I am pretty sure, it happened overnight !! 

One day sonny was slurping purees and soups happily and the next day  with mouth zipped up for blended foods and wanted to eat  “What you are eating !! ” 

Then realization struck me, ” Ah, Baby is ready for finger foods!!! ” I was so excited to start him on finger foods that we bought him all the accessories, high chair, bibs etc, but no clue on what to give him!! 
Just gave a him a piece of carrot to chew upon. 
Oh!! how he loved with munching and squishing the carrot with his mouth….and I started 9 month old finger food

There started my journey in search for finger foods and it is still on…..

When do I know my baby is ready for Finger Foods?

Babies usually are ready for finger foods between 7 to 9 months

1. Baby is able to sit upright.

2. Baby does not thrust the food out. (Tongue thrust reflex)

3. Baby has pincer grasp, so that the food can be held in their fingers.

4. When the baby achieves hand eye co-ordination, so that they can pick the food and put in their mouth.

5. Even if the baby has no teeth, finger foods can be given as they can gnaw and squash the food with their strong gums.

What is an ideal Finger Food ?

1.The guide to the perfect size of the finger food will be the size of the baby’s fist and preferably chip shaped.

2.For slippery foods like banana coat the food with rice flour or wheat flour.

3. The finger food should be cooked in such a consistency that is easily mashable between the gums.


What can be given as finger food?

 Vegetables and Fruits make the best finger foods followed by chicken, cheese and bread.

So we start with veggies first, next article will be of the fruity delights!!!

This can be given after 8 month and serve as finger food 9 month old. Stay tuned for the upcoming articles…..

Vegetable Finger Foods for Babies

 

I.  Carrot Finger Foods for Babies

Carrots are the first food for babies and they are also the first ideal finger food too. They are versatile foods that taste great alone and also combined with other veggies too…

1. Steamed Carrot Sticks

Wash, peel and cut the carrot into thick sticks and steam them so that they are mashable. Cool the sticks and mix them with a spray of pepper powder.

2.  Baked Carrot Sticks

Wash, peel and cut the carrot into thick sticks, drizzle a few drops of oil (vegetable or coconut). Season the carrots with the spices of your choice.Cook them in a preheated oven for at least 20 minutes each side while turning the sticks both sides for cooking. The seasoning can be either one or a combination of pepper, jeera cinnamon, dry ginger powder.

3. Carrot Dosa

Mix a cup of Dosa Batter with either Carrot Juice or Carrot Puree. With a laddle pour the batter on a tawa forming small circles of dosa, sprinkle a little ghee or oil and cook like a Steamed Dosa.

4. Carrot Idli

 Mix a cup of Dosa Batter with either Carrot Juice or Carrot Puree. Grease the Idli moulds with ghee or oil and pour the mixture and steam for 10 minutes. Cut the idli into longitudinal pieces so as your lo can hold them.

5. Carrot Balls

 Mix a cup of Dosa Batter with either Carrot Juice or Carrot Puree. Pour the batter in kulipaniyram tawa and cook them.

6. Whole Wheat Carrot Pancakes

Recipe soon.

7. Carrot Muffins

Muffins can be introduced after 10 months, after the introduction of all the above foods.
Recipe Soon.

8. Carrot Patties

Grate the carrot, mix the grated carrot with little gram flour and rice flour, add pepper or jeera powder to it. Add a little water to a consistency that is not too watery or too thick, in a tawa pour this batter to small circles and cook them.

9. Whole Wheat Carrot Biscuits

II. Beetroot Finger Foods for Babies

Beetroot can be cooked in the same way as carrot, although not as versatile as the carrot.

10. Steamed Beetroots sticks

Cut the beetroot into thick sticks, steam them. Add the seasoning of your choice.

11.  Baked Beetroot sticks

Wash, peel and cut the beetroot into thick sticks, drizzle a few drops of oil (vegetable or coconut). Season the beets with the spices of your choice.Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and cook for at least 20 minutes each side while turning the sticks both sides for cooking.

12. Beet Crackers

Recipe soon

13. Whole Wheat Beet Pancakes

Recipe Soon.

III. Potato Finger Foods for recipes

14. Baked Potato Wedges

Wash, peel and cut the potato into wedges, season with jeera powder and bake in an oven.

15. Baked French Fries

Wash, peel and cut the potatoes into thin sticks.
Preheat the oven to 475 F. Toss the cut potatoes with a spoon of either vegetable or olive oil. Sprinkle the greased baking pan evenly with pepper, place the potatoes on the ban and cook for 15 minutes each side till both sides are golden brown.

16. Potato Fritters

Peel potatoes and boil and mash them. In a kadai, heat oil and add finely chopped onions to it and saute till translucent. Mix the mashed potatoes with a little cornflour, jeera or pepper powder, and the sauted onions. Design this mixture as small flat cakes. Drizzle the frying pan with little oil, pan fry the cakes.

IV. Pumpkin Finger Foods for Babies

17. Baked Pumpkin Sticks

Peel the pumpkin, scoop out the fleshy center part and cut the pumpkin to thin sticks. Preheat the oven to 400 and place the pumpkin on a wire rack or pan and drizzle with oil (vegetable or coconut or olive). Bake for 40 minutes with 20 minutes for each side till they become golden brown. Season it as per your choice.

18. Pumpkin Sooji Fingers

Ingredients

1/2 cup Pumpkin Puree
1 tsp Butter
1 cup Sooji
1 cup grated cheese

Method

Melt the butter in a kadai.
Add the pumpkin puree to it.
When it comes to a boil, add the sooji to it and let it simmer till sooji is cooked.
Switch off and let it cool.
In a baking dish, add the grated cheese and pour this mixture in it.
Preheat the oven to 180 degrees and bake for 20 to 25 minutes till cheese turns golden.
Cool the mixture and cut into fingers.

19. Whole Wheat Pumpkin Pancakes

Recipe soon

20. Pumpkin Balls

Mix a cup of Dosa Batter with Pumpkin Puree .Pour the batter in kulipaniyram tawa and cook them.

V. Arbi/Colocasia/Taro 

21. Arbi/Taro Fingers

VI. Sweet Potato Finger Foods for Babies

22. Baked Sweet Potato Fingers

Wash, peel and cut the sweet potato into thick sticks. Drizzle with oil (vegetable or olive or coconut) and toss with the seasoning of your choice. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes then flip on to change sides and cook for 20 minutes, till they are done.

23. SweetPotato Pancakes

Recipe soon.

VII. Corn Finger Foods for Babies

24. Corn Peas Patties

Mash 1 cup of boiled corn and peas either with the potato masher or blender. Add enough flour, 1 beaten egg (optional), diced onion (optional) and pepper. Mix well. Pour the batter as small cakes on the pan and fry on both sides.

VIII. Radish Finger Foods for Babies

25. Baked Radish Fingers

Wash, peel and cut the radish into thick sticks. Drizzle with oil (vegetable or olive or coconut) and toss with the seasoning of your choice. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes then flip on to change sides and cook for 20 minutes, till they are done.

IX. Snacks

26. Bhaji

Our own desi Bhaji, any veggie can be used for bhajis, carrot, potato, sweet potato, radish, raw banana etc.

27. Mixed Veg Cutlets

Recipe Soon

28. Mixed Veg Fingers

Cut the veggies into longitudinal sticks, in a bowl mix little turmeric powder, pepper powder, cornflour and an egg or water. Dip the veggies in the mixture and roll them in bread crumbs and deep fry them.

Note
 * If you do not have an oven, you can always shallow fry the veggies.
 * I have not added salt or sugar to any of the recipes above.
 * Will be posting a new series of Pancakes recipes, please follow the blog to receive updates.  

Next post is on “ 25 + Fruit Finger Food Ideas “

For more baby food recipes, visit Recipe Index.
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The information presented here is meant as a guide and does not replace professional medical advice. You should always discuss your baby’s dietary requirements with your doctor.