Finger foods
Finger foods are a great way to support your baby’s independence with feeding. If you haven't started weaning with finger foods, then it’s great to start introducing some options from around 7 months of age onwards.
First fingers foods
When first starting out with finger foods, getting the shape and texture right will support your baby to bring these foods to their mouth and start munching. Aim for finger foods to be:
As your baby progresses through weaning and develops their feeding skills there are a range of finger foods you can offer from across the food groups. Here are some examples:
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Starchy foods |
Toast with spreads, such as butter, avocado, cream cheese, hummus Soft, cooked pasta pieces Potato or sweet potato wedges, tots or cubes Rice mashed with soft vegetables or avocado and rolled into balls or tots Pancakes |
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Fruit and vegetables |
Steamed, boiled or roasted vegetables Ripe fruit pieces |
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Protein rich foods |
Egg – Eggy bread, boiled egg fingers, omelette fingers, fritters Soft flaked pieces of fish, fishcakes or fingers Tofu fingers Softly stewed pieces of meat, meatballs or koftas Smashed beans Falafel or bean-based tots or koftas |
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Dairy |
Slices of cheese, or grated (once pincer grip appears) Cheese or cream cheese on toast
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How much food should my baby be eating?
The million-pound question when feeding babies and children!
During weaning, there are no recommended portion sizes for babies, and we would expect the volumes or portions a baby consumes to vary, often from day to day and week to week. At the start of weaning, babies often do not take much at all (generally very small tastes), but as their skills and experience with food increases, they are likely to manage larger amounts.
The best gauge of how much your baby should be eating is to follow their lead. Babies and children are great at listening to their bodies and following their appetites. How much a baby eats will also be easily impacted by factors such as teething or illness.
If you are progressing towards 8-9 months of age, and don’t feel like your baby is making progress, it’s also worth checking in with their milk feeds to ensure milk volumes are not impacting their appetite.
You can read more about responsive feeding and eating here.
When can I introduce water?
Water can be introduced to your baby at mealtimes when you start weaning. Tap water is ok to give to your baby after 6 months of age, but if offered before 6 months of age be sure to offer cooled boiled water instead.
Which cup should we use?
Cup drinking is another big skill for babies to learn during weaning, and it will take time. Expect lots of spillages and spluttering. To support skill development, dental care and move away from early drinking reflexes, such as sucking, it is recommended to introduce your baby to an open cup, or free-flow sippy cup. You may wish to try an option like a weighted straw cup once your baby is a little further on into weaning. Try to avoid any cups with valves that mimic sucking from a bottle.
What is the difference between gagging and choking?
One of parents' biggest worries when it comes to starting solids is about choking. This is completely understandable, as your baby transitions from just drinking milk to introducing a wide range of foods and getting to grips with how to eat these. Attending a First Aid course, which includes how to manage in the unlikely event of a choking incident, can be hugely supportive for parents, and worth considering if you are feeling nervous or worried.
Understanding the difference between gagging and choking is, however, helpful before starting weaning. While choking is rare, it is very common to observe gagging when your baby is learning to eat.
Gagging is a natural reflex that is present to actually help protect your baby’s airway. It typically reduces and moves further back in the mouth as your baby gets older and more experienced with solids. Gagging is very normal during weaning as your baby learns to manipulate and eat a wide range of textures, move food around their mouth and swallow. Common signs your baby is gagging include:
If your baby is gagging, it is highly recommended to leave them to work it out themselves and avoid intervening, for example, don’t try and remove the food from their mouth. While it can be distressing to watch as a parent, try to keep calm and provide reassurance to your baby.
Choking occurs when a baby’s airway is blocked (occluded) or partially obstructed. When a baby is choking, they can lose colour from their face, skin and/or lips. They may look pale, grey or blue. They may also stare vacantly, or look scared (‘rabbit in headlights’), but be silent or not making much noise or sound at all. If your baby is choking you should perform First Aid immediately and seek emergency help.
When and how should you give common food allergens to a baby?
Introducing common food allergens, such as nuts, to babies is another aspect of weaning many parents find daunting. While advice used to suggest delaying the introduction of these foods to babies, we now have fantastic evidence that shows getting these foods early (for example, during weaning) and keeping them in a child’s diet actually helps to reduce the chances of developing food allergies. So, the key message here is, don’t delay!
For most babies, it would be recommended to introduce common allergens in a safe and age-appropriate form, from the start of weaning onwards (~6 months+).
Common food allergens include:
Practical suggestions for introducing these foods during weaning include:
For babies considered at a higher risk of developing food allergies, an even more proactive approach may be recommended. This can sometimes mean introducing some of the more common allergens like egg or peanut, prior to 6 months of age under the guidance of a health professional. Babies at higher risk of developing food allergy include:
If your baby falls into one or both of these categories, seek support from a healthcare professional.