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
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1 Beri // Jan 20, 2011 at 3:47 pm
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