Finding His Own Way
As your baby continues to grow, he will advance from smooth baby food to mashed food, chopped table food, and finally finger foods and eating with a spoon. Things are about to get interesting!
Here are some finger food suggestions that make mealtime fun and nutritious:
Grains: pasta, iron-fortified breakfast cereal, graham crackers, whole grain or fiber-fortified crackers
Fruit: avocado, banana or melon cubes
Vegetables: cooked chopped vegetables like carrots, broccoli, cauliflower or green beans
Protein/calcium Foods: cooked beans, chopped egg yolks, calcium-fortified tofu cubes, cheese cubes
Spoon It Up!
Your child may or may not have already shown some interest in using a spoon before age 9 months. Either way, give him plenty of chances to practice. It will take time for him to figure out the best way to grip the spoon and how to get food on the spoon without using his hands. Consider choosing mashed foods that will stay in the spoon long enough for him to get it to his mouth.
As your child gets better at using a spoon, experiment with breakfast cereal. Studies show children who have a habit of eating breakfast cereal have healthier body weights and get better nutrition than children who don’t. Kellogg’s® Rice Krispies® is a great choice when trying out cereal and milk for the first time. With just the right amount of milk, you’ll get a nice consistency that will stay in the spoon a little longer than other cereals. Its light taste offers the option of adding your child’s favorite fruit — and let’s not forget the fun of watching your child try to figure out where that snap, crackle and pop sound is coming from!
Foods To Avoid
Compared to when he was a newborn, your child can do a lot of things. But remember he is still learning how to safely eat and drink without choking. Avoid foods that can get stuck in his throat like nuts, hotdogs, raisins, hard raw vegetables or peanut butter.
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