Overview

Finger feeding, or eating with their fingers, is how your child learns to hold food and bring it to their mouth. Many foods are eaten with the hands. For example, an apple, crackers and hummus, or a taco.

It's important for your child to use their fingers to eat. It helps them:

• explore different textures, like dry, squishy, or slippery
• become comfortable with sensations and learn to eat different foods
• learn grasp patterns for foods of different sizes, shapes, and textures
• control and coordinate their arm and hand movements to take food and put it into their mouth

Self-feeding skills develop over time and include finger feeding, learning to use spoons, and learning to use utensils.

How finger-feeding skills develop

When your child is younger than 6 months of age, you feed them. When they put their hands or toys in their mouth, they're learning where their mouth is and getting ready to eat by themself.

When solid foods are introduced at 6 months of age, your child will discover finger feeding. They play with purees and bring their fingers to their mouth. They'll use their whole hand to hold food, like a baby cracker.

Build finger-feeding skills

Depending on your child's age, they'll explore and eat different textures.

Pureed or mashed foods

Place pureed vegetables or a well-mashed banana on your child's highchair tray so they can feel the texture with their fingers. They'll likely put their fingers into their mouth. This helps them practice bringing food to their mouth.

Bite-sized foods

Place food on the highchair tray for them to practice picking up with their fingers. When they can do this, try putting the food in a bowl. Hold out slippery foods, such as fruit, with your fingers to make it easier for your child to grasp.

• Offer different shapes. Strips and cubes are easier to hold than round pieces.
• Dry textures are easier to pick up. Try grated cheese or baby crackers.

Offer smaller pieces as their skills improve. Try cereal, cut-up cooked vegetables, or pieces of pancake.

As your child gets older, finger feeding provides an opportunity to practice fine motor skills and explore different textures.

Consider changing the shape, size, and texture of foods. Learn about preventing choking on food in children under 4

• An apple can be cut into wedges, small pieces, or given to your child whole.
• Cheese can be grated or cut into cubes, strips, or wedges.
• Pita bread can be rolled or cut into strips.

Finger-feeding tips

If your older child doesn't like the sensation of food on their fingers, have a wet washcloth beside their plate for them to wipe their hands and fingers.

Your young child will throw food off their tray or plate as they practice other fine motor skills. They will be messy as they explore textures and figure out how to eat with their fingers.

Try not to wipe their fingers or face too much. Experiencing textures and smells is important for your child to develop their fine motor and eating skills.