Weaning - finger foods

[MiniPopsMum2012]

How are people introducing finger foods to their premmie babies? What works and what are good things to try?

My LO is 9 months actual, born 10 weeks early, and weaning is a very slow process.

Purees fine, textured small lumps fine, but can't handle stuff like toast yet. Rice cakes and those carrot wotsit things are ok.

any advice would be appreciated

[Gurke]

Hi - sorry I can't help, but would also love to know what advice people have!

[GoatBongosAnonymous]

Hi, Minipop!
Babygoat was born at 31+4 and we started weaning just before 6 months actual. He is now nearly 8 months and we have started finger foods in the past two weeks. This was because we went to a baby class where he was offered a mini bread stick - I thought he would just drop it, but to my amazement he took it and gummed it until he had swallowed half of it. So breadsticks are still good, as are thin fingers of toast with spread (non-dairy in our case). We have also done pear and avocado with skin left on the bits he holds. Banana and anything else slippery is hopeless. We have just tried scrambled egg too - I'd say half landed in his mouth! some days are better than others I have to say - today he wanted feeding by spoon (although he 'helps' with that )
That's out experience, anyway!

[Verybusymummyof2]

Hi mini pops mum, my dd is only just getting into finger foods.
She is almost one corrected (a former 27 weeker) but has quite poor fine motor skills.
I would say just go at your babies pace, there is no rush, I was slow to give finger food to eldest and she was full term. Try to offer a variety of things?

I give toast fingers for breakie, after lunch or tea rice cakes, sticks of mild cheddar, rusks as these just dissolve, satsuma, pith and skin removed cut in half.

To begin with they tend to explore it, most will end up on the floor but over time more and more gets eaten!!

Good luck and just let your baby dictate the pace x x

[Forgetfulmog]

Hi OP, my DC was 36 weeks born so not that prem, but I started weaning at 24 weeks. Initially she didn't really take much in so I left it for a few days and then started again at 25 weeks. She's now 27 (I think, have lost count ) and is much more confident with finger food, but I would say she has come on leaps and bounds over the last week. Keep persevering and just offer a range of finger foods - she will eventually get the hand of it. Mine now likes to grab handfuls and drop it over the side of the highchair

Also, I don't know if this is relevant or not, you can get suction toys that affix to the highchair tray - it might make DC a bit more aware of the tray IYSWIM and therefore be more interest in what you put on there in terms of finger food.

[MiniPopsMum2012]

thanks for the tips everyone, I think maybe I tried a bit too soon. Will try some of these ideas this week and see what happens...