What finger foods can I give my 7 month old?

Question

I have no idea what kinds of foods my little boy can eat, I panic he may choke, but I know he has to start them some time!

Answer 1

You can offer any solids foods that aren't highly allergenic or a choking hazard. Highly allergenic foods are dairy, wheat, soy, eggs, peanuts, citrus and berries, tomatoes, corn, nuts, chocolate, pork, and fish. The first 5 of these are the most allergenic; they should be avoided for at least a year (longer if you have food allergies in the family).

Choking hazards are firm or hard pieces of food the size of a baby's windpipe. This includes popcorn, chunks of carrot, and whole grapes. Foods that are softer (like banana or baked potato) or grated (carrot, apple, etc.) aren't a choking risk. Peanut butter or other thick sticky substance can be a choking hazard if offered on a spoon. You can spread peanut butter on bread or crackers once baby is a year old (no longer much risk of allergies), but don't give it to him on a spoon until age 3-5 (depending on who you ask) like other foods that he could choke on.

The risk isn't that it could start going down the wrong way and he'd have to cough it up. The risk is that it could get so stuck that he *can't* cough it up. If you see him "choking" (coughing) on something, that is his body working as it should; it doesn't mean don't offer that food again.

Answer 2

You haven't stated whether he is on baby food or not. If not I wouldn't give to many finger foods. However some good finger foods are:

toast slivers with apple butter or cheese whiz
a hard cookie ie arrowroot
french fries
mashed potatoes
yam fries
macaroni pasta
grated cheese

Make sure you stay away from grapes, peanut butter and celery. If you give hot dog weiners cut them length wise first and then into pieces.

Answer 3

Cheerios. I know they seem hard, but the baby will let them sit in his mouth long enough to get soft. Try giving him one and watch his face when he sees how much he likes it.

I would give my little boy mixed veggies from a can, too. They were always so soft that he could mash them up easy. Go to the baby food aisle in the store and you will find all sorts of baby-friendly food that is for your baby. Gerber is perfect. Just read on the box for ages.

Answer 4

Best stuff to give your baby is stuff that he will not only enjoy safely but be nutritious & even help in his fine motor skills. Sit him in a high chair & pour a couple of regular cheerios. Well cooked soft bably carrots. Even the crust of a pizza. Since these babies are also teething, a frozen bagel is great coz it also soothes the mouth.

Answer 5

ripe fruit cut into long slices, such as banana, mango, peaches or grapes halved. i did this with my son and he loves fruit still. chooses it over fries every time!!! good start to a healthy lifestyle. Bread is also good but be careful because if it is too fresh it may stick to the roof of baby's mouth. Teething rusks are also suitable from 6 mths old. Dry biscuits are good too, they tend to get soggy because they cant bite so the choking risk is reduced. you could also give him veges, such as carrot, but lightly boil them so they go soft.
good luck!

Answer 6

What are finger foods?
Just about any bite-size food that your baby can pick up and eat himself qualifies as a finger food. Finger foods are fun for your baby to play with and an important first step toward independence. And even though food play can get messy, don't be too quick with the cleaning rag: Let your baby enjoy this important learning experience that helps develop fine motor skills.





When should I introduce finger foods?
Your baby will probably let you know when he's ready to move up to finger foods by grabbing the spoon you're feeding him with or snatching food off your plate, for example. This usually happens when your baby's between 7 and 9 months old. At first he may just rake food with his hand and bring it to his mouth, but eventually he'll use his thumb and forefinger (the so-called "pincer grasp") to pick up food.

How should I introduce them?
Scatter four or five pieces of finger food onto your baby's highchair tray or an unbreakable plate, and replace them as your baby eats them. Feed your baby in a highchair rather than in a car seat or in a stroller to reduce choking hazards and to teach him that the highchair is the place to eat.

Which foods make good finger foods?
Your baby may have a good appetite but not many teeth, so start with foods that he can gum or that will dissolve easily in his mouth. As he grows into a toddler you'll be able to give him bite-size pieces of whatever you're eating. Remember that your baby's also learning about texture, color, and aroma as he feeds himself, so try to offer a variety of foods. They should be easy for him to handle but not present a choking hazard. And be sure to choose fare that's appropriate for his age.

Here's a list of finger food favorites:
• O-shaped toasted oat cereal or other low-sugar cereal

• Lightly toasted bread or bagels (spread with vegetable puree for extra vitamins)

• Small chunks of banana or other very ripe, peeled fruit, like mango, plum, pear, peach, cantaloupe, seedless watermelon

• Small cubes of tofu

• Well-cooked pasta spirals, cut into pieces

• Thin cheese strips or very small chunks of cheese

• Chopped hard-boiled egg (after 12 months)

• Cut-up raisins, apricots, stewed dried prunes

• Cut-up grapes, cherries (pits and seeds removed), blueberries

• Small pieces of cooked soft vegetables, like carrots, peas, zucchini, potato, sweet potato

• Small or cut-up well-cooked broccoli and cauliflower "trees"

• Small (pea-size) pieces of cooked chicken or other soft meat

• Rice cakes broken into small pieces

Answer 7

when you cook just cut up the food into small pieces and they should be fine you can hold out on meat till they get more teeth or put it into a blender
fries
crackers there good to start with to
veggies
pastas

Answer 8

try
- french fries,,, mash them up a little bit. no completly
- hot dogs ,,, cut them up in tiny pieces

anything that you are able to cut into smaller pieces so his tiny throat can handle it. make sure to start off easy and not do to finger food all the time.. switch back and forth ;)

Answer 9

I think it would be better to feed him yourself. Most finger foods are solid and too hard for babies. I guess french fries could work but not too many.

Answer 10

Veggie or Fruit puffs. they dissolve in babies mouth to help them learn how to eat real food. you can find them next to the baby food in your local grocery store.