15 Finger Food Recipes for Your Baby or Toddler to Move Past Purees (2024)

Becoming a new parent means learning how to decipher another little person's every whine and whimper. And just when you think you've got the hang of the whole feeding thing, it's time to start on real food and you're back at square one. Keeping a baby healthy on more than just milk can seem scary, but we've got you covered. Here are 13 recipes that will make the transition from purees to solids a smooth one, while still packing a punch of essential vitamins, nutrients and protein.

Apricot Bites

15 Finger Food Recipes for Your Baby or Toddler to Move Past Purees (1)

Just five ingredients including rolled oats, almonds and dried apricots make these little balls a delicious treat for tots.

Zucchini Fries

15 Finger Food Recipes for Your Baby or Toddler to Move Past Purees (2)

Turn your littles onto a healthier version of the French fry with these zucchini sticks.

Egg Yolk Omelet

15 Finger Food Recipes for Your Baby or Toddler to Move Past Purees (4) Egg yolks, cottage cheese and spinach. Three little ingredients, one big meal! (via Happy Stuff)

Chicken and Cannellini Bean Nuggets

15 Finger Food Recipes for Your Baby or Toddler to Move Past Purees (5) Kids and chicken nuggets go hand in hand. But instead of turning to the fast food or frozen varieties, now you can make your own healthier and better-tasting version in one nap or less. (via Essential Kids)

Baked Apple Rings

15 Finger Food Recipes for Your Baby or Toddler to Move Past Purees (6) These baked apple rings are the finger food trifecta: easy to hold, completely healthy and make a great teether! (via Babble)

Baby Pasta Bolognese

15 Finger Food Recipes for Your Baby or Toddler to Move Past Purees (7) Pasta usually goes over well with most babies. With a sauce full of hidden veggies like carrots and celery, it will go over well with parents, too! (via Feeding Audrey)

Chickpea Patties

15 Finger Food Recipes for Your Baby or Toddler to Move Past Purees (8) Chickpea patties are a great texture for babies and toddlers alike, and make a unique side or salad topper for the rest of the family. They also freeze really well for make-ahead meals! (via Oh Dear Drea)

Minestrone Soup

15 Finger Food Recipes for Your Baby or Toddler to Move Past Purees (9) The soft pasta and vegetables in this hearty minestrone soup are an ideal way to introduce your baby to different textures. Add a dash of salt and you’ve also got a meal even the hungriest grown-up will appreciate. (via Annabel Karmel)

Black Bean Mango Fiesta

15 Finger Food Recipes for Your Baby or Toddler to Move Past Purees (10) In this one simple meal your baby will get healthy brain-developing fats from the avocado, vitamins A and C from the mango and protein from the black beans. (via Mama Guru)

Mac and Cheese Cups

15 Finger Food Recipes for Your Baby or Toddler to Move Past Purees (11) Who doesn’t like macaroni and cheese? Serve up this test-of-time favorite in portions that are just the right size for tiny hands. And don’t worry, we won’t tell if you happen to “taste test” a few yourself. (via Live A Little Wilder)

Spinach Bites

15 Finger Food Recipes for Your Baby or Toddler to Move Past Purees (12) Get your baby used to eating greens early with these cheesy spinach bites. And since they only take 30 minutes to make, you won’t mind whipping up another batch once the first one disappears. (via Feeding Audrey)

Sweet Potato, Lentil and Cheddar Croquettes

15 Finger Food Recipes for Your Baby or Toddler to Move Past Purees (13)

Your baby will be so busy scarfing down these croquettes that he won't even notice they're chock-full of sweet potatoes, carrots, peas and lentils. (via Little Grazers)

Get more recipe inspo on Brit + Co's Food page!

This article has been updated from a previous post published in 2014.

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Ashley Tyler

A South Florida native, Ashley is a new mom who is just trying to figure it all out while still finding time to blog at TWO TYLERS AND A BABY. There, she shares bits of her everyday life, DIY projects, recipes and everything in between.

15 Finger Food Recipes for Your Baby or Toddler to Move Past Purees (2024)

FAQs

What are good finger foods for a toddler? ›

Foods that squish easily between your fingers are a safe bet for babies and younger toddlers. Think cooked peas, raspberries, chunks of banana, diced avocado, and soft cheese.

How do you turn baby puree into finger food? ›

Place the puree into a bowl or glass container in the fridge for 3+ hours. The mixture should firm and can then be cut into safe shaped finger foods for your baby.

What are some safe finger foods for older infants? ›

Start with menu items like pieces of soft cheese; small pieces of pasta or bread; finely chopped soft vegetables; and fruits like bananas, avocado, and ripe peaches or nectarines. These foods should require minimal chewing, as your baby may not yet have teeth.

What are mess free finger foods for babies? ›

4. Soft fruit. Very ripe fruit is naturally soft, making them some of the best finger foods for babies. Ripe banana, peach, watermelon (remove the seeds), raspberries, blueberries and cantaloupe cut into small pieces are all great finger food options.

What is a good party food for a 2 year old? ›

Try slices of apple, orange, melon and kiwi, with strawberries and blueberries – for a whole rainbow to choose from. Carrot and cucumber sticks with hummus are fabulous finger foods. And sandwiches look so much yummier if you use a biscuit cutter to make heart or star shapes.

What foods do toddlers love? ›

Toddler snack plate
  • Cheese slices.
  • Crackers.
  • Fruit.
  • Vegetables.
  • Hummus.
  • Nuts.
  • Chocolate chips.
  • Deli meat.
Dec 11, 2023

How to move past purees? ›

Offer soft foods in a mesh or silicone feeder. Fresh and frozen foods work well. Use teething toys or the Nuk® brush (if given by therapist) for feeding smooth foods to introduce texture in the mouth.

At what age do you stop pureeing baby food? ›

Stage 3 (typically 10-12 months old, but may occur sooner): At this stage, you can slowly replace purees with soft, chewable chunks of food, and offer your baby more finger foods that they can pick up and feed themselves.

When to move off purees? ›

Most babies should move on from purees by 9 months of age. Research does show that the longer it takes to introduce more advanced textures, the greater the risk of feeding difficulties later on in childhood.

When can babies eat Cheerios? ›

Babies can eat Cheerios when they're between 6 and 9 months old, or when they're sitting up on their own. Unlike other solid foods, Cheerios are not a choking hazard, so they're a good choice to feed your baby. Cheerios help your baby develop the pincer grasp, or picking items up with their thumb and forefinger.

What cheese can babies eat? ›

Cheese can form part of a healthy, balanced diet for babies and young children, and provides calcium, protein and vitamins. Babies can eat pasteurised full-fat cheese from 6 months old. This includes hard cheeses, such as mild cheddar cheese, cottage cheese and cream cheese.

What not to put in baby food? ›

A baby should not be given honey or foods that contain honey, such as honey-sweetened cereals, and also light and dark corn syrups, due to the risk of botulism, until after a year old. Unpasteurized foods such as dairy, or undercooked meats, eggs, fish, or poultry should also be avoided.

When can a baby have scrambled eggs? ›

When can babies eat scrambled eggs? Introduce scrambled eggs to your baby around the time you start them on solid foods, after 6 months of age. Eggs shouldn't necessarily be their first food (you'll want to start with purees or very soft food) but introduce eggs along with other textured foods.

Why won t my 2 year old eat finger foods? ›

How to Encourage Your Baby to Eat Finger Foods
  • Keep the portions small. Try not to offer more than two or three finger foods at a time — or too large a serving of any item. ...
  • Remain neutral. Babies are natural-born performers. ...
  • Sneak some food in. ...
  • Know when to call it quits.

What are some examples of finger foods? ›

Best Finger Food Ideas on a Budget
  • Parmesan Bread Bites. Bake addictive parmesan bread bites for delicious finger food ideas. ...
  • Tomato Bruschetta Bites. ...
  • Bacon Wrapped Brussel Sprouts. ...
  • Sheet Pan Nachos. ...
  • Cheese Puffs. ...
  • Cheesy Garlic Bread. ...
  • Vegetarian Quesadillas. ...
  • Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus.
Apr 22, 2024

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