Best Finger Foods for Babies and Toddlers

Pediatricians generally recommend introducing finger foods to children some time between six and twelve months of age. In addition to expanding your child's pallate and nutritional profile, bite-sized finger foods help to develop the fine motor skills necessary for picking up and manipulating small objects.

Many grown-up foods, including nuts, egg, candies, and raw vegetables, are dangerous to young children because they present a choking hazard, are nutrionally inadequate, and/or have the potential to induce allergies. The following alternative finger foods are nutritionally balanced and safe for children who are just learning to feed themselves:

Cooked Apple

Apples are ideal early finger foods because they are packed with vitamin C, potassium, fiber, and other important nutrients and minerals. Their naturally sweet flavor is a treat to children who crave sugar or have a high caloric need, and they readily address some of the more common deficiencies of infancy (fiber and vitamin C).

Apples should not be given as raw finger foods to children under two to three years of age. Because finger-food apple bits don't soften readily when in contact with saliva, they can be a very serious choking hazard and should only be given as finger foods when well-cooked to a soft, putty-like consistency.

Banana Slices

As a finger food, bananas have a great advantage over apples because they can only be bitten off in easy-to-swallow bites, and they soften readily in Baby's mouth. Loaded with potassium and fiber like apples, they also have the additional advantage of containing omega-3 fats, vitamin B6, and a slightly higher concentration of protein, making them an ideal finger food for babies and toddlers.

Bananas are slightly sweeter than apples and are the equivalent of candy for some children. They may encourage your child to take enthusiastically to finger foods because they suit the tastes of many very picky eaters. Although they pose less of a choking hazard than many other foods, always supervise your child when he or she is eating finger foods.

Whole-Wheat Bread

Bite-sized slices of whole-wheat bread are another ideal finger food for babies and toddlers because they are very soft and present almost no risk of becoming a choking hazard (again, though, always let your child eat finger foods only with supervision). Whole-wheat bread has a high concentration of fiber, minerals, and healthy carbohydrates, and can help your child feel comfortable eating non-sweet adult finger foods.

White bread should not be given to young children because it digests inadequately and provides few nutritional benefits. Like white sugar, white bread raises blood-glucose levels quickly and then causes them to drop just as fast, which may make young children prone to tantrums and fussiness. White bread also contains much less fiber and may cause constipation or related issues if it is used as a first finger food.

Many other finger foods may also be ideal for your child, especially if they are plant-sourced, hypoallergenic, and (perhaps most importantly) approved by your pediatrician. Always talk to your child's doctor before making any additions to your infant's diet, including finger foods, and report any adverse reactions promptly.

The introduction of finger foods can be an exciting step in your child's development, but it can also be frightening, nutritionally unsound, or even dangerous if steps aren't taken to ensure the proper choice of early finger foods.