16 Delicious Finger Foods for Baby With No Teeth

For many parents, feeding their babies is a herculean task. However, as the babies grow up, they like trying out new tastes and textures. No longer will they prefer only mashed food and purees. This is when finger foods should be introduced to your baby. Finger foods for babies do more than just provide nutrition. They help babies work on their fine motor skills too. Wondering which finger foods you could feed your child? Read on to learn 16 healthy finger foods that your baby can enjoy even if he doesn’t have teeth yet.

Video: 5 Delicious Finger Food Ideas for Babies With No Teeth

At What Age Can Babies Start Eating Finger Food?

Babies can typically start eating finger foods around 6 to 9 months of age, but the exact age at which they are ready for finger foods can vary from one child to another. It’s important to watch for signs of readiness and consult with your pediatrician for guidance.

What Is the Ideal Size for Baby’s Finger Foods?

The ideal size for baby’s finger foods is small and manageable to prevent choking hazards. Finger foods should be cut into pieces that are approximately the size of a pea or a baby’s pinky fingernail. As babies develop better fine motor skills and become more experienced with eating, you can gradually offer slightly larger pieces. However, always ensure that the pieces are small enough for your baby to handle safely and comfortably.

Is It Possible for Toothless Babies to Consume Finger Foods?

Yes, it is possible for toothless babies to consume finger foods. Babies don’t need teeth to eat finger foods because their gums are capable of mashing and grinding soft foods. When offering finger foods to toothless babies, it’s important to choose foods that are soft and easily gummed. Always closely supervise your baby while they are eating to minimize the risk of choking, and ensure that the finger foods you offer are appropriately sized and prepared to be safe for gumming. 

How to Introduce Finger Food to a Baby?

Introducing finger foods to a baby is an important step in their development, and it should be done with care to ensure safety and a positive eating experience. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to introduce finger foods to a baby:

1. Check for Readiness

Before introducing finger foods, make sure your baby is developmentally ready. They should be able to sit up with minimal support, have lost their tongue thrust reflex, and show an interest in food.

2. Choose Age-Appropriate Foods

Select soft, easy-to-dissolve, and age-appropriate foods for your baby. Examples include small pieces of ripe fruits, cooked and diced vegetables, baby cereal puffs, and soft, well-cooked pasta.

3. Prepare the Food

Ensure that the finger foods are cut into small, bite-sized pieces. Pieces should be roughly the size of a pea or your baby’s pinky fingernail to prevent choking hazards.

4. Wash Hands

Always wash your hands before handling your baby’s food to maintain hygiene.

5. Create a Safe Eating Environment

Choose a safe and comfortable place for your baby to eat. A high chair with a secure safety harness is ideal.

6. Supervision

Never leave your baby unattended while they are eating finger foods. Always supervise closely to minimize the risk of choking.

7. Demonstrate

Show your baby how to pick up and eat the finger foods. Encourage them to use their fingers to grasp and explore the food.

8. Offer One Food at a Time

Start by offering one type of finger food at a time. This helps your baby become familiar with the taste and texture before introducing new foods.

9. Be Patient

Babies may take time to get used to finger foods. They might play with the food or reject it initially. Be patient and continue offering a variety of foods over time.

10. Gradually Increase Variety

As your baby becomes more comfortable with finger foods, introduce a wider range of textures and flavors. This helps expand their palate and exposes them to different nutrients.

11. Watch for Allergies

Pay attention to any signs of food allergies or sensitivities. Common allergenic foods like eggs, dairy, and nuts should be introduced one at a time and observed for any adverse reactions.

12. Encourage Self-Feeding

Allow your baby to practice self-feeding as much as possible. This helps them develop fine motor skills and independence.

13. Stay Positive

Mealtimes should be a positive and enjoyable experience. Avoid forcing your baby to eat and maintain a relaxed and encouraging atmosphere.

Remember that every baby is different, and their readiness and preferences can vary. If you have concerns or questions about introducing finger foods to your baby, consult with your pediatrician for guidance tailored to your child’s specific needs.

16 Healthy Finger Foods for a Baby Without Teeth

Introducing finger foods to your baby can be a bit of a challenge for parents. They need to be ready for all the mess, allergies or even choking hazards once your baby starts eating finger food. So, does that mean finger foods are not ideal for babies without any teeth? No, finger foods are ideal for babies without teeth if they can pick them up easily and mash them between the gums.

If you are wondering which finger foods you can prepare for your little one, we have you covered. Below are some finger food ideas for babies without teeth. These can be alternated with the other food ideas you have to provide a nutritious snack to your little one every day. Do not miss out on providing your baby calcium-rich foods either, to help his bones become stronger.

1. Pasta

Pasta can be the first finger food for babies with no teeth since it has a very subtle taste. Pasta, when overcooked tends to get very soft, making it easy for babies without teeth to eat it.

Ingredients:

• Penne pasta/ shell-shaped pasta
• Olive oil/ butter
• Tomato puree

How to Make:

1. Boil water and cook the pasta till it is soft and mushy.
2. In a pan, put a little butter or olive oil and add the cooked pasta. Stir for a minute and then add the tomato puree.
3. Let the pasta cool before you serve it to your baby.

2. Homemade Baby Biscuits

Homemade baby biscuits are a great snack for babies 8 months and above. The recipe is for 18-20 biscuits approximately. You may increase the measure to the ingredients if you’d like to make extra biscuits. Also, remember to skip the ingredients your baby is allergic to.

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup ground oats
• ½ cup butter/peanut butter
• 2 tbsp ground flax seeds
• 1 cup chickpea flour
• 1/3 cup maple syrup or honey
• 1 banana (mashed)
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 2 tsp vanilla essence
• 1–2 tbsp water (if required)

How to Make:

1. Take a cup of chickpea flour and keep it in the freezer for about half an hour (this will help in creating the right consistency and texture for baking).
2. Meanwhile, mix the butter, honey/maple syrup, mashed banana, vanilla essence and baking soda together.
3. In another bowl, take the chickpea flour.
4. Add the ground oats and ground flax seeds.
5. Now using your hands, mix it together till you get a cookie dough-like texture.
6. Make small balls with the dough and keep them aside.
7. Take a baking tray and lay a butter paper on it.
8. Flatten the cookie dough balls on the butter paper.
9. Bake the cookies for approximately 12 minutes in a preheated oven at 350°Fahrenheit or 175°Celsius.
10. After 12 minutes, take them out and gently press on the centre of each biscuit with a fork to get rid of air pockets.
11. Give one of the cookies to your baby only after it has completely cooled down.

3. Baby Quiche Cakes

Baby quiche cakes are a good way to feed some extra vegetables to your baby. These cakes can be made in batches and stored for about 3 days in the fridge if you keep them in an airtight container. Let’s find out how they are made.

Ingredients:

• 2-3 cups whole wheat flour
• 1/4th cup of olive oil
• 3-5 cups of diced/ chopped vegetables (carrot, spinach, broccoli/ cauliflower, peas, etc.)
• 4 bananas (mashed)
• 1 cup of grated cheddar cheese
• 1 ½ cups of yoghurt
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• Salt to taste (optional)

How to Make:

1. First, steam the chopped/diced vegetables.
2. Prepare a batter by combining the whole wheat flour, yoghurt, baking powder, beaten eggs, cheddar cheese, olive oil, and salt.
3. Add the vegetables to the batter.
4. Transfer the batter to a greased muffin tray.
5. Bake the cakes at 180° Celsius for 20 minutes or until they turn golden brown and firm.
6. Once the cakes cool, you can cut or break them into smaller pieces and give some to your baby.

4. Berry Bites

This recipe requires few ingredients and is sure to make your little strawberry lover happy.

Ingredients:

• 3 bananas
• A handful of strawberries/ blueberries
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon of butter (for greasing the muffin tray)

How to Make:

1. Mash 3 bananas in a bowl.
2. Add some milk to it and mix well.
3. Grease a mini muffin tray with butter.
4. Put a few strawberries/blueberries in each muffin slot.
5. Then, pour the milk and banana mixture.
6. Bake the muffins for about 15 minutes or until the eggs are cooked.
7. Once the muffins cool down, pop them out.
8. You may cut it into smaller pieces before giving it to your baby to enjoy.

5. Sweet Potato Fries

Sweet potato fries are another simple recipe with just 3 ingredients. This recipe is perfect when you are pressed for time and need to give something healthy to your baby to munch on.

Ingredients:

• Sweet potatoes (medium/ large)
• 1/4th cup of olive oil
• A pinch of cinnamon powder (optional)

How to Make:

1. Preheat the oven to 400° Fahrenheit.
2. Clean and peel the sweet potatoes.
3. Cut them into thin strips.
4. Put some cinnamon powder on them.
5. Place the strips of sweet potato on a baking tray over some baking sheet.
6. Bake for 30–45 minutes or till they are tender.
7. Serve when they completely cool down.

6. Banana Pancakes

Include some goodness of bananas into your baby’s snacktime with these banana pancakes. They are easy to make, and your little one is sure to love them.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• ½ cup milk
• Water (if required)
• 1 ripe banana
• Butter (optional)
• Honey/maple syrup (optional)

How to Make:

1. Slice or mash the banana in a bowl.
2. Mix the whole wheat flour and milk together.
3. Add the mashed bananas to the wheat flour mix.
4. You may add some water to adjust the consistency.
5. Pour a ladle of the pancake mix onto a nonstick pan and cook the pancakes till they are golden brown. You may add some butter if required.
6. Let the pancakes cool down.
7. Cut them into strips or small pieces that your baby can hold and eat.
8. You may also drizzle some honey or maple syrup on the pancakes to enhance the taste.

7. Cooked Veggies

Cooked vegetables make excellent baby finger foods.

Ingredients:

• 1 sweet potato (peeled and cut into small sticks)
• 1 small carrot (peeled and cut into small sticks)
• 4-5 small florets of broccoli

How to Make:

1. Steam or roast the veggies until soft and tender.
2. Transfer it to a plate and let your baby enjoy it.

8. Idli

Idli is a staple in many households. It is not only easy to make but is also highly nutritious for your little one. Here’s how you can make some for your baby.

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups of parboiled rice
• ½ cup urad dal
• Salt to taste (optional)

How to Make:

1. Wash the rice and dal and soak it for 5-6 hours in separate utensils.
2. Then grind the dal to make a smooth paste and grind the rice a little coarse.
3. Mix the two ingredients together and add a bit of salt.
4. Add some water to adjust the consistency. The batter should have a flowing consistency, not runny.
5. Leave it overnight to ferment.
6. After the mixture is fermented, steam it in an idli steamer.
7. Cut the idli into small pieces when they cool down and give it to your baby.

9. Steamed Dosa

This is another variety of finger food your little one is sure to enjoy. Let’s check out what you need to make some steamed dosa for your baby.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup parboiled rice or dosa rice
• 1/3 cup urad dal
• Few fenugreek seeds (methi seeds)
• 1 tbsp of flattened rice (avalakki)
• Ghee (as required)

How to Make:

1. Soak the rice, fenugreek seeds, and flattened rice together in one vessel; and the urad dal in another utensil. Soak the ingredients for at least three hours.
2. Grind the rice, fenugreek seeds, and flattened rice to make a fine paste.
3. Then grind the urad dal to make a fine paste.
4. Mix the rice and the dal mixture together.
5. Add water to adjust the consistency, which should not be too thick or too thin.
6. Let the batter ferment for 6-8 hours.
7. To make the dosa, heat a nonstick pan.
8. Put a dollop of the mixture and spread it out in a small circle on the pan.
9. Add some ghee if needed and let it cook till the base becomes golden brown in colour and you see some bubbles on the top.
10. When the dosa is cooked, remove it in a plate and cut it into small pieces for your baby to eat.

10. Fruit Salad

Yes, fruit salad can also be a good finger-food dish for your little one. You can add as many fruits as you want to this dish and let your baby enjoy varied tastes and textures. You may choose to skip a few fruits if you think your baby could choke on them or leave the ones he is allergic to.

Ingredients:

• Various types of fruits, like an apple, a banana, kiwis, strawberries, etc.
• Black salt (optional)

How to Make:

1. Peel and cut the fruits, small enough for the baby to chew.
2. Add a little black salt, give it a good mix and let your baby enjoy it.

11. Cheesy Crackers

Cheesy crackers are perfect if you want to add a little crunchy texture that sort of melts in the mouth in no time. This recipe is perfect for your baby’s snack time.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup plain flour
• 1 cup grated cheese
• 2 tbsp unsalted butter
• Water, if required

How to Make:

1. Beat the butter and cheese together until it becomes soft and fluffy. It is best to use an electric blender to do this.
2. Add the flour bit by bit to the beaten mixture and mix until you get a crumbly mixture.
3. Add some water to make a moist dough.
4. Wrap the dough in a cling film and keep it in the fridge for an hour.
5. After an hour, remove the film and roll out the dough. Using small round cutters, cut out small round biscuits and prick them with a fork.
6. Then, bake the crackers in a preheated oven for 15 minutes at 180 degrees Celcius (till the crackers turn golden brown).
7. Let your baby munch on these crackers when they are cooled down to room temperature.

12. Zucchini Chips

This recipe is a great alternative to other unhealthy chips. Here’s what you need to make them.

Ingredients:

• 1 zucchini (cut into thin strips)
• 1 tbsp olive oil

How to Make:

1. Preheat the oven to 100-110° Celcius.
2. Drizzle some olive oil over the zucchini slices.
3. Place the zucchini slices in a single layer on a baking tray.
4. Bake the chips for 30 minutes, take the tray out and flip all the chips.
5. Bake for another 30 minutes.
6. Let the chips cool before you let your baby have some.

13. French Toast Fingers

French toast fingers can be a breakfast recipe or an evening snack. It is a delicious way to feed some milk and bread to your little one. This recipe usually has eggs in it but if your little one is under 1 year old, you should avoid adding eggs. You can use cornstarch instead. Here’s what you need for some French toast.

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 1-2 tbsp of milk
• 2-3 slices of whole wheat bread
• A pinch of salt (optional)

How to Make:

1. Take the milk and salt in a bowl and add cornstarch to it. Mix well.
2. Trim down the crust from each slice of bread.
3. Heat a pan on medium flame.
4. Lightly grease the pan with butter.
5. Dip a slice of bread in the cornstarch and milk mixture.
6. Remove it immediately and fry it in the pan till it turns golden brown on both sides.
7. Cut the slice into 3 to 4 strips and let your baby have it when it cools down.

14. Vegetable Parathas

Vegetable parathas are a great way to feed your baby most of the vegetables he resists. Make them in smaller sizes, and you don’t have to worry about cutting them for him. Here’s what you need to make some vegetable parathas.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup of mashed vegetables of your choice
• 1 cup of wheat flour
• Oil/ butter
• A pinch of salt (optional)

How to Make:

1. Mix the vegetable mash with wheat flour.
2. Add some water and make a soft dough.
3. Roll out small round flatbreads with a rolling pin.
4. Heat a pan and grease it with oil/butter.
5. Cook both sides of the paratha on a medium flame.
6. Serve when the parathas cool down.

15. Paneer Sticks

Paneer sticks are a great way to add some protein to your baby’s snack time. Read on to know how you can make this recipe.

Ingredients:

• Paneer (cottage cheese)
• Ghee/oil
• A pinch of salt (optional)
• A pinch of turmeric (optional)

How to Make:

1. Cut the paneer into long strips.
2. You may marinate the strips with a pinch of salt and turmeric if you wish to.
3. In a pan, put a little oil or ghee.
4. Lightly sauté the paneer strips over medium heat until they turn golden brown.
5. Bring the temperature down before you feed paneer sticks to your baby.

16. Avocado Toast Strips

This recipe provides healthy fats and fiber from the avocado and whole-grain bread, making it a nutritious choice for your baby.

Ingredients:

• 1 slice of whole-grain bread
• 1/2 ripe avocado

How to Make:

1. Toast the slice of whole-grain bread until it’s crispy but not too hard.
2. Cut the ripe avocado in half and remove the pit. Scoop out a small amount of the avocado flesh.
3. Mash the avocado with a fork until it’s smooth and easy to spread.
4. Spread the mashed avocado onto the toasted bread.
5. Cut the avocado toast into strips or bite-sized pieces that are easy for your baby to hold.
6. Serve the avocado toast strips to your baby as a nutritious and soft finger food option.

Some Other Finger Foods For Babies With No Teeth

These finger foods for a 6-month-old baby with no teeth are suitable for babies who are just starting to explore solids. Always cut or prepare them into small, bite-sized pieces and closely supervise your baby while they are eating to ensure their safety.

• Apple and carrots
• Cheddar cheese with figs
• Bananas and cherries
• Tomato and fresh mozzarella
• Peas and plums
• Pears and green beans
• Peaches and butternut squash
• Apricots and Swiss cheese
• Beets, mac and cheese
• Roast apple and chicken

Things to Keep in Mind While Introducing Finger Foods for a Baby Without Teeth

Introducing finger foods to a baby without teeth is an exciting milestone, but it’s essential to ensure their safety and make the experience enjoyable. Here are some important things to keep in mind:

• Cut or prepare finger foods into small, bite-sized pieces that are easy for your baby to handle and gum. Ensure that the texture is soft and manageable without teeth.
• Always supervise your baby closely while they are eating finger foods to prevent choking hazards. Be ready to assist if needed.
• Introduce one new food at a time and watch for any signs of allergies or sensitivities. Common allergenic foods like eggs, dairy, and nuts should be introduced cautiously.
• Offer a variety of foods to expose your baby to different flavors and textures. This helps them develop a diverse palate and get essential nutrients from various sources.

Introducing finger foods to babies is a good way to get the baby used to different types of tastes and textures. Finger foods improve the baby’s coordination skills and encourage self-feeding. If you’re looking for ideas for a 7-month-old baby, with the 16 finger food recipes above, you can now explore your baby’s taste and liking.

References/Resources:

1. Chin. B, Chan. E, Goldman. R; Early exposure to food and food allergy in children; PubMed Central; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4046529/; April 2014  

2. When, What, and How to Introduce Solid Foods; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/infantandtoddlernutrition/foods-and-drinks/when-to-introduce-solid-foods.html

3. Infant Food and Feeding; American Academy of Pediatrics; https://www.aap.org/en/patient-care/healthy-active-living-for-families/infant-food-and-feeding/

4. Starting Solid Foods; American Academy of Paediatrics; https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/feeding-nutrition/Pages/Starting-Solid-Foods.aspx

5. Solid foods: How to get your baby started; Mayo Clinic; https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/infant-and-toddler-health/in-depth/healthy-baby/art-20046200

6. Franchak. J, Yu. C; Visual-motor coordination in natural reaching of young children and adults; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5722454/; July 2015

7. Sidell. D, Kim. I, Coker. T, Moreno. C, Shapiro. N; Food choking hazards in children; National Library of Medicine: National Center for Biotechnology Information; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24113156/; September 2013

8. Mayorathan. U, Manikkavasakar. S, Pranavan. S; Accidental Choking in Children: An Area To Be Focused on; PubMed Central; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8942174/; February 2022

Also Read:

Baby Food Stages
All about Baby Food & Nutrition
Introducing Solid Foods to your Baby