Hi!
I posted a similar question a few weeks back and have been experimenting since then. What I've found (to my amazement!) is that the babies seem to have a built-in ability to decide if something is likely to make them choke and they tend to "bite" something in two if the piece is too big or they just thrust it out of their mouths altogether. That's not to say I don't watch them like a hawk for signs of distress or godforbid choking but thought I'd mention it - seeing it set my mind at ease.
Finger foods that seem to be working for us: toast cut into strips (crust removed)...if I put something on it like cream cheese I make it into a little sandwich or I find they don't like to touch the "goo".
For peas, I know you're supposed to smoosh them. Beans...it depends on the bean. Do you mean green beans? Corn...I believe I read that 8 months is too young for corn but maybe someone else can confirm that?
For fruit, what's been suggested to me is making it into pieces large enough to pick up with the palm-grip since at 8 months they don't have the pincer thing figured out. Coat it in ground up Cheerios or wheat germ so they can get a grip on slippery pieces. Make sure the fruit is REALLY ripe so that when they put the chunk up to their mouths they can gum a piece off easily.
Good luck!!
Sarah
