placing a lil bowl of curd next to it,,and eat the pieces before your child while dipping in it,,,be ready formess but you will love to see them eating on thr own while dippng in sauces !!!
watever you make,make it very smooth that baby doesnt get frustrated with its drryness or it being hard to chew or swallow...
mix vegetable cutlets,,mash in all vegies,,and let it set on a plate for a while,,once a bit cool,cut it in tiny pieces with spoon or cookie cutters,,,and if needed saute it with lil tadka,,it will get roasted and outer later is just right and crispy,,,kids who are teethng loves these !
if you dont have ne thing,,just roast a single grain bread (6-8months),multigrain soft white bread(9months and onwards),,with some ghee or butter,,roast it on pan,instead of toaster or over,,,on pan the softest is not compromised and let your child tear it and play with it,,same goes with roti too...offer frruit and vegetable sauces orr fruit purees with these so that they dont feel dry to eat !!!
5.or else, offer without ne further cooking for vegetable cutles as vegies are cooked so you arent worried ...
other shop items includes : lil biscuits/teething biscuits,,parlae g,toddler cereal,,often like cherrious, and flakes(opt for low sugar o shaped cereal,,kids love them ! ),,,and other varieties of child biscuits,,in US, there are flavourd biscuits that melt in mouth and are just right for introducng finger foods..,no choking is caused with these,,aas they melt ! they are in names like minivegies, mini fruits,toddler foods,gerber fruit and vegie puffs,biter biscuits, wagon wheels,zwieback toasts,,and all the series in gerber graduates as well toddler section,,,look for healthy alternativs,,,
in whole foods and speciality markets you get toddler bars,,they have fruit filling,,and is a great snack with juice in noons...

finally,,your baby is ready for these finger foods or is ready to feed himself when he is :
1. able to sit supported or unsupported,,straight with a balanced neck.
2. is able to chew or churn or press the food with his tongue,mouth muscles and hard gums !
3. knows how to suck the ffood or is able to swallow it, without ne sensation of nausea, vomitng or choking,,
4. if not sittng, your child is expected to atleast lift his head and is able to hold himself up above the ground, by himself,,in a way that his stomach does not touch ground and is able to see in upward direction,,,

5. make sure your child is ready first,,then only offer,otherwise there will be risk of choking or your child may end up sufferng from refflux or stomach upset, or sore throat due to continuous choking episodes..go slow but keeep trying !
also, make sure your child does not play or run around with food in mouth,,it causes choking and a lil choking is just enough for ne nasal blockage or sore throat,,,it might be harmful for your child in near future..
let them njoy these foods while sitting or when at calm and settled moods,,overstimulation during ne feeding session not only causes stomach upsets but also causes choking hazard....
by 1 year, most kids are expected and are ready to eat family foods,,and all of it, includes finger foods..
veera, if your baby is 6montths,you can leave him with food(with assistance,dont leave him alone),,with tiny bits and pieces of boiled vegies, boiled apples and so,,so that even if he does not get an idea to pick it or eat it,,he knows how to pick them or play with them.,..

so thats all finger foods my baby enjoyed and is still njoying and i hope just the same with your lil buds !!!

Hetal replied. finger foods are those foods that babies can eat with thr first finger and the thumb..they master these two in thr first 8months and onwards and so its right time from 8months onwards to 15months that if you teach them to eat with it,,they will master thr skills of eating, chewing, sucking,,finger picking and such coorrdnatn skills...its a part of development ! also like other developments it is not at all necessary that every baby starts accepting finger foods or is ready for finger foods,,from 8months onwards,,it totally depnds on how thr hand and eyes coordination is , and as to how they are able to control thr mouth muscles and thr jaws and as to how good they are in swallowng foods...it does not matter that babies need to have teeth !

so yes veera, if your baby is eating ne food by himself without your assitance or is able to pick things from ground with his fore finger and thumb or even fist,,he is ready for finger food and those foods are finger foods.....
list of finger foods :
1.pieces of roti,parathas, tiny pieces of idli,,dosa,uttappam,cut them in diff funny shapes with help of cookie cutters and your baby will love it ! garnish with some grated carrots and peas and its a colourful medley !!
also try other dishes from vairous culture like dhokla, muthia ( wheat flour and vegies rolls cooked in steam,,its dish from gujarat,,soft like idlis etccc),,raagi balls,,suji balls and such otherr alternatives...
2.pastas,,,comes in diff shapes and sizes,,,i guess now in india also, now stuffed pastas/raviolis are available,,just right for lil fingers,,lots of stuffng varieties are available in there,,namely,,3 cheese, chicken, eggs,spinach,mix vegetables,,5cheese,,sea foods and lot many more ! just look for the one that is made with single grain(6-8months) pastas,,whole grain to multigrains(9months and onwards)
3.small bit size pieces of vegies, cheeses (cheese above 8months),pieces of fruits or tiny fruits like grapes,small strawberries,pieces of banana,,ans such are allgreat egs of finger foods,,
4. it also includes,,pieces of tofu,soya chunks,paneer pieces,,cheese sticks,meat pieces(offer strained before 9months),or scrambled eggs(mostly above1 year) make big pieces and with light gravy of vegies or melted cheese...
ne pieces that baby is able to pick up and place in his mouth by himself !
5.the other that you yourself can make :
--1. rice balls,(overcook rice, add in some ghee, some salt/light salt and some vegie puree, ormake it a sweet delight with some banana in it or some sweet potato in it,,,and make tiny balls of it,,babies love to play nd pick them ans eat them,,best to start your child with !
2..simillarly,,you can make single grain cereal balls, pasta balls, paneeer balls and onwwards,,
3.i used to make upma, let it set in plate nd cut it in small pieces,,once set,,and my 9month old used to njoy playin with it,,in diff pieces i would add some funny colour like carrot puree, spinach puree for green,beets(above 8months) for red and it was fun for her...otherwise she would gag upma !!
4. i used to do the same with khichdi and cracked wheat khichadi,,and it was fun...also try placing a lil bowl of curd next to it,,and eat the pieces before your child while dipping in it,,,be ready formess but you will love to see them eating on thr own while dippng in sauces !!!
watever you make,make it very smooth that baby doesnt get frustrated with its drryness or it being hard to chew or swallow...
mix vegetable cutlets,,mash in all vegies,,and let it set on a plate for a while,,once a bit cool,cut it in tiny pieces with spoon or cookie cutters,,,and if needed saute it with lil tadka,,it will get roasted and outer later is just right and crispy,,,kids who are teethng loves these !

5.or else, offer without ne further cooking for vegetable cutles as vegies are cooked so you arent worried ...
other shop items includes : lil biscuits/teething biscuits,,parlae g,toddler cereal,,often like cherrious, and flakes(opt for low sugar o shaped cereal,,kids love them ! ),,,and other varieties of child biscuits,,in US, there are flavourd biscuits that melt in mouth and are just right for introducng finger foods..,no choking is caused with these,,aas they melt ! they are in names like minivegies, mini fruits,toddler foods,gerber fruit and vegie puffs,biter biscuits, wagon wheels,zwieback toasts,,and all the series in gerber graduates as well toddler section,,,look for healthy alternativs,,,
in whole foods and speciality markets you get toddler bars,,they have fruit filling,,and is a great snack with juice in noons...

finally,,your baby is ready for these finger foods or is ready to feed himself when he is :
1. able to sit supported or unsupported,,straight with a balanced neck.
2. is able to chew or churn or press the food with his tongue,mouth muscles and hard gums !
3. knows how to suck the ffood or is able to swallow it, without ne sensation of nausea, vomitng or choking,,
4. if not sittng, your child is expected to atleast lift his head and is able to hold himself up above the ground, by himself,,in a way that his stomach does not touch ground and is able to see in upward direction,,,

5. make sure your child is ready first,,then only offer,otherwise there will be risk of choking or your child may end up sufferng from refflux or stomach upset, or sore throat due to continuous choking episodes..go slow but keeep trying !
also, make sure your child does not play or run around with food in mouth,,it causes choking and a lil choking is just enough for ne nasal blockage or sore throat,,,it might be harmful for your child in near future..
let them njoy these foods while sitting or when at calm and settled moods,,overstimulation during ne feeding session not only causes stomach upsets but also causes choking hazard....
by 1 year, most kids are expected and are ready to eat family foods,,and all of it, includes finger foods..
veera, if your baby is 6montths,you can leave him with food(with assistance,dont leave him alone),,with tiny bits and pieces of boiled vegies, boiled apples and so,,so that even if he does not get an idea to pick it or eat it,,he knows how to pick them or play with them.,..

so thats all finger foods my baby enjoyed and is still njoying and i hope just the same with your lil buds !!!

SP replied. hi i would also like to know what to give? that is easy to get here! veera replied. i hv basic Qs

what is finger food actually? If i give parleG biscuits to my baby to eat by herself, is that called finger food?

-my baby is 6m and i m in india. What finger foods can i prepare and buy from shops? These days US/UK products are also available here. So pls also suggest some good finger foods that i can buy.