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Weaning

Find weaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Weaning forum. Use our child development calendar for more information.

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Original poster

think dd wants finger foods but can I combine it with purees?

20 replies

gingernutlover · 23/02/2006 09:07

dd has been weaning on purees etc for about 5 weeks now and I am wondering if I should start offering finger foods as I don't want her to still be having purees etc when she is older. She is 6 months atm and can sit well in the highchair, pick things up and bring them to her mouth well. This morning after her weetabix I cut up some sticks of apple which she quiote happily put in her mouth and attem,pted to munch on but didn't actually eat any - not that I expected her to really!

Just wondered when others in this situation gave fingerfoods? My annabel karmel book suggests it in the 6-9m section but there is not much info and lots of puree recipes still.

I am wondering if I can offer some finger foods at each meal perhaps after her puree to get her used to the idea of them. Or am I just rushing her?

Any opinions/advice very welcome.

OP posts:

RachD · 23/02/2006 09:16

I am afraid I do not know what the recommended age is.
But based on what you say....What harm can it do ?...
soft bread sticks, bits of fruit - even if she doesn't eat them at all, even if she just holds them or puts them in her mouth - this is all brilliant - and it will be stimulating for her, if nothing else.

Also, SOME children have teeth coming through very early. It is not unheard of to have a tooth come through at 7 months.
Maybe she would like something a bit harder to gnaw on - atleast it would be a different sensation in her mouth - if she doesn't like, no problem.

I can't see that you can go wrong, either way.
Go for it.

Original poster

gingernutlover · 23/02/2006 09:20

she really seemed to enjoy it - and it really is only a little bit - 1/4 of an apple this morning and I ate the rest so who cares if she doesn't eat it for ages yet.

we are away next week so I will buy some little rice cakes, bread sticks etc to experiment with. Also HV has hinted that I shpuld drop her mid am and mid afternoon milks at some point and replace with snacks so it would be good if I didn't have to spoonfeed her those as well - personally I am happy for her to have the milk as long as she wants it though

OP posts:

BagelBird · 23/02/2006 09:20

Have you tried making the purees thicker and lumpier? There is nothing wrong with giving her lumps of apple/carrot etc to hold, lick etc but just be careful that she doesn?t break a bit off and choke (particularly if she has a piece for a while and it gets soggy).
Personally, I would let mine play with a carrot stick at this age (forzen is nice, particularly for teething babies) and watch carefully.
For food, have you tried more complex flavours/textures and making them lumpier and lumpier? Don?t lose heart with purees - they are easier to digest and safer as lower choking/gagging risk. If you move gradually through the lumpy texture thing rather than jumping to "hard" foods she may find it easier. Don?t let that put you off the apple wedge - just supervise carefully and don?t think of it as a subsitute to her other food just yet.
I found dried apple rings quite good for chewing practise as they are tougher and don?t fall to pieces so quickly - less chance of choking.
hth (sorry garbled message as I have a little one on my knee!)

mumfor1standfinaltime · 23/02/2006 09:23

Hi, I would say to offer finger foods, she seems interested!

Ds enjoyed bread sticks, banana chopped into slices, toast, a soft biscuit.

nailpolish · 23/02/2006 09:23

ginge, i have a book

Jennie Maizels 'Finger Food for babies and toddlers' if you would like it

tried selling it on here earlier but no-one was interested!

its recipes, some quite 'cookish' ie you have to make them like a meal, but there are some dead quick and easy little snacks etc you could make, lovely, tasty and tips on freezing etc

Kelly1978 · 23/02/2006 09:24

I would carry on exactly as you are doing. Let her explore harder food with her fingers. I've always foudn that lumps on a spoon are harder for babies to manage, as they expect puree and then choke. Mine are now 11 months and have an assortment of finger food for lunch and proper food for bfast and tea. I didn't really do lumpy purees at all, just introduced finger food then once they were used to it started giving them chopped up food.

Mazzystar · 23/02/2006 09:24

you can offer them as soon as she shows an interest, just make sure they are nice and soft and have disintegrating properties - toast fingers, cooked carrot, ripe avocado, rice cakes maybe ( though mine always choked a bit on them).

teeth isn't the issue - the gums are hard anyway. although you have to be a bit more careful when they have teeth as they can cut of chokable chunks....

Original poster

gingernutlover · 23/02/2006 09:25

thanks - she will eat most things in a puree - have given her ones with 3 diff ingredients in and has wolfed them but didn't like mashed carrot the other day - I assumed because of the lumps, but maybe a bit too lumpy! She does like mashed banana though especially in yoghurt and this has lumps although of course they are softer. She has also eaten mashed potato which was quite stodgy consistancy.

I find it hard to vary the consistancy though with my blender, it's only setting is smooth! Can't really see how to get little lumps - as of course a potatoi masher makes quite big lumps in most foods. SAnyone know how to make food gradually lumpier?

OP posts:

nailpolish · 23/02/2006 09:27

cat me if you would like the book - you can have it for p&p

Original poster

gingernutlover · 23/02/2006 09:27

nailpolish - the book sounds good. How much would you like for it and what would pstage be? I can paypal you the money if you have an account?

OP posts:

mumfor1standfinaltime · 23/02/2006 09:27

Mash the food yourself with a fork, I never used a blender.

Mazzystar · 23/02/2006 09:28

a potato ricer or hand held blender are good

Original poster

gingernutlover · 23/02/2006 09:28

doh! - I cannot cat, sorry. But can e mail me on [email protected]

OP posts:

nailpolish · 23/02/2006 09:29

it really is a great book

i dont use it anymore, and i would like someone to get some use out of it now!

why dont i send it to you and then let you know how much the postage was - itll only be about £2-3

i dont have paypal though (dh might - ill ask him)

Original poster

gingernutlover · 23/02/2006 09:30

is a potato ricer like a mouli? I have seen these in books. Also think argos have hald helds for about a fiver so may get one to take with us on hols anyway

OP posts:

nailpolish · 23/02/2006 09:32

ok ill e mail you later x

Original poster

gingernutlover · 23/02/2006 09:32

nail polish - thats really kind. I could paypal your dh or send you a cheque/cash as soon as it arrived.

I'd rather not post my address on here though so can I e mail it to you or you email me and I'll email back - confused yet?

OP posts:

Original poster

gingernutlover · 23/02/2006 09:33

great minds eh!?!?!?!

thanks for all the help

OP posts:

nailpolish · 23/02/2006 09:33

lol

ill send you an email later on today, then you can e mail me back

im glad to send it on - i dont use it anymore, and i hate the thought of books sitting around collecting dust

mogwai · 27/02/2006 21:42

My eight month old loves naan breads, ciabatta or pitta bread warmed up to eat with her meal. She will also eat raisins, small pieces of dried apricot, fruitloaf, breadsticks, banana and dried apple rings.

I probably give her an omelette once a week, cut into strips. She loves getting messy. She has been known to eat yorkshire pudding too.

And she pinches her Dad's shreddies

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