Finger Foods: Cut Up or Whole?

My LOs are starting to get interested in finger foods. They can self-feed cheese, puffs and Cheerios. I'd like to try some other finger foods, such as breads, fruits, and veggies. I know a lot of people cut finger foods up into small pieces.

Is any one doing baby-led weaning, where a lot of foods are offered whole? My main concern is choking. (The baby-led weaning proponents say there is less of a risk of choking with their method because the baby controls how big of a bite she takes).

Do you offer finger foods whole or only cut up into small pieces?

Which ones do you offer whole?

 

If I wanted to offer them something whole, I did it in the mesh feeder (unless it was a Baby Mum Mum cookie). I didn't start offering whole pieces until about 15/16 months.

 

I always cut things up. I have offered things whole at a young age & they will bite off some pretty big bites. I felt much safer cutting their food into appropriate sized bites.

 

I cut mine up and they shove 5 cut up pieces in their mouths ardon: They chew it up well maybe I should offer whole pieces?

 

I did not start offering whole pieces until they were about 16 months. Mine were big fans of stuffing their mouths, especially when they were starting out on more and more finger foods.

 

I always cut it up, my kids always take too big of bites (still do sometimes! ), and then end up choking!

 

I think it depends on the food and the child. For the most part, I cut things up into manageable pieces. Toast into fingers; quesidillas into small triangles; fruit into small chunks; green beans in small rectangles; peas and blueberries in half or squashed; etc. I give them one piece a time or small portions to make certain that they do not cram a bunch of food into their mouths. GL!

 

in the beginning i did cut things up pretty small, like others DS is a stuffer and will cram tons of food in there so i felt better that they were at least small pieces. i am now starting to give things in larger pieces/strips but they will still sometimes take too large of a bite and it freaks me out. i'm not sure that they realize how big of a bite they are taking because sometimes they seem suprised to have so much food in their mouths.. i would probably err on the side of caution..

 

I agree. I don't give many things whole (maybe something like a small strawberry I would) but I don't cut stuff into really small pieces either. For example a slice of toast I would cut into six pieces-divided into 3rds lengthways and then halved, 1/2 a pear would get cut lengthways into about eight strips, with bananas I cut the length I want then break down the seed line to get three bits. My lot seemed to find it quite hard to pick up/hold onto small bits anyway, they always did much better with things cut into strips or chunks. Then they can hold the food easily and have some sticking out of their hand to munch on. They don't bite too much off in one go, and if they start cramming I just remove all the other pieces and don't give them back until the food in their mouth has been swallowed.
We had the mesh feeders too, those are great to start off with if you're a little nervous or want to see how they do.

Just go with you instincts and knowledge of your own babies.

 

I just gave them some little pieces of watermelon and they both gagged quite a bit on the pieces. Does that mean they are not ready for finger foods (other than cheese, puffs and Cherrios)?

I just gave them some little pieces of watermelon and they both gagged quite a bit on the pieces. Does that mean they are not ready for finger foods (other than cheese, puffs and Cherrios)?

 

It might just be the texture...mine gagged on jello the other day but can squish 3 cheerios down enough to chew and swallow. I would offer it again and if they continue to gag leave it be and try when they are older....maybe try some peas.

 

I agree it could just be the texture. If they can chew up cheese they should be able to chew watermelon. Maybe the pieces were just slipping to the backs of their mouths before they got a chance to chew. You could try giving them a bigger piece they could hold onto and chomp at. Or get some mesh feeders, I always liked those for slippy friuts because they didn't need to be able to hold onto the fruit, just the holder.

Edited to fix link