Weaning - finger foods

[ecossegirl91]

My baby is 7 months and been weaned since just before 6 months. We currently to two meals a day and I wanted to take a mashed food (never smooth like a purée) and some finger foods such as soft veg, toast, omelette strips etc.
when I spoon feed him he loves it - can’t get enough and that’s things like Greek yoghurt, weetabix, ready brek, mashed banana etc, bolognese.
when offered his finger foods he picks it up and puts it in his mouth, explores it etc but tears off massive chunks that he can’t chew or swallow. So he bites off a big piece, chews it around his mouth a bit then spits out 😂 this is normal for his age yes? I get a little disheartened when I see other babies of his age eating a full roast dinner with their hands. 🙈

I think it's perfectly normal, yes. Sounds like you're being led by baby and they're showing a clear preference for spoon feeding.

Just keep offering some finger foods and don't worry if they're not eating it yet

Mine had absolutely no interest in finger foods, but would demolish anything on a spoon and shout for more. If he's eating, I'd call that a win!

Generations of spoon fed 7 month olds are functioning adults. Relax and do what works for you and eventually baby will be more ready for solids.

Well exactly. BLW wasn't even a thing when I had my eldest. At 7 months he'd shove the occasional finger food in, if it was something he really liked. Other than that it was spoon feeding. He seems to be a pretty functional adult, holds down a job and even eats with a fork & spoon

Don't worry about it! I mainly do spoon fed and don't really introduce finger foods until 9/10 months but if they don't take it, don't worry!

What 7 month old is eating a roast dinner with their hands? That seems quite advanced.

Have you actually seen multiple seven month olds eating a roast dinner with their hands, or did you see an Instagram post with someone claiming their kid loved a roast??

DS has a strong preference for spoon feeding. It took him about 6-8 weeks to really get his head round what on earth he was meant to do with finger foods. I continue to offer them but if I relied on it for nutrition he’d starve.

Annoyingly it turns out that the ultra processed baby-specific foods like biscotti and melty puffs do indeed seem to be the easiest thing for him to eat by himself. Although a banana spear or toast soldier now goes down very well.

Sounds totally normal to me. Just keep doing what you have been doing. Finger foods are good for developing the pincer grip etc so do keep at it. Spoon feeding can be good for trying different flavours and actually getting nutrients from food and can be just as responsive as BLW if you are following your baby’s cues.

Apart from melty puffs, strawberries, other berries and kiwi fruit have been the easiest food for my DD to eat. She still spits out a lot of food at 10 months and is only just getting the hang of chewing and swallowing.

I am often quite jealous of people with babies who like spoon feeding as it seems easier and tidier to feed them while out and about. Mine always prefers to grab the spoon and smear food on every surface within reach so meals are messy!