Benefits of self-feeding for babies
- when should babies start feeding themselves
- when should babies start feeding themselves with a spoon
- when do babies start feeding themselves
- when do babies start feeding themselves with a bottle
What kind of food can be fed to a baby who can self-feed!
Finger foods for your baby
Eating finger food is fun for your baby, and an important step toward independence that also helps them develop their fine motor skills and coordination.
Any bite-size, easy-to-eat piece of food that your baby can pick up and eat on their own qualifies as finger food.
When do babies feed themselves with fingers
Ready to make this leap in your baby's solid food journey? Here's what you need to know.
When to give your baby finger foods
Your baby will be ready for finger foods around 9 months old, when they can grab things and bring their hands to their mouth.
They'll let you know they're ready, too – by grabbing the spoon you're feeding them with or snatching food off your plate. By the time your baby is 12 months old, they'll be skilled at picking up food and putting it in their mouth.
Advertisement | page continues below
Some parents introduce finger foods at 6 months using the baby-led weaning technique, where you skip the spoon-feeding phase and let your baby feed themself soft finger foods.
If you're interested in this method, learn more about BLW and t
- when can babies start feeding themselves
- what age should babies start feeding themselves