Letting your baby feed himself is a great way for your little one to have control over his eating, to work on his hand eye coordination, develop his chewing skills and develop independence, confidence and mastery over self-feeding. Letting your baby feed himself provides your little one with endless learning opportunities – he can learn about texture, shape, colour, smell and taste – whilst providing never ending opportunities for your baby to practice his developing mouth skills.
Whether you are just starting out with Baby Led Weaning, or decided that your older baby is ready to try finger foods, here are some ideas for finger foods that your little one can try.
Slices of lightly steamed:
- carrots;
- apple;
- pear;
- butternut squash;
- sweet potato;
- broccoli.
Slices of ripe fruit (skin removed, served raw) such as:
- watermelon;
- mango;
- avocado;
- peach;
- plum;
- banana.
Carbohydrate foods, such as:
- Rice cakes;
- Teething rusks;
- Toast soldiers;
- Pasta (fusili is a great finger food for babies trying pasta for the first time).
When offering your baby finger foods, remember to never leave your little one alone whilst eating and have your baby sitting upright in a secure highchair to minimise the risk of choking.
What do your little ones enjoy eating all by themselves?
