Remind me, when can I give baby finger food?

[tangent]

DS is nearly 7 months old and grabbing everything that goes by and putting it in his mouth. He watches us eating and shouts at us and makes it obvious he wants some. He eats his purees, cereals etc from a spoon ok. I got one of those little mesh bags to put fruit in but he doesn't really get much out of them i don't think. If i give him apple or pear he will bite chunks off and I'm worried he will choke. Is it just too early? I'm keen that this one is a good eater and don't want to miss the opportunity while he's interested but don't want him to choke either.

DS has had it since he was 6 months. Let him have it!

My dd is 7 months. I never bothered with purees. She eats what I eat within reason. Today, for example she has had a banana, half a pear, toast with marmite, yoghurt (with her hands) and some parsnip. She hasn't choked once and eats very well indeed.

I think if you cut food into fist sized pieces/batons, cook well and supervise you ds will be fine.

have a look at this and stop fretting yourself. DD has been chomping on segments of apple etc since 22 weeks. So far she has choked on water and some carrot yesterday which led to a projectile vomit which she was throughly proud off. I don't mean to be flippant. I know some people really worry about the choking thing - like my mother. So when she is around I give DD finger foods which sort of dissolve in the mouth like toast or those Organix carrot puff things (they look like cheesy wotsits).

Hope some of the stuff on that blog gives you some reassurance.

tangent, have a look at Aitch's baby led weaning blog for ideas and reassurance - I'm another with a fussy eater after purees and an 'eat anything' type after baby led so am a convert.

Why thank you BeeWiseMen - great minds eh?

is that true, purees make them fussy later on? my eldest son is 3 and i thought i was brilliant at making purees, all fresh and never gave him a bought jar. Never made him a good eater, he's still fussy now and hates fresh fruit and veg. it all has to be sneaked into his food. will look at the blog.

ok, so what's good to start with then?

toast
soft fruit lumps - peach, plum, ripe pear
any old veg cut into fingers and steamed
pasta shapes

BeeWise's link has good ideas

i have a butternut squash in my kitchen, does anyone know if you can just stick it straight in the oven to roast? I've only ever spent an hour chopping and deseeding before flinging it into a stew. can i roast it whole then chop it up into bits once soft?

i knew butternut squash was on the blog here. I've no idea what you do with it. I don't think I've ever eaten it .

It's easier to cut into big chunks and raost. You can leave the skin on for you and just peel it when cooked for LOs.

skin on me thinks. it's the peeling bit that is a pain. must be easier to scoop chunks out once soft. putting it in the oven now.