15 Finger Foods For A 6 Month Old Baby

Has your little one already started purees, and now you’re wondering what to use as finger foods for a 6 month old baby? Or maybe you’re skipping the purees and want to try baby led weaning instead? Knowing which finger foods to feed your baby can be a worrisome problem for parents. Here we list 15 safe finger foods for a 6 month old baby.

15 Finger Foods For A 6 Month Old Baby

1. Sweet Potato, Pumpkin & Carrots

While you might think of these three veggies as perfect for purees, they also make great finger foods too. For the best results you can steam or roast these and then either roughly mash them or cut them into small pieces. The veggies should be soft to touch, but not too mushy. Sweet potato, pumpkin and carrots are rich in protein, beta-carotene, and vitamin C.

2. Avocado

Avocados are a rich source of potassium and omega-3 fatty acids which are said to help boost your baby’s brain development. They are a great finger food for a 6 month old baby, but make sure they are perfectly ripe and soft, so your baby doesn’t hurt their tiny mouth.

3. Bananas

Bananas are also a rich source of potassium and omega-3 fatty acids. They are also super easy to prepare; just peel a ripe banana and cut into small pieces!

4. Broccoli & Cauliflower Florets

To get the most nutrients out of your broccoli or cauliflower florets, steam or roast them until soft, and, of course, cut them into small pieces. Be careful not to overcook them as then they will turn to mush. Broccoli and cauliflower are good sources of vitamin C which helps make your baby’s bones stronger.

5. Cooked Apples & Pears

Raw apples and pears may be too hard for a baby’s first finger foods. So it’s better to peel and chop the apples and pears into finger-sized wedges, just big enough for your baby to grasp. You can then steam the pieces for a few minutes so that they are soft enough for your baby’s mouth.

6. Pasta

Experts generally recommend introducing pasta at around 5 or 6 months of age. When it comes to cooking pasta for your baby, you’ll want to slightly overcook it so it’s nice and soft. To start, try small pasta shapes like orzo or mini shells, or cut up fusilli or penne. Initially serve it plain, but as your baby is introduced to more foods you can toss the pasta with a little butter, olive oil or a homemade, low-sodium tomato sauce.

7. Eggs

Doctors used to advise waiting until your baby was at least 1 year old before introducing eggs. However, the American Academy of Paediatrics now says that early exposure to eggs might help prevent food allergies in the future. So now you can whip up a soft omelette or some scrambled eggs that will make perfect first finger foods for a 6 month old baby.

8. Cheese

If your baby has shown no signs of a dairy allergy, then it’s perfectly safe to introduce cheese as early as 6 months. Cheese is a good source of protein and will help expose your baby to different sources of nutrients. Use mild flavour pre-sliced cheese or cut a mild cheddar into small cubes which your baby will love.

9. Toast

Since bread can be soft and chewy, and can stick to your baby’s mouth it’s best to toast bread first. The toast can be cut into manageable ‘fingers’ which your baby will love to ‘gum’ or chew on. Later you can add spreads such as hummus, cream cheese or avocado for a tastier snack.

10. Soft Fruits

When soft fruits such as peaches, plums, mango and apricot are ripe, they make perfect finger foods for a 6 month old baby. Make sure you remove any pips or stones and cut the fruit into small pieces. Very ripe fruit is naturally sweet which means your baby will be asking for more!

11. Melon

Ripe melon has a soft, watery texture that’s easy to bite into and swallow. Make sure you remove the seeds and serve ripe melon in small pieces to avoid any choking hazard. In addition, please be aware that if your baby does develop a rash that can be traced to melon, it is most likely due to the melon’s ‘acidity’ and not to any allergy.

12. Meat

After soft fruits and vegetables, diced chicken breast and ground beef are pediatrician-approved next-stage finger foods for your baby. Just make sure they’re thoroughly cooked and cut into very small pieces. Chicken and beef provide much needed protein for your baby.

13. Zucchini & Eggplant

Zucchini and eggplant can be introduced as soon as your baby is ready to eat solid foods. You can roast, boil, grill or steam zucchini and eggplant slices as first finger foods.

14. Baby Cereals & Puffs

Special baby cereals and puffs offer complex carbohydrates which can provide fibre. They also provide a variety of different textures, vitamin B, and more. Dry baby cereal and puffs are some of the most popular first finger foods for babies, as they let your baby practice the pincer grasp by picking up one at a time.

15. Tofu

Whether cooked or uncooked, tofu is an awesome plant-based source of protein, and a perfect first finger food for your baby. However, rather choose firm tofu, which is still quite soft, as opposed to soft or silken tofu, which will most likely fall apart in your baby’s hand and create a huge mess!

Tips For Feeding Finger Foods To A 6 Month Old Baby

Check the age recommendation on any recipe before feeding your baby.
Make sure you follow the 3 day rule when introducing new foods to be aware of any allergic reaction.
Always be in the room with your baby when they are eating.
With any new food, only introduce small amounts at a time.
Never force your baby to eat anything, and let them decide when they have had enough.
In case of any doubt, consult your doctor.

Finger food helps to give babies some control over what they eat and how much. Sometimes they’ll eat the food, sometimes not. But that’s all part of the process of learning self-regulation. Even little kids can tell when they’re hungry or full, so let them learn to recognize and respond to these cues.

For more information about what and when to introduce finger foods to your baby we have created a handy feeding schedule for a 6 month old baby for your convenience.

If you have any tips or can recommend any other finger foods for a 6 month old baby please feel free to comment below!

Reference:

Finger Foods for Babies – KidsHealth.org

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15 Finger Foods For A 6 Month Old Baby

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