If you’re moving toward finger foods, the question becomes: how big is safe?
For 6-8 months, think long and soft.
Babies this age use a palmar grasp (their whole hand), not a neat pincer grip yet. So food should be cut into pieces about the size and shape of two adult fingers- easy to grab, sturdy enough to hold, and soft enough to squish between your fingers.
Think:
• Steamed carrot sticks
• Thick wedges of roasted sweet potato
• Broccoli florets with a “handle”
• Soft strips of omelette
Avoid small, round, hard pieces. These are the same shape as their airways, so we want all food going in to be ripped off from a long piece of food, so they can manage the shapes all on their own.
You’re not aiming for perfect bites, you’re supporting skill-building.
Messy is welcome here. 🧡
