Hi everyone. My dd is 8mths and we've been doing some experimenting with finger foods for about a month. She also tastes off of our plates anything that's possible at dinnertime. For snacks she's really only had cheerios, pieces of unsalted crackers, gerber biter biscuits and wagon wheels which are all great but I want to exapnd her horizons! Can you give me a list of good finger foods for her? No teeth yet btw. Thanks guys! ~Deanna

By My2cuties on Monday, February 21, 2005 - 10:24 pm:

soft bite size pieces of Carrots (or whatever else veggie)
gerber fruit and veggie puffs
noodles (not real long but enough to grab)

I can't really think of anything else right off...it has been a little while since that age. I tend to forget that stage easily probably due to lack of sleep..lol

By Imamommyx4 on Monday, February 21, 2005 - 10:37 pm:

We bought the neatest thing at Toys R Us when dd was little. I don't remember what it was called, but it had a white handle with a mesh bag and a green ring the held the mesh bag onto the handle. You could put anything in the mesh bag (it was small, held a couple of chunks of fruit) and let your little one gnaw the daylights out of without worrying that they'd get choked on it. For instance she loved grapes but Iwas afraid of her getting choked on them, so I'd quarter up 3 or 4 of them and put in the bag. She could chew on it, get the juice and very small pieces, but no hunks that would be a choking hazard. We loved it.
Downside--it was a bit messy, so I usually put her on a towel with just a t-shirt and diaper. It was a great treat.

By Andi on Monday, February 21, 2005 - 10:54 pm:

I buy canned sliced carrots and give those to my DD who will be 8 months next week. I cut them into fours and they are perfect. I also give her canned peaches and she loves them, I slice those up as well.

She enjoys Ritz crackers and I slice up Banana for her. Just don't give your her to much because Banana can cause constipation.

We also eat everything you listed in your post and she loves it all! She loves the Berber Fruit and Veggie Puffs.

By My2cuties on Monday, February 21, 2005 - 11:06 pm:

the thing debbie is talking about is the baby safe feeder. And it is really neat!

By Imamommyx4 on Tuesday, February 22, 2005 - 01:17 am:

Thanks! That is it!! I don't even know whatever happened to ours. But it's been close to 3 years since she used it. You can put anything in it and it becomes a finger food without worrying about choking so much.

By Kaye on Tuesday, February 22, 2005 - 08:47 am:

Scrambled eggs, grated cheese, canned green beans or peas. It really depends on your child. My this age my middle kid ate just whatever we did, we just cut it in small pieces. He is a great eater now and still eats anything. I would try to sit her down when you eat and just give her some bites on her high chair.

By Karen~moderator on Tuesday, February 22, 2005 - 09:09 am:

Definitely get the baby feeder. Jules had one for Madison and it was WONDERFUL. Those were not made when my kids were young - if they had been, you can be sure I would have used them!

Jules used to put fresh fruits and vegies in hers, those were the healthiest foods and there was no choking hazard involved.

By Mrsheidi on Tuesday, February 22, 2005 - 09:24 am:

Kaye, aren't eggs an allergy issue at that age?

By Reds9298 on Tuesday, February 22, 2005 - 09:28 am:

Thanks a lot everyone for all of the great ideas.
I didn't know bananas were constipating!!! I've given her those when she WAS a little constipated thinking it would help. What a dumb first-timer!

By Reds9298 on Tuesday, February 22, 2005 - 09:30 am:

I think eggs are an allergy issue right now.

By Reds9298 on Tuesday, February 22, 2005 - 09:32 am:

Andi - our babies are almost the same age. My dd was born on 6/26!

By Mrsheidi on Tuesday, February 22, 2005 - 09:40 am:

Connor was born on 6/30! It's funny, because I was going to post the same thing today! There are some good ideas on here. I'm SO very paranoid of choking hazards, BUT I DO want him to get used to different textures. He tried some avocado and you should have seen his face!!! Icky face! LOL

By Amecmom on Tuesday, February 22, 2005 - 09:53 am:

Egg Whites can be a problem, but yolks are ok.
Ame

By Heaventree on Tuesday, February 22, 2005 - 10:09 am:

I would wait until 1 year for the eggs just to be on the safe side. The skin on peas can be hard for them to digest, I gave mine pureed peas.

Canned Pears and Peaches, cut into small pieces
Baby Mum Mum Rice Cookies
Small pieces of steamed carrots, broccoli, cauliflower (start slowing, may cause gas)
Cooked Rice (brown if you have it)
Spagehtti and meatballs, (tomatoes can be an allergy issue as well), cut up into small pieces
Small pieces of cheese (not too much - constipation)
Whole Wheat Crackers
Avocado
Grated Apple or small pieces of steamed apple
Small pieces of melon, mango, passion fruit
Puffed Wheat

Hope that helps.

By Reds9298 on Tuesday, February 22, 2005 - 10:22 am:

Heidi - My Natalie is the same way! No matter what she tries she gets a look like it's the most terrible thing ever. It took her almost a whole week to not make a face at cheerios anymore. I think it's all about the texture for her, too. Like she loves baby food green beans, but when I gave her chopped up real green beans she didn't want any part of it. Spit most of it out. We just keep trying things...it's so funny to watch them!!

By Mrsheidi on Tuesday, February 22, 2005 - 11:03 am:

Yup, I just tried pureed blueberries this morning...too sour for him, but he kept opening his mouth! LOL I'm going to keep trying for other things. You're right, the texture is such an issue.

By Kaye on Tuesday, February 22, 2005 - 11:30 am:

Thanks for posting Ame, yes Yolks are okay. Honestly when it comes to allergies anything can be an allergy issue, you just have to introduce new food slowly. One of my sons had an allergy to rice cereal, the other one to pears. You just never know. Again, I feed my dd only jarred stuff for the longest time, she was fine. My middle kid wanted to eat, by a year he ate 100% of what we ate, no baby food at all. We are in texas, this means mexican food. He just never had a problem.

I babysat for someone with that baby feeder, I personally hated it, it was messy and gross. Also I wonder if ultimately you aren't really doing any good. Sure they eat new foods, but the reason you transistion to finger foods is fine motor skills and tongue muscle development. If he is ready to eat, feed him, if not keep using a spoon and baby food.

By Hlgmom on Tuesday, February 22, 2005 - 01:50 pm:

The baby feeder mentioned above was great for teething as well! I used to put frozen fresh peaches and mango slices in it and she would chew on it for relief and then get the juice! Try your local health food store- they will often have some healthy items for snacking at that age. I made most of my baby food and definetely found the health food store a great source for snacks as she progressed to "finger foods"!

By Andi on Tuesday, February 22, 2005 - 05:55 pm:

We have the baby feeder and DD likes it but prefers feeding herself and getting messy.

Deanna...DD was born 6/28

By Frasersmama on Wednesday, February 23, 2005 - 07:47 pm:

My dd loves to eat cubed gardenburger patty, not too messy, also cubed dry wheat toast is a big hit, portable too.

By Mrsheidi on Thursday, February 24, 2005 - 09:49 am:

Tried the canned carrots and got a "this is disgusting, mom" face. will try again...

By Reds9298 on Thursday, February 24, 2005 - 10:18 am:

Heidi - It's like this with nearly everything I give Natalie unless it's smooth like baby food. She has now decided after liking the wagon wheels that she doesn't like them anymore, and I'm not sure it's the flavor, I think it might be because her fingers get sticky! She seems very interested in her hands and pulling her fingers back and forth when she's eating one! I'm going to start bombarding her with 'real' food now...we'll see what happens!

By Reds9298 on Friday, February 25, 2005 - 04:36 pm:

The whole wheat toast has been a big hit and it's good practice for her to pick up. Tried grated cheese as well and she liked it! Thanks everyone!

By Andi on Friday, February 25, 2005 - 05:31 pm:

I never thought about the veggie patties...I bet she would love that, I will have to give it a try.

By Kayleesmommy on Friday, February 25, 2005 - 09:57 pm:

Kaylee really likes string cheese. I eat it with her and pull a piece off for me and then give her the very end of it. She does great with it and loves it. She tries taking it from me because she wants more and more! I also tried strawberries the other day and she liked those. I just cut 1 up in tiny pieces and fed her it. She is still not really good with picking up little things and getting them into her mouth.

By Hlgmom on Friday, February 25, 2005 - 10:10 pm:

Mine loves veggie burgers..but only the Garden Burger Brand! LOL