When is the right time to start eating finger foods ? - Infant Care (up to 18 months old) Message Board

dream77 · 10-15-2007, 02:42 PM

Hi,
My daughter is 5 days away from being 11 months old.
We've been trying to get her to eat finger foods but she just gags on them.
I've tried cheerios and the star puffs.
She can pick them up and put them in her mouth but she doesn't know how to chew on them and just lands up gagging on them and then vomiting.
WHen is the right time to expect her to chew on these ?
Thanks

StaceyLee · 10-15-2007, 07:10 PM

Each baby is differant. IS she on solid foods? Maybe she doesn't lile the taste and that's why she gags? My daughter just started the puffs at 9 months, I'm afraid to give her anything else. She exclusivevly breastfed still so she hasn't had a lot of experience yet with chewing. What I found that helps is I exagerate the chewing expressions and she copies me and chews her stuff, eventually she catches on and will chew on her own. I don't believe there's a specific age but I wouldn't worry about yet, she will get it eventually.

liloulou · 10-16-2007, 07:20 AM

I agree, she will mimic you chewing once she sees it enough. I started by sitting down for breakfast together with DD. She had her cereal and i had mine. That made going on to finger foods easier.
If you start with finger foods, share a few cheerios with her and show her how to chew them. One at a time of course.

JellyB_3 · 10-16-2007, 09:33 AM

My DS started finger foods at around 7 months.

He was teething so, I'd freeze fruit, like Pears for example...peeled and quartered. THen I'd cut them up into Little, little pieces, like 1/2 or 1/4 the size of a cherrio and I think the cold felt good on his gums so he'd chomp and chomp and the warmed of his mouth would defrost it and it would just mush all up and he' be able to swallow it.

In my opinion the easiest way to start finger foods!!

HTH : )

EssentialPeace · 10-16-2007, 09:57 AM

It is best to follow the baby's cues. And spoon feeding a baby makes them more susceptible to choking.