There’s a whole culinary world waiting outside that jar of baby food — and your little one is ready to dig in. Here’s the thing, though. The truth is that those early teeth won’t cut it when it comes to chewing — they’re really made for biting — and even once the molars appear, you won’t be able to count on her for thorough chewing.
Choking can be avoided now by sticking to foods that are soft enough to gum or cut up small enough to swallow without chewing — and by enforcing a no-eating-on-the-run policy. Don't give your baby nuts or raw veggies or anything hard or sticky. It’s also a very good idea to supervise your little one whenever she’s eating and to know how to handle a choking incident — just in case.
Stick to soft foods or small, bite-sized pieces. Now that we’ve gotten that vital safety protocol out of the way, it’s definitely time to stop worrying and start experimenting. Babies at this age can — and should — be offered a variety of foods they can handle by hand or, more specifically, with their five fingers.
Experiment with baby-safe finger foods. So bring on the finger foods — including foods you’re feeding the family, as appropriate. Try bite-sized pieces of whole wheat waffle or French toast, small chunks of ripe melon or mango, banana, or cooked fruit, flakes of soft fish, minced chicken, cut up meatballs cooked in tomato sauce, soft-cooked whole grain pasta, shredded cheese, ripe avocado, tofu, soft-steamed vegetables, soft sweet potato wedges. Whole milk cottage cheese, yogurt, oatmeal, soft-scrambled egg yolks — you can even experiment with different spices — a mild curry, a little garlic, a touch of cinnamon. Some babies like it spicy!
Start now instead of later. Here’s another reason to broaden your little one’s culinary horizon now — hold off too long, and she’ll get set in her eating ways (and less open to opening up wide for new dining experiences).
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