Finger Feeding

“Finger Foods”

Eating with the fingers allows your child to enhance skills such as coordination, grasp and independence.

• Introduce foods that are easy to hold.
• Point to the food and then to your child’s mouth.
• Guide your child’s hand to pick up the food and bring it to his mouth.
• Cut your own food into pieces and present it so your child can be part of the family meal.
• Demonstrate eating with your fingers.
• Verbally direct your child to pick up the food, put it to his mouth and chew it.
• Feed your child and allow him to feed you.
• Introduce finger snacks during play.
• Encourage your child to feed dolls and stuffed animals.
• Allow your child to put fingers in things like ice cream, yogurt, etc. Have your child lift the foods off his fingers.
• Keep non-refrigerated (goldfish, cereal) snacks in a bowl. Place the snack where your child can reach it. This will allow your child to finger feed throughout the day.