For safety, your baby’s very first finger foods should be soft and mashable. While it might be tempting to go right to tiny, bite-size pieces, this presentation can sometimes be too advanced or pose more of a choking risk. Below, we’ll share considerations for serving finger foods, including why they should be oversized.
Between 6 and 8 months, your baby will be able to pick food up with a whole-hand grasp, but they’ll still be a bit new to coordinating chewing. If you were to dice up chicken, for example, it would be difficult for them to pick up the tiny pieces and bring them to their mouth. It might also be a choking risk as tiny pieces can easily slip down.
However, if you offer the chicken in a large rectangular strip or even as a chicken wing on the bone, your baby can easily pick it up and nibble on it, biting off what they are ready to chew.
As your baby approaches nine months old, they develop a refined pincer grasp, which allows them to start manipulating tiny objects between their thumb and pointer finger. Serving food in bite-size pieces becomes more stage-appropriate as they can independently pick up and bring smaller pieces to their mouth to coordinate chewing.
Here’s an example of 8 common first foods that you might be tempted to chop up but can be ideal to leave oversized when your baby is new to solid foods. Always consult your pediatrician for individualized guidance when in doubt.
Avocado -This is delicious mashed, but you can also leave it as a half or large spear for baby. Roll it in hemp seeds to make it easier to grip.
Pancakes –Instead of chopping, try serving in long, rectangular strips.
Egg –Start with omelet strips, which, like the pancake strips, can be easier for 6-8-month-olds to manage.
Strawberry –An oversized strawberry that is also ripe and soft can be served whole- baby can pick up and nibble on it. If the strawberry is small and fits in baby’s mouth in one bite, serving whole would not be safe. In that case, it would be best to slice or mash.
Banana –It is delicious mashed but can also be helpful to serve halved or in spears.
Broccoli –Offer a soft, steamed oversized floret, waiting to serve small florets until that 9-month+ mark.
Sweet potato –Another classic food that is delicious mashed, but you can steam or roast and offer it in spears, too.
Apple –You can roast or boil an apple until it is cooked and soft and offer it halved. Never serve an oversized apple raw.
These ideas are inspired and informed by the Free First Foods Database by the Solid Starts team. Check it out! They offer presentation tips for nearly any food you can think of!