There is nothing cuter than watching your little one chase food around the highchair tray with her fingers, and seeing the sense of accomplishment in her face when a tiny little piece of food actually makes it her mouth.

What are finger foods?

Just about any bite-size piece of food that your baby can pick up and eat by himself could qualify as a finger food. Not only is eating finger food fun for your baby, it's an important early step toward independence that also helps him develop his fine motor skills and coordination.

Food play can get messy, but don't be too quick with the washcloth: Let your baby enjoy this important hands-on learning experience.

When should I introduce finger foods?

When your baby is between eight and nine months old, you can begin to introduce finger foods to encourage your baby to begin self-feeding. It is very important that the texture of finger foods be very soft, so that your baby can "gum" the foods. To get food soft enough for gumming, many of them will need to be cooked.

How should I introduce the finger food?

• Always feed your baby in a "seated position." The risk of choking rises as you introduce finger foods.
• Never let your baby eat foods without adult supervision.
• Don't be in a rush.
• Introduce finger foods one at a time and slowly add different ones.
• Continue to feed your baby softly, pureed baby foods for most of the meal, and transition to more finger foods over a six- to eight-month period.
• Start with foods your baby likes.

Which foods make the best finger foods?

Examples of finger foods that can be served raw include small pieces of:

• Banana
• Avocado
• Tofu
• Semi-hard cheeses -- Jack, Colby, (introduce over 12 months)
• "O" shaped cereal
• Puffed rice cereal

Examples of cooked finger foods:

• Apples slices
• Pear slices
• Whole asparagus spears
• Carrots sticks/rounds or baby carrots
• Zucchini or yellow squash rounds
• Broccoli spears
• Sweet potato slices or cubes
• Whole green beans