Author Topic: When did you stop baby food and switch entirely to finger foods?  (Read 2436 times)

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Offline hersheycolemans

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I offer my lo finger foods, but since she only really likes the crunchy finger foods like crackers and refuses chewy and soft foods, I supplement with homemade lightly pureed babyfood dinners and fruits, which she allows me to feed her with a spoon. Mainly, I do this so I know she's getting proper nutrition, plus, it helps her to remain on her sleep schedule. When I've tried to switch to her feeding herself finger foods exclusively, she inevitable wakes up in the middle of the night starving. Is there a point when I just let her feed herself to try to force her into eating the nutritious finger foods? Or is it okay to continue with the jar foods until she takes over the finger food meals herslef? Just turned one year old. Thank you for your support.

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Re: When did you stop baby food and switch entirely to finger foods?
« Reply #1 on: October 12, 2006, 04:34:09 am »
Will she self-feed the mashy foods herself (hands or spoon)? My dd pretty much went to all finger food quite early on, but that's not to say I got rid of mashy food - she just fed it to herself. Then when she figured out the spoon, she does it that way as well. I don't think you want to move to crunchy/dry food only.

Offline Katet

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Re: When did you stop baby food and switch entirely to finger foods?
« Reply #2 on: October 12, 2006, 05:18:53 am »
Like Nikki my almost 17mo also still has mashy food, mostly he feeds himself (with spoon), but sometimes I help & has some finger food too... I think as long as they are having some food to chew & they are feeding themselves some of their food, it is OK...
My health nurse asked me about ds2 (then 15mo) & eating "pieces of food" & I said he wasn't... gave a "semi worried look" & then I said but he will chew the meat of a cutlet & loves meat on a bone or eating an apple off a core & ate sandwiches she then said... oh then if he only eats his veg puree that was fine but keep offering vegi/fruit peices... which I do & he sometimes eats.
With my ds1 I stopped the mashy/pureed stuff at the "age you should" & he has hardly eaten veg since... I know what I would prefer.
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Offline Kate A

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Re: When did you stop baby food and switch entirely to finger foods?
« Reply #3 on: October 12, 2006, 05:24:28 am »
I would keep with the puree  foods as long as you can.  If your LO is getting the added nutrients and calories needed, go for it.  They will let you know when they are ready to move on.  Mind dropped all purees at 10 months and switched to finger foods.  I think it just depends on the baby.

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Re: When did you stop baby food and switch entirely to finger foods?
« Reply #4 on: October 12, 2006, 06:40:53 am »
Going back to the mashy food - Kate's post made me think of something else. Often to accompany a meal (eg chops or sausages) I'll just do a pot of various mashed veges instead of plain potato and we all eat that - we get a vegetable box delivered every week, and it's the only way I'd be able to use up strange random green vegetables that I have limited ideas on how else to cook them - especially in ways the kids will eat them (kale, spinach, leeks etc). I vote for getting in the nutrients rather than thinking they need to be weaned off mash by now. As long as your lo is getting a variety of food and textures it's pretty irrelevant really. Apart from potato, pumpkin, kumara and parsnip done roasted, the only other veges my kids eat as they are, are cooked/raw carrots and frozen peas and corn - so this way they get a greater variety.

Offline J&Jsmom

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Re: When did you stop baby food and switch entirely to finger foods?
« Reply #5 on: October 12, 2006, 07:56:36 am »
My son was 10 months old when he wanted nothing to do with puree anymore. He had some finger foods, but mostly he just had regular meals chopped into small bits that I fed him on a spoon or let him self feed.
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Offline potlaura

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Re: When did you stop baby food and switch entirely to finger foods?
« Reply #6 on: October 12, 2006, 09:12:07 am »
Jack was really early when he changed to finger foods and to be honest I found it really hard to get hin to eat a wider variety of foods he is a really picky eater to this day so with Tom I always spoon feed him mashed up food at four thirty on his own and then when we are having our dinner I give him some finger food- fruit or whatever we are eating . But I think I will conitinue to do this until he refuses completely that way i can ensure a wide variety  of foods and i will have a fair idea of quantity that he is eating x

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Offline tylersmommy

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Re: When did you stop baby food and switch entirely to finger foods?
« Reply #7 on: October 12, 2006, 14:52:42 pm »
We went back and forth with Tyler's finger food vs puree preferences and I just kind of went with it. I kept up the purees as long as he was willing to eat them. I think we did finger foods and purees until he was 2...seriously. The purees were a great way to make sure he was getting veggies and I could always add some baby cereal to thicken them up when he wanted to try feeding himself. I don't think it's a good idea to force the issue and try to get her to eat just finger foods. You'll likely end up stressing both of you out over something that really doesn't need to be a battle!
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Offline hersheycolemans

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Re: When did you stop baby food and switch entirely to finger foods?
« Reply #8 on: October 12, 2006, 16:21:24 pm »
Wow, thanks so much for those encouraging words. (My first real post :) I am so pleased to have found this site and some helpful friends. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

Offline Kimberly®

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Re: When did you stop baby food and switch entirely to finger foods?
« Reply #9 on: October 12, 2006, 16:52:27 pm »
Sorry to butt in, but is it odd then that my DD wants nothing to do with mashed foods? Should I push them on her more??
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Offline Jenn©

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Re: When did you stop baby food and switch entirely to finger foods?
« Reply #10 on: October 12, 2006, 16:55:40 pm »
I'm gonna say no.  Likely she just isn't into the texture of them.  If she will eat chunkier stuff, cool. 
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Re: When did you stop baby food and switch entirely to finger foods?
« Reply #11 on: October 12, 2006, 17:40:44 pm »
Kimberly, definitely no pushing. I'm assuming she likes other soft chewy foods to get the variety (the OP's reason for doing mashy food was purely because of that)?
« Last Edit: October 12, 2006, 17:46:01 pm by Nikki~ »