Learning to Self-Feed Infants
Learning to Self-Feed With the introduction of solid foods, young children begin to learn how to handle food and how to feed themselves. At six to seven months, infants can use their whole hand to pick up items (this is known as the palmer grasp). They can lift larger items, but picking up smaller pieces of food is difficult. At eight months, a child might be able to use a pincer grasp, which uses fingers to pick up objects.19 Serve food that is soft and mashed. Cut food into small pieces (cubes no larger than 1/4 inch) or thin slices that your baby can easily chew and swallow. Avoid high-risk choking foods such as small, slippery foods; dry foods that are hard to chew or sticky; and tough foods. 20
Finger Foods Here are some good food choices for self-feeding children:
Soft cooked vegetables
Washed and peeled fruits
Graham crackers
Melba toast
Noodles
Soft cooked vegetables
Washed and peeled fruits
Graham crackers
Melba toast
Noodles Here are foods to avoid as they are a choking hazard:
Apple chunks or slices
Grapes
Berries
Raisins
Dry flake cereals
Hot dogs
Sausages
Peanut butter
Popcorn
Nuts
Seeds
Round candies
