Tips on Switching Toddlers From Baby Food to Table Food

Making the transition from jars of puree to regular table food represents a big step in a child's development. It embodies one of the final steps in your baby's first year as she moves from a milk- or formula-only diet to one of smooth foods, and then on to regular food with more taste and texture. As with earlier feeding transitions, it requires patience and practice, and the change in routine can be challenging for babies and unnerving for their parents. The following tips can help ease the way into this messy, but worthwhile, adventure.

Signs

At around 9 months of age, many babies begin to display signs of being ready to move on from baby food. If your infant is resisting being spoon fed and making an effort to grab the spoon himself, or if he turns his head and spits out the pureed foods, it may be time to move forward. If you're unsure, give your baby a bite of one of his favorite meals and observe. Babies who are ready for table foods instinctively will mash foods with their gums. Babies do not need teeth to eat table food, and many won't actually learn to chew with their molars until they are close to 2. In addition to chewing, many babies who are ready to make the transition will pick up small bits of fallen food from the floor and try to put the pieces into their mouths.

Selections

Begin the shift to table foods by offering your baby small bites of her favorite foods. Serving something she likes will minimize the shock of new textures and stronger flavors. Once you have the ball rolling, add any number of soft food items, such as scrambled eggs, toast, pancakes, cheese, spaghetti, macaroni and cheese, sweet potatoes, yogurt, and cottage cheese. You may find some of the foods that were not as popular in baby-food form are much more acceptable when they don't come from a jar. Feel free to experiment; you never know what she will like until you give her a few bites. To allow her to practice with a spoon, offer a low-sugar cereal in a bit of milk or a dish of oatmeal with fruit mixed in. It will be messy, so be prepared.

Skills

Learning to feed yourself is not a simple task. Picking up the food is a challenge in and of itself. But getting the food to the mouth without dropping it is a skill even some adults have trouble with. Make the learning process easier by offering foods that are easy to grasp, such as cubes of cheese or crackers. Buy size-appropriate utensils with slip resistant rubber coatings or easy-to-grip curved handles; the ergonomic designs help to align the utensils with the baby's mouth, building confidence and encouraging self-feeding with a minimum amount of frustration.