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Weaning: The best finger foods to offer babies

There are endless possibilities with finger food.
There are endless possibilities with finger food.

Weaning is the process of introducing babies to food while withdrawing their supply of milk.

But what are the best kinds of finger foods you can offer your little one as they literally get to grips with new tastes and a sensory experience?

The best finger foods are those that can be cut into pieces that are big enough for your baby to hold in their fist, and stick out of the top of it.

Health officials recommend that pieces about the size of your own finger work well.

The perfect bite-sized examples.

What finger foods to serve up to baby

Weaning foods should not contain added salt, sugar, artificial colours, flavours, sweeteners or preservatives.

They can be easily made at home from soft or cooked fruits and vegetables, and baby rice.

Soft finger foods will encourage your baby to feed themselves, but what is the best thing to plate up for your child?

Here are some of the top finger foods which can be given to babies as part of weaning.

A Little baby eating her dinner and making a mess.

Fingers of toast

Easy to make at home and, depending on allergies, you can add a little bit of butter or cheese.

Weaning can be a fun and messy adventure for babies.

Soft-cooked vegetables

Stems of broccoli or cauliflower or any other suitable vegetable might not sound like the most exciting meal but it is a sensory experience for little ones.

Food glorious food!

Cooked pasta shapes

These do not need to be covered in any kind of sauce and the different shapes available will mean your baby will love picking them up.

Weaning traditionally starts at six months.

Oatcakes

This Scottish staple can prove a hit with little ones as part of the weaning process.  You can even buy mini oatcakes for tiny hands.

Weaning is another step in your baby’s development.

Chunks of banana

Cutting bananas into finger-sized sticks is the best way to serve these initially.  Although the slippery texture may put some babies off.

A picture of a new
Babies love different textures.

Individual cereal shapes

Cheerios make an ideal finger food although any similar kind of cereal could work.

Little baby eating a meal.

Pieces of cooked chicken

These pieces should be small enough for your baby to pick up and eat.

Make sure that chicken or any other meat is cooked thoroughly before serving to your baby.

Vegetable sticks and pasta make ideal finger foods for baby.

Carrot or cucumber sticks

These are easily prepared and their shape means baby can easily hold them and eat away without any issues.

Weaning is a process of trial and error for babies and parents.

Cheese puffs

These are a popular snack with adults never mind babies.  Puffs in all kinds of flavours are available for little ones.

This list is based on weaning advice issued by NHS Grampian which can be found here.

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