Once you’ve established solids and your baby is used to having three meals a day, it’s a good idea to try them with some finger foods and snacks. Healthy snacks are an essential part of your little one’s feeding journey between seven and 12 months. They’ll help your baby to learn that all-important pincer grip and once they hit the age of one, snacks provide the extra fuel active toddlers need to get them through the day.
Palm to mouth
At around six to seven months, little ones will start to ‘palm’ and learn to pick up objects like cooked carrot sticks or banana slices and bring them to their mouth to munch on. These soft textures are perfect for little gums and will help them get used to new textures and tastes.
Get to grips
From 10 months, your baby will develop fine motor skills and start to curl their fingers around objects, gripping them more accurately and mastering a pincer grip. It’s at this stage you could encourage your little one to nibble on firmer finger foods like breadsticks or al dente cooked veggies. As they get older they’ll need these chewing skills more and more so it’s a great idea to start getting them used to it.
Toddler time
By the time your baby is 12 months old, you may find that three meals a day are not enough to sustain them. As they become more active, toddlers need healthy, slow-release snacks to ensure they have enough energy to grow and to keep little tummies full until bedtime. Try refuelling them every three hours by introducing two healthy snacks a day in between regular mealtimes. This will teach them when to expect food and give them enough nutrients and energy to power them through the day.
To stop them getting bored, include a variety of healthy savoury and sweet snacks from fresh fruit and veggie sticks and dips to savoury biscuits and rice cakes. Individually wrapped portions are ideal for taking with you when you head out and about. Suitable from 12 months, Ella’s Kitchen Strawberry & Apple Oaty Fingers are packed with organic wholegrain oats and fruit, or for a savoury twist, pop a pack of Parsnip & Poppy Seed Savoury Biccies in your bag. Busy toddlers on the go will not only love these taste, they’ll also relish the growing sense of independence as they feed themselves their very own yummy snacks.
