Pincer Grasp Feeding Help + Meal Ideas

A lot of times I'll get questions on how to cut various foods that first year. As you know it's best to serve food in large, soft squishable pieces or handheld pieces when babies are first learning to self feed at 6 months. It's easier for them to pick up and they still have that palmer grasp. But when should I start serving smaller pieces? Read more about this skill and see some meal ideas at the bottom.

When babies start using their fingers to form a pincer grasp around 9 months to pick up small objects then you are usually ready to start serving smaller pieces of food. Typically if they have the skills to do that then they are able to use oral muscles and coordination to chew smaller pieces in their mouth. If you're not familiar with a pincer grasp it just means the tips of the thumb and index finger come together to pick up smaller pieces. It's a motion that we use when we pick up small items, pull zippers, or use buttons on clothing.

Just like everything else it is a skill and it takes practice. It may be difficult at first, but with practice in and out of the high chair they will continue to refine this skill for more mature manipulation of food. As this skill refines their oral motor skills will also continue to improve for chewing. We often seen pincer grasp around 9 months.

Try these ideas to practice:

-practice pinch and pull. This action is similar to pulling out tissues. Try an old tissue box with pieces of cloth to pull out or this toy is fun to use.

-put food on a tray and not bowl where they scoop everything up at once

-allow for monitored practice with pincer grasp in and out of the chair with safe small foods (smashed blueberries, cheerios, smashed peas)

-encourage activities that promote core strength such as crawling. Core strength helps shoulder and arm strength (as well as muscles for chewing).

Meal ideas to practice pincer grasp:

-buttery eggs in pieces with avocado and smashed blackberries

-sweet potato waffles with diced steamed carrots

              Mix 1 large sweet potato, 2 eggs, and dash of cinnamon and put in an waffle maker

-tofu scramble with black beans and shredded cheese

              Scramble tofu as you would eggs and use a pinch of oregano, garlic, and pepper. Smash black beans and serve shredded cheese on the side.

-salmon cubes with sauteed mushrooms and noodles

              Cook salmon with olive oil and seasonings on 400deg for around 18min until it easily flakes. Flake salmon pieces with roasted or sauteed mushrooms and cut spaghetti noodles with butter and squeeze of lemon.

-meatloaf muffins with steamed broccoli

              I love this recipe, then cut into diced pieces. Steam broccoli and dice.

These are meals the whole family can enjoy. Remember, I always recommend serving one meal for the whole family with small modifications for safety. Don’t be shy with seasonings and provide a variety from the start. If you aren’t sure if the food is soft enough, do the squish test. Pinch food with thumb and pointer. If it smashes, you are good to go.