girls with 7 month olds..or older..have a question

about if you started or when you started your baby on finger foods..i just got a baby center email that around 7-9 months you can start your baby on finger foods..dd wants to hold her own spoon when i feed her and totally looks at dh and i when we eat..but im scared to give her pasta or anything now..how is she going to know how to chomp instead of swallow a piece of chicken..what did you girls do.?

Re: girls with 7 month olds..or older..have a question

I started DS with finger foods about 3 weeks ago, so a little over 7 months. But he started mimicking us chewing he would mash his gums together at about 6 months. He's been fine with it.

Re: girls with 7 month olds..or older..have a question

If you are nervous, I would start with a very ripe banana and cut it up into bite sized pieces. Chewing is a natural motion for babies, it's the side sweeping the food with their tongues that they need to practice. Their gums are just as powerful as our teeth, so she will figure out the chewing. Just be prepared that there will be gagging. As long as you are watching her the whole time, she'll be fine.
I give Ava everything in bite size pieces now. She eats Cheerios, bananas, chicken, pasta, pastina, pears, apples, etc. Everything that I used to puree, I now give cut up. She loves it! It especially feels good when they're teething. HTH!

Re: girls with 7 month olds..or older..have a question

I started DD around 8 months with puffs and cherios, she just started to actually chew them, she still s u c k s on alot of her solid food. I gave her chicken the other day she didn't choke but i found them all on the roof of her mouth.

Like Rachel said, the hardest part for them is to get the hang of moving their tongue.
I say try some puffs, they disolve easily in their mouths and go from there.

There no specific time to actual start, i would go on your DC's cues and if they are ready or not.

Re: girls with 7 month olds..or older..have a question

Start with stuff that dissolves easily so while they are learning to chomp, it can get softer and easier to swallow. Puffs, soft cooked veggies, avocado pieces, banana. She will get it, with or without teeth but dont start with stuff that doesnt dissolve like pasta.

Re: girls with 7 month olds..or older..have a question

thanks so much! def a big help...i do think alexandra is ready for something else..ill def try a banana and some puffs

Re: girls with 7 month olds..or older..have a question

We started with cheerios. Now I give her most things cut up- like chicken. I just cut them very small.

My doctor suggesting cutting everything Julienne style- long and thin. She said it gives babies something to hold onto and its not likely they will choke on it (since its so thin).

Re: girls with 7 month olds..or older..have a question

We started around 6 1/2 months with Gerber Gradutes Puffs, they melt in there mouth. I have not given Olivia table foods yet. I am a little nervous to start that. I know she can chew and she does it well, but I am not ready for that yet!