Learning to Finger Feed
Here's What To Do
1
Offer me a variety of bite-sized finger foods, and try to include one finger food per meal.
2
Examples of some finger foods to try:
- Pieces of cheese (slices or small cubes of firm cheese like American or cheddar)
- Pieces of peeled and seedless raw or cooked fruit like apples, bananas, peaches and plums cut into strips or small cubes
- Vegetables diced or cut in strips (like cooked carrots, potatoes, or green beans)
- Diced or strips of boneless meat, tofu, or beans
- Macaroni or other cooked pastas
- Dry cereal, strips of toasted bread, graham crackers
3
Provide only a few pieces of food on my tray at a time. Monitor how much I put in my mouth, I probably don't know how much is "too much" yet.
4
Let me be as independent as I want during mealtime. Expect, allow, and prepare for a mess!
Put PEER Into Action
P
Pause:
- Sit me in my high chair, and sit next to me during the meal.
E
Engage:
- "Can you pick up the pasta and eat it?"
- Teach me the names of food while I eat, like: "Mmm, you're eating cheese! I love cheese, it's so yummy!"
E
Encourage:
- Offer only as much help as I need. If I'm having a hard time, help me pick up food or bring it to my mouth. Try to let me feed myself as much as possible.
- Let me tell you when I've had enough to eat. If I shake my head, clamp my mouth, push food away, or drop it on the floor, allow me to be finished with the meal.
R
Reflect:
- What foods am I able to pick up by myself? What food do I need help with?
Not quite ready?
Encourage self-feeding with a soft cookie, graham cracker, or baby cracker at first. Once I can pick one of these up and feed it to myself, try other types of food.
Ready for more?
Introduce a spoon during mealtimes and help me learn to use it.
As your child masters this skill...
They will be able to feed themselves small pieces of food by picking them up.