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EWmums

EWfood

ewmoda

Introducing Finger Foods

157

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 24 August 2011 - 22:05

DS is 7.5 months now and I'm really starting to worry about introducing finger foods to him. I'm currently mashing his food with a fork so he's getting used to eating foods with a more lumpy texture. I'm just so worried about him chocking that I'm scared to introduce finger food!

Could you please share some tips on what to offer, size of the food I should be offering etc? When should I start him on these as well?

TIA

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kiwispiers15400

2782

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 26 August 2011 - 12:27

yup, DD once decided to eat a fistful of crusty bread, munched it twice and tried to swallow... brought it back up and quite deftly didn't allow it out of her mouth, so just chewed it a bit more and swallowed when she was ready! Anyhow, a couple of things on what's been said... - don't poke your fingers down your child's throat if they seem to be choking - this could push it further in. There are several ways to get them coughing it up and I'd suggest looking online and familiarising yourself with them. - try really, really hard not to show your anxiety. This is almost a sure-fire way to pass on your fear to your child who will start worrying about something that's perfectly natural... and that worry, in your child, will take the form of refusing to eat, pretend gagging, fussiness, etc... - if you personally don't like eating something that you've given your child, don't let that show on your face. I've seen people grimace every time their child eats fish, for example, or make comments on how horrid sprouts are when a child is scoffing them quite happily. Again, children will copy the behaviour of adults in their company, so make sure all your food-related attitudes are open, happy and inquisitive. Enjoy the process. Mess can be cleaned up, it's no big deal. Mealtimes are more than pure nutrition - they are important social focus points and most of your child's good manners will come from the table. agree agree agree ;) Especially on the calm happy face, babies instinctively look to you to see if a food is safe, my friend's baby was permanently put off eggs when her father (who hates eggs) fed her one day. If they gag you need to very chirpily tell them they're ok, and do watch a youtube clip on how to deal with true choking or preferably do a first aid course.

Hello.Again.Kitty

1861

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 26 August 2011 - 02:28

yup, DD once decided to eat a fistful of crusty bread, munched it twice and tried to swallow... brought it back up and quite deftly didn't allow it out of her mouth, so just chewed it a bit more and swallowed when she was ready! Anyhow, a couple of things on what's been said... - don't poke your fingers down your child's throat if they seem to be choking - this could push it further in. There are several ways to get them coughing it up and I'd suggest looking online and familiarising yourself with them. - try really, really hard not to show your anxiety. This is almost a sure-fire way to pass on your fear to your child who will start worrying about something that's perfectly natural... and that worry, in your child, will take the form of refusing to eat, pretend gagging, fussiness, etc... - if you personally don't like eating something that you've given your child, don't let that show on your face. I've seen people grimace every time their child eats fish, for example, or make comments on how horrid sprouts are when a child is scoffing them quite happily. Again, children will copy the behaviour of adults in their company, so make sure all your food-related attitudes are open, happy and inquisitive. Enjoy the process. Mess can be cleaned up, it's no big deal. Mealtimes are more than pure nutrition - they are important social focus points and most of your child's good manners will come from the table.

123

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 25 August 2011 - 21:50

top tip - just do it! second top tip - always supervise him. That's about it really. Babies have incredible gag reflexes and so will cough up anything that they were a bit too hasty to swallow. I once went to a seminar of resuscitation and the paramedic said that in all his 20+ years of doing his job, not once has he had to deal with a child that had choked on food. I always find that ricecakes are a good snack because they are finger food, but break down in the mouth. Pieces of fruit too (without pips/ stones), grapes cut in half... steamed veg... sausages. Basically pretty much anything. I completely agree on the gag reflex. My son used to be extremely greedy when we started out with fingerfoods and my heart stopped a few times when he just swallowed without even attempting to chew, but after a few dramatic gag sessions I saw that he wont choke because of the strong reflex so I learned to relax. Just try everything that is chewable or melts in the mouth. The first thing I tried was a rusk, the kind that melted in his mouth just to be sure. After that steamed apples and from there on anything my mother instinct and common sense deemed safe.

157

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 25 August 2011 - 19:34

Thank you for the tips ladies :) I gave him some avocado tonight, he ate a wee bit but gagged and spat out the rest of it. Slowly, slowly...just can't believe we're getting ready for finger foods now. They grow up too fast!

587

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 25 August 2011 - 16:34

In addition to the great suggestions below my DS (8 mo) is eating: orange segments, watermelon, toast, cream cheese and avocado sandwiches, pasta such as fusilli and spaghetti and chunks of meat such as chicken or steak ( munches and sucks on these). Mind you the dog seems to eat more than he does, stationed loyally at the base of his highchair so I do give him some purees as DS is a big boy and I worry that he is not eating enough!

743

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 25 August 2011 - 14:58

My DS is 13 months and gagged and would throw up on any type of food that was not puree. Lately we find he's happier feeding himself bits of food. But I need ideas. He's the type that would try to stuff the whole thing in his mouth.

kiwispiers15400

2782

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 25 August 2011 - 14:14

there are 2 schools of thought on the size of finger foods, a bigger food they can handle themselves and bite pieces off, which is possibly safer than something they can stuff fully into their mouth, then again, mine has been known to stuff 3/4 of a banana into his mouth. I generally held things like banana for him and let Ben take a bite himself, but he is a bit of a pansy when it comes to getting his hands sticky. Don't just give dry foods like biscuits and rice crackers, they can develop a bit of a preference and generally (even if they are organic) they are not super nutritious for them to fill up on. As said below, SUPERVISED eating, don't give a biscuit etc while he is playing and you are chatting to other mums, don't leave the room. Gagging is noisy, choking is silent :( If he does start to gag, the hardest (but safest) thing is you need to sit back and give him a chance to sort it himself, rather than frantically sticking your fingers in his mouth or thumping his back, they all gag from time to time and generally just cough it out and then eat it again, (or vomit all over their clothes when you are out and forgot to bring a change) Good first finger foods, are very well cooked carrot cut into french fry type strips, broccoli, cauliflower, soft fruit (papaya, mango etc). I gave things like grapes and meat later on when he was better at chewing. Have fun xx

494

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 25 August 2011 - 13:10

For veggies we steamed them quite soft so they would basically fall apart in your hands. DS Loves the little carrots you can get at spinneys that are already packed and they are about the size of his fingers (well, a bit bigger) but they are the baby carrots. These have made fantastic finger food and they mush easily with their gums.

157

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 25 August 2011 - 12:45

Thanks HAK. I just let him have one of those baby milk biscuits and he was very chuffed at feeding himself. Big smiles from him while I'm on the edge of my seat nervous as anything! Sounds silly, but I'm a bit of a worry wort :) Do I need to cut the steamed veg into small pieces or let him gum off bits?

Hello.Again.Kitty

1861

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 24 August 2011 - 22:36

top tip - just do it! second top tip - always supervise him. That's about it really. Babies have incredible gag reflexes and so will cough up anything that they were a bit too hasty to swallow. I once went to a seminar of resuscitation and the paramedic said that in all his 20+ years of doing his job, not once has he had to deal with a child that had choked on food. I always find that ricecakes are a good snack because they are finger food, but break down in the mouth. Pieces of fruit too (without pips/ stones), grapes cut in half... steamed veg... sausages. Basically pretty much anything.

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