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Your baby is steadily gaining independence, and mealtimes are becoming quite different now. He can sit up on his own, pick things up in a firm hold, and is even learning how to chew more properly. This also means things are getting messier and messier! If you haven’t already, this might be a good time to invest in a high chair, a floor mat, and a handful of baby bibs.
In order for your baby to develop his chewing skills, you should begin offering him a new range of lumpier foods. You can also introduce a few finger foods to encourage him to gnaw and chew more often. He will still be using his gums, along with whatever little teeth he may have, so don’t expect him to be able to tackle the hard stuff just yet.
Up until now you have been pureeing all your baby’s food, offering him meals with the consistency of milk and then gradually thickening the mixtures. As a start to introducing lumpier foods, consider mashing his foods rather than pureeing them, using either a fork or a potato masher. Finger foods such as bread or pasta can be left as is.
Be sure to always supervise your baby, especially during the beginning of this new “chunkier food” phase. Almost all children gag on their food at some point or another, so make sure you’re there to react quickly.
Also, make sure you always strap your baby into his high chair if you’re using one. It’s at around this age that he is mastering a few physical skills, and he may very well try to climb out. Not only is there a physical danger from the short fall, but also from choking, should a piece of food lodge into his throat during the fall.
Remember: These new foods are simply an addition to your baby’s diet of breast milk or baby formula, not a replacement.
Beginner Finger Foods
You want to start off with foods that don’t necessarily require teeth in order to soften their consistency. Your child will be learning how to chew, but due to his lack of teeth, it will be more like “gumming”. Here are a few ideas to begin. Remember to introduce each gradually.
- Chunks of soft fruit (banana, peeled apple, melons)
- Small strip or pieces of cooked veggies (carrots, broccoli)
- Bread and rice cakes
- Dry cereals
- Hard cheese (cut into tiny cubes)
- Well cooked pasta, cut to smaller sizes if necessary
Your baby will often feel thirsty when eating, and this is a good time to introduce a baby cup. Cups are better for your child’s teeth and speech development. If you plan to offer him juice, make sure to dilute it with 3 parts water and 1 part juice, and limit the juice portion to around 4 fluid ounces. You should still be giving him at least 17 fl oz of milk a day (or 2 to 3 full breast feedings).
Aside from the list of finger foods above, your baby is ready to partake in many of your family meals, so long as salt and sugar have not been added. To simplify things, make sure your baby is getting at least one protein-filled food a day, a portion of fruit, a portion of veggies and some starchy foods as well. This may also be a safe time to introduce food containing gluten (such as wheat breads and pastas), so long as there is no history of allergies in your family.
Here is a range of safe foods to offer your growing baby:
- Fruits – seedless grapes (cut in half), melons, strawberries, seedless oranges and tangerines, chunks of pear, bananas (high value food!)
- Vegetables – green beans, cucumbers, corn, peas, mushrooms, squash, onions
- Starchy foods – rice, noodles, pastas, breads, oatmeal, breakfast cereals
- Protein rich foods – beans, poultry, eggs, boneless fish, cheese, red meat
Note: Some experts suggest only feeding the egg yolk to your child, as this is the part that is highly nutritious. Also, the egg white is more likely to elicit an allergic reaction.
Read more on Foods to Avoid
