Is it time for finger foods?

Since Danny turned 6 months I constantly come across mention of baby finger foods. I cannot possibly see how my LO could eat finger foods! Even now at 8 months he is not showing a very big interest in food. And if a smallest piece finds its way into his home-cooked puree, Danny gags and looks at me with big eyes. So what is the deal with finger food?

I decided to look into it.

I am reading online and in What To Expect that by 7-8ths month a baby should be able to eat finger food. In some sourced the age is 9 months. And here opinions divide! I read recommendations to encourage a baby to eat rougher consistency foods and finger foods because later on they will resist new experiences and insist on getting the food the way they are used to- pureed. Others say do not rush your baby, when a baby is ready he or she will show interest in food and will swallow little pieces without problem etc.

One of the signs that a baby is ready for finger food and self-feeding is when they learn “pincer grab” – grabbing objects with their forefinger and thumb. Danny has developed pincer grab already a long time ago!

So I am thinking to try introducing him to the safest and easiest finger food. The first choice for finger foods are those that baby can gum or that will dissolve in the mouth without chewing. According to What to Expect book such foods should be cut into “manageable cubes or chunks”. Unfortunately they don’t specify how big those cubes should be. I wish they did.
Here are some foods they mention in their list: whole-wheat bagel, whole-grain bread or toast, rice cakes or other crackers that become mushy in the mouth; oat circle cereal, wheat or rice puffs; tiny cubes of natural but pasteurized cheese (Cheddar, Swiss etc); chunks of ripe banana, very ripe pear, peach, apricot, cantaloupe, honeydew, or mango; small chunks of cooked-to-very-tender carrot, white or sweet potato, yam, broccoli, cauliflower (flowers only); fish in flakes soft meat balls, well cooked pasta…. and a couple others but I’ll stop here.

So reading this list I think I feel more or less brave to try a rice cake, banana, very ripe pear and very well cooked carrot. I wish I knew how big chunks or cubes should be so that a baby feels comfortable with it and does not choke. I guess baby finger food is way different from adult concept of finger food and should be cut into very small pieces…