So, Rachel has recently started to refuse the usual jars of baby food she was having in favour of 'finger foods' which she can feed herself. Although her teeth are only just coming through she likes to munch on jam sandwiches, toast, baby snacks (organic carrot sticks and rusks etc) and fish fingers. She is only 9 months old but is very definitely wanting 'proper food' now.

So, what do you feed kids at this stage ? she cannot quite co-ordinate spoon to mouth yet (not with food on anyway) so I need ideas for things which she can give herself if she wants to and which will excite her if I feed her.

She loves fruit, banana, apple, kiwi, oranges but I don't know what to give her next. There is so much processed junk around now which I want to avoid that I am a bit stuck for inspiration.

:help: thanks all.

Ieuan is 9 months too and exactly the same.

He loves sandwiches of any variety, he has cheese spread, thinly sliced chicken or ham.
He really likes scrambled egg with toast soldiers (I try not to scramble too much, if that makes sense???) he likes to pick up pieces of egg himself.

He has the occasional jaffa cake, and pieces of cheese (the ones they sell pre packed for kids in morrisons).

He stole a large piece of cold yorkshire pud the other day and polished the lot off in a flash!!

I think it's just trial and error really, there hasn't been anything so far that he has had a problem with tbh.

Ooh eggs ! I never thought of that ! I think I might have to try her with an omlette (chopped up small of course).

Yorkshire pud sounds good too, maybe some small pancakes.....

Keep the ideas coming, I am feeling rather dumb at the moment so I need all the help I can get.

Thank you !!

Anything that can be picked up in lumps - pieces of fish, veg, sausages - works OK.

But it's not a bad time to start on the cutlery game. The trick is to get the texture of things just sticky enough that swiping the spoon into the plate picks some up. Mashed potato and soft cheese is a good one, and not too messy. Instant mash can be added to almost anything to make it the right level of gloopiness, but some things are a bit messy even so - spinach and fish is one such :-(

Why not try things like spag bol etc, I kno its not traditional finger food but im sure yr LO wont mind shoveling it in with her hands. You could give her the first couple of spoonfulls and then leave her to try with the spoon or use her hands, I know its messy but if she enjoys it... You could also do the same with mild curry/chilli and rice.

Ideas for you to try


Fish Pie
Cauliflower, pasta and cheese
Leek ham and potato bake
Spaghetti Bolognese
Sausage caserole
Pitta Breads, toasted with cheese, ham, lettuce, e.tc
cheesey muffins
Spaghetti and toast
Rice cakes
jacket potatoes
Crackers


I know a lot of the list isn't finger food, have you tried giving her a spoon whilst you have one and you feed Baby together?

Also i know a lot of the food sounds like they wouldn't be able to manage it but you'd be surprised!

HTH

when my daughter was about that age she loved any steamed veg, brocoli is good for little hands and pasta shapes with some grated cheese

Our girls had a passion for hash of all things! Potato wedges, spiral pasta, all veg, breadsticks, cooled toasties.
There's another thread loitering somewhere with baby recipes, have a look and you might find a few bits which could be useful.

Lewis at 7 1/2 months LOVES :love: yorkshire puds with a passion! He now has a dairylea sandwich, some kind of fruit and a fromage frais everyday.

I'll be watching this thread with a close eye for further suggestions for when he is a little older :)

Prawns and fish sticks! The kids see them like sweets. I know fish sticks are a little processed, well a LOT processed, but there's nothing in them of harm. My 1 and 3 yr old also like things like chicken wings . . .

A great rule I use is - what do I like for munchies, that are healthy and nutritius and small. Kids always seem to like the same thing.

(Though I'm still smarting from taking them to the turkish restaraunt on London rd and buying the mixed kebab. One lovely, solitary lamb cutlet that had my name on it had to be passed on to one of my brats . . . and the little sod drank my turkish tea!)