Starting finger foods

[boompi]

I believe you can start babies on finger foods from 7-8 months. DD is 8moths old and can eat a farleys rusk - as they go so mushy but I am scared to start other things such as steamed veg, toast etc in case she chokes. She doesnt have any teeth yet. Any tips on how to get over my fears?

[Racers]

Having no teeth shouldn't be too much of an obstacle for many finger foods. It is scary as there will be lots of gagging, but hopefully no actual choking, which is different altogether. I would read up on some first aid, or attend a session if possible. My antenatal class did choking - you could ask about attending a class post-natally (if that's a word) as now is the time you actually need the practice. I did this, it was really useful.
Try to stay calm when the baby gags as she will pick up on how you react. She will look to you for reassurance so try not to panic.
That's all I can think of just now - good luck!

[SoupDragon]

Chop things into small pieces.
Banana is good as it squidges :)

[hotmama]

Cooked carrots/broccoli etc are fab as first finger foods as they get all mushy when they get them in their mouths! Also ripe pears (without the skin) or any other ripe fruit like plums are also good.

Also rice cakes are good as they go mushy as well.

My dd1 didn't get her first teeth until she was 11 months and now at 19 months only has 7 - they can gum food very well. HTH

[bramblina]

Try cheese, breadsticks, heinz do a long finger biscuit called biscotti which doesn't mush as quickly as a rusk and Cow & Gate do savoury fingers and Biscuits for 8m+. Don't be worried if she gags, it's just a natural reaction when something hits the top of the back of the tongue, and experience will simply give her more control and confidence.

[PigeonPie]

Jennie Maizels has written a book called 'Finger Food for Babies and Toddlers' which I think is going to be really helpful for us (DS only 5 1/2 mo now). Its got some good, but simple recipes including breadsticks and cheese fingers.

[dandycandyjellybean]

I know it sounds scary, but gagging in a baby isn't like choking in an adult. I read somewhere on here I think that it is a babys way of repositioning something in their mouth. When I started giving my ds finger foods he gagged loads, and my dh really panicked. However, he (ds that is) never seriously gagged, and has now, within a few short weeks got the hang of chewing well before swallowing. He has broccoli and carrot sticks, breadsticks, cheese, loves buttered toast fingers (dipped in thick home-made lentil soup is a fave) and ripe pear (although I help him hold that as it is a bit like slippery soap!!) Am going to try him today on pasta twirls. Try not to panic, and give the finger foods a go. Sit in front of her, eat some of her stuff and make big chewy faces - you'll probably feel a bit of a twit but it really does help.

[teacakes]

i have a dd of 7mths (today), i gave her a piece of ripe pear and she bit off a large bit and went red and went silent. i slapped her back and the piece of pear came out.

how small a piece is safe?

my DH is now very anti-finger food

[CorrieDale]

Try and reassure your DH, teacakes. Chewing and swallowing lumps is a skill that babies have to learn - it doesn't come automatically to them, but it's something they really do have to learn! When we started DS on fingerfoods at 6 months, you could see from his face that he thought it was going to be a lot easier than it actually was. He gagged a few times and I can't say it was fun, but I made sure I was always sitting close enough to hear him breathe. He never choked and the gagging stopped within 2 weeks. As for how small a piece is safe, I think any size can cause a problem. It depends on the food. Why not try broccoli next? That was DS's first finger food. I know it's going to be difficult for you and DH to relax after what happened but your DD will be watching you to see how she should be feeling about what she is doing.

[mawbroon]

My ds is 28 weeks. We started weaning straight on to finger foods at 26 weeks. The key to it is that you must not put the food in the babies mouth for her because she has to position the food in her mouth herself to avoid choking. My DS after only two weeks of weaning can now feed himself and swallow banana, broccolli, soft sticks of carrot/turnip, rice cakes etc. BTW he still has no teeth. Gums seem to be doing the job fine! I have to hold some of the slippery stuff for him, but again, it's only holding it for him, not putting it in his mouth. Once he develops the pincer grip, he will be able to feed himself things as small as a grain of rice or a pea and in theory should also be physically developed enough to cope with the chewing and swallowing easily.

HTH

[boompi]

Thanks for all the tips. Tried banana and pear this weekend> Pear so slippery she got frustrated and banana got mushed into table. Want to try broccoli. Will give it a go this week and hope for the best!

[boompi]

Thanks for tips. Will try broccoli this week. Tried peeled pear this weekend but so slippery she couldnt manage to hold it!

[boompi]

Oops - double posted after computer froze.

[bumbleweed]

hi boompi, just to say we are at the same stage - just started weaning dd 2 weeks ago at 26 weeks. She now prefers to feed herself and bats the spoon away from her face if we try to shovel any in. So far we have tried pear, banana, carrot, apple, peach - dd does drop them alot because like other posters have said they get slippery especially after being handled or sucked. But if you can cope with mess and a bit of wastage its worth sticking with it as dd is learning how to hold on to it by catching with her other hand or cupping in her palm. Have had a little bit of gagging but nothing too worrying yet.

Also try steamed baby sweetcorn (not sure but think it probably has v little nutritional value) but its firm enough and good shape for them to hold and dd chose it out of a bowl containing various steamed veg and kept going back for more!