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Finger foods
Self-feeding gives babies a little independence
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A generation ago, babies often started on solid foods as early as six weeks. Given their lack of coordination, spooning in some puréed fruit or soupy cereal was the only option.
But today, parents are advised to start solid foods at around six months. And that means babies are ready to do at least some of the feeding themselves.
In fact, some experts recommend letting baby take charge of the feeding process by giving her some finger foods. Gill Rapley, co-author of Baby-Led Weaning: Helping Your Baby to Love Good Food, suggests that when babies feed themselves chunky foods, they are less likely to overeat and to become picky eaters later.
Even the Canadian Paediatric Society, which suggests starting with puréed foods at six months, encourages parents to introduce finger foods by eight or nine months.
Dietitian Natalie Brown, of White Rock, BC, explains that grabbing food in their hands and stuffing it into their mouths is important developmentally. “Self-feeding allows the baby to feel in control, to be more confident about trying new things, learn about textures and develop better coordination.”
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