How To Serve Finger Foods To Babies, Featuring All-New Products from KeaBabies

Introducing finger food to babies can be fun and exciting, but parents should be aware of common concerns.

Food Allergies, Intolerances, and Choking Hazards

Be aware of common food allergies and signs of intolerance. Common allergens to watch out for in baby finger foods are eggs, fish, peanuts, tree nuts, dairy, and sesame. Consult your child's doctor before you start finger foods.

Signs of potential allergies include skin rashes, swelling, and breathing changes. If your family has a history of food allergies, bring this up with your baby's doctor.

Choosing foods that are naturally soft can be helpful in avoiding hazards, although babies can still gag and choke on seemingly soft foods. Certain foods, like whole nuts and whole grapes, hot dogs and other round objects, and foods that are hard, chewy, and sticky, present a choking risk.

Always supervise your baby when they eat table food!

Healthy Options for Baby Finger Foods 

Parents can avoid choking hazards by choosing soft foods and learning how to properly prepare and serve finger foods to their baby.

Fruits and Vegetables 

• Soft, ripe fruits like ripe bananas, avocados, and peaches are great finger foods for babies.

• Steamed or cooked vegetables like sweet potatoes, carrots, and green beans are also nutritious options.

• A good rule is to cut fruits and vegetables into small pieces (small, not round) or strips to reduce the risk of choking.

Proteins and Whole Grains 

• Scrambled eggs, mashed black beans, and cooked chicken are great protein sources for babies.

• Whole grains like brown rice, quinoa, and whole wheat bread are nutritious and easy to digest.

• Protein-rich dairy products like shredded cheese, which is easy to grasp, or cottage cheese, which can give your baby a chance to practice spoon-feeding.

• Meat is a good source of protein, as long as you supervise baby as they feed themself.

Healthy Snacks and Treats 

What are some healthier, but still tasty, first finger foods?

• Mashed banana, mashed avocado, and yogurt are healthy snack options for little ones.

• Cut-up fruits and vegetables, like apples and carrots, make great finger food snacks for older toddlers.

• Avoid giving babies sugary or processed food.

Soft and Easy-to-Chew Options 

• Mashed banana, mashed avocado, and scrambled eggs are soft and easy to chew. This can also help them try new textures.

• Cooked pasta, cooked chicken, and cooked vegetables are also great options. These are easy for a baby's fingers to bring to their mouth.

• Cut-up fruits and vegetables, like apples and carrots, make great finger food snacks, as long as your baby can chew them properly.

• Even without teeth, babies are able to eat many finger foods - and not just soft food! Many foods dissolve easily, but a baby's gums are strong too, whether they have 6 teeth or none!

• If your baby gags on new foods, avoid the urge to use your thumb to fish food out of their mouth. This can push the food dangerously further into their mouth, restricting their airway. A baby's gag reflex is helpful to allow them to avoid swallowing and choking on large chunks of food.

Nutritious and Wholesome Choices 

What are some great things to serve to a baby that won't be a choking hazard?

• Mashed sweet potatoes, brown rice, and quinoa are nutritious and wholesome finger food options.

• Need a meat option? Cooked chicken, turkey, ground beef, and fish are great protein sources for a baby. Just pay attention to serving sizes.

• Cut-up whole grains, like whole wheat bread, make great finger food snacks. Lightly toasted bread with some nut butter spread on top can be a simple snack, as long as your baby doesn't have a risk of allergies.

How to Encourage Healthy Eating Habits, Using KeaBabies Feeding Products In Your Home

When your child is learning to eat new food, parents should use only the best products on the market. KeaBabies is there to support busy parents as they introduce their babies to finger food.

Offering a Variety of Nutritious Options

Parents should offer a variety of nutritious finger foods to ensure their baby gets a balanced diet. Mix and match different foods to create a variety of flavors and textures. For example, you can prepare sweet potato fries with a hummus dip on the side as a simple meal.

Prioritizing Baby’s Safety and Development

Your baby’s safety is a priority. By introducing finger foods at the right time and supervising mealtime, you can help your baby get off to a great start with self-feeding.

Cut finger foods into small, manageable pieces to reduce the risk of choking. Watch the size of pieces of food that are going into your baby's mouth when she's eating. Avoid hard foods, like raw carrots, chewy granola bars, whole nuts, and sticky foods that can be hard to chew.

Making Mealtime a Positive Experience

Make mealtime a positive experience by engaging with your baby and making mealtime fun. Encourage your child to feed themself as they learn independence with first finger foods.

How KeaBabies Can Make The Feeding Experience Easier For Busy Parents

If you're looking for great new products to help make feeding your baby easier, check out these two all-new products from KeaBabies!

KeaBabies Lil’ Prep Baby Fork & Spoon

The all-new KeaBabies Lil’ Prep Baby Fork & Spoon sets are the perfect addition to any baby feeding routine - especially when starting finger foods and self-feeding skills!

These baby spoons and forks come in packs of 4 and are made from 100% food grade, BPA free soft silicone, making them sturdy and durable enough for a baby to use to grab small pieces of food! Crafted with tiny hands in mind, these baby food utensils are ideal for infants and toddlers ages 6-18 months. They are not choking hazards, as they are designed with an anti-choke barrier and ergonomic grip handle.

These spoons and forks are perfect for helping your baby pick up small pieces of food. They are easy to clean, dishwasher safe, and the ideal way for parents to keep meal times hassle-free.

The utensils come in 10 different color sets, making it easy for parents to choose the variety they like the most. These utensils will help keep your baby engaged while they are eating, and are the perfect parenting product to help your baby develop their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.

KeaBabies Prep Silicone Suction Bowls

The KeaBabies Prep Silicone Suction Bowls are another great item for parents preparing small portions of food for their little ones. These bowls are made from food grade, BPA free silicone. They have non-toxic suction bottoms and leakproof lids to prevent spills. Even better, they are safe for the microwave, dishwasher, and freezer.

These suction bowls are perfect for serving small pieces of food or small portions of meals. The suction is powerful, to prevent your baby from spilling their food. It can stick to table tops and high chair trays.

These bowls were created for tiny fingers, with no sharp edges and an infant-safe design. The easy-scoop design of the Prep Silicone Suction Bowls make mealtime simpler for little ones. As you are cooking, think about ideas for how you can serve baby-safe portions of your meals to your little one using the KeaBabies Prep Silicone Suction Bowls!

These silicone bowls come in many vibrant, gender-neutral colors. There are 10 different color sets to choose from. Each set comes with 2 suction bowls and 2 lids - perfect for leftovers or meal prep! These are a must-have item for parents, whether you are cooking a meal at home or are enjoying food on the go. 

Finger foods for babies can be fun, especially using the new KeaBabies Lil’ Prep Baby Fork & Spoon and Prep Silicone Suction Bowls. 

Encourage your baby to eat new finger foods by offering baby-safe meals and having fun with the process. Even with few teeth, or no teeth, your baby can learn to chew foods and enjoy delicious meals. Mealtime can be a positive experience for everyone using the all-new Lil’ Prep Baby Fork & Spoon and Prep Silicone Suction Bowls from KeaBabies.