Finger foods

We've started finger foods. Wait, let me amend that - we've started finger foods with success. I have offered her puffs and small bits of soft fruit for awhile now, but in the last week or two, the Critter now wants to play that game.

She thinks finger foods are the coolest thing now.

Her pincer grasp has really developed - maybe that's why she likes finger foods now - so she can really pick up little things well. She still misses her mouth sometimes, or thinks she is putting the food in, but it sticks to her hand and doesn't end up in her mouth (puffs!). And about 1/3 to 1/2 ends up in her lap, but she still loves it. Fun stuff!

She has begun to not like being fed by a spoon, by me. She wants the finger foods! Which is fine for most foods, but things like oatmeal don't translate well to finger food - not without a huge mess (and very little actually in the Critter). I'm still figuring that out - how to get enough food in her while still allowing her to be an independent feeder. I'll sometime sneak in a few spoonfuls as she opens her mouth to feed herself something. She tolerates that fairly well, and I'm speedy!

New finger foods are puffs (she likes the banana Happy Baby the best, but the Plum Organics mango-sweet tater are good too), mild cheddar cheese shreds (shredded cheese is perfect for finger food!), peas, mango, pasta with butter. I'm going to offer her sweet tater, broccoli and fall fruits soon.

Feeding now takes longer for sure, so our schedule has adjusted a bit. But she just loves feeding herself, and it is fun to watch her figure it all out. Such a big girl!