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Starting Solids

Foods for Little Fingers

By Jessica Williams

If you are unsure if your baby will be able to "gum" down a food, try putting it in your mouth and smashing it between your tongue and the roof of your mouth. If that cracker doesn't turn to mush in a reasonable amount of time, your baby may have a hard time with it until he has negotiated finger foods for a while. You may also want to peel fruit, thoroughly cook vegetables and offer small portions.

Introducing juice at this age is common. Try to keep juice down to about four ounces a day. Anything more than that can interfere with taking more important calories. Stick with juices that are made from 100-percent juice (those without "corn syrup" or "fructose") and consider delaying citrus juices to reduce the risk of allergies.

Be sure your child is always seated when eating, keep close to the highchair, and limit the amount of food on your baby's tray so that he doesn't try to shove it all in his mouth at once. Try to get your baby to imitate you by eating your own finger foods in front of him. Most of all, take it slowly and recognize when something is too difficult for baby to chew or swallow.