6 to 8 months · finger-length stripsAt 6 to 8 months, cut soft food into strips about the size of an adult finger so your baby can hold it in a fist. Around 9 months, once your baby starts picking things up with thumb and finger, switch to small, soft pieces.
See the cut chart for 22 foods Photos of each stage ↓The plate at the top is cut for a 6 to 8 month old. Here is how the same foods change as your baby grows, plus the two kinds of food that need extra prep at any age.
01The same foods, cut smaller. Each piece should still squish easily, and be small enough to pick up between thumb and finger.
Cut roasted sweet potato, ripe avocado, and steamed broccoli into small bite-size pieces. Scrambled egg is already the right size.
02The CDC lists uncut grapes, berries, and cherry tomatoes as choking hazards for young children. The NHS advises cutting small round foods into quarters.
Cut grapes and cherry tomatoes lengthwise into quarters. Press blueberries flat between your fingers. Halves are not small enough.
03Raw apple and raw carrot are too firm for babies. The AAP lists raw vegetables and hard fruit chunks among the foods to avoid before age 1.
Steam peeled apple wedges or carrot sticks until a fork slides in easily and they pass the squish test. Or grate them raw.
If your baby is 8 months and already picking up small pieces, use the 9 to 12 month column. Offer one new food at a time, 3 to 5 days apart, as the AAP suggests. Cooking temperatures are from the CDC.
| Food | 6 to 8 months | 9 to 12 months | Skip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avocado | Thick ripe spears, about two adult fingers wide. Roll in hemp hearts or crushed baby cereal for grip. | Small soft cubes, or spread thin on toast strips. | Firm, unripe avocado |
| Banana | Half a banana with some peel left on the bottom as a handle, or thick spears. | Small soft pieces. | Underripe, firm banana |
| Sweet potato | Peeled fingers, roasted or steamed until they squish easily. | Small soft cubes. | Crispy or hard edges |
| Broccoli | Steamed floret with a long stalk to hold. | Small pieces of soft steamed floret. | Raw broccoli |
| Carrot | Peeled finger-length sticks, steamed or roasted until very soft. | Small soft cooked pieces, or grated raw. | Raw sticks or raw coins |
| Apple | Peeled wedges steamed until soft, or grated raw. | Thin slices of cooked apple, or grated raw. | Raw chunks or slices |
| Pear | Very ripe or steamed spears, peeled. | Small soft pieces. | Firm raw chunks |
| Grapes | Quartered lengthwise. | Quartered lengthwise. | Whole or halved grapes |
| Blueberries | Pressed flat, or mashed. | Pressed flat, or quartered. | Whole or halved berries |
| Strawberries | Mashed, or thin slices. A large whole berry only if very ripe and soft. | Thin slices, or chopped small. | Whole small or firm berries |
| Cherry tomatoes | Quartered lengthwise. | Quartered lengthwise. | Whole or halved tomatoes |
| Melon | Wide, thin slices with the rind removed. | Small, thin pieces of ripe melon. | Melon balls, rind |
| Peas | Smashed flat or mashed. | Soft cooked peas, smashed if needed. | Dried or hard peas |
| Beans and chickpeas | Mashed, or smashed flat and spread on toast. | Smashed flat, or mashed. | Whole beans |
| Egg | Omelet strips, or hard-boiled egg cut lengthwise into quarters. | Small pieces of scrambled or chopped hard-boiled egg. | Runny or undercooked egg |
| Chicken | Finely shredded, or ground and shaped into soft finger-size patties. Cook to 165°F. | Finely chopped or shredded. | Chunks, skin, bones |
| Ground beef | Soft meatballs or finger-shaped patties. Cook to 160°F. | Crumbled, or meatballs cut small. | Tough chunks of meat |
| Fish | Soft flakes with every bone removed, or fish cakes cut into strips. Cook to 145°F. | Small flakes. | Bones and skin |
| Cheese | Pasteurized cheese, grated or in thin slices. | Grated, or short thin strips. | Chunks, whole string cheese |
| Toast | Lightly toasted strips about two fingers wide, with a thin spread. | Small soft squares. | Breads with seeds or nut pieces |
| Pasta | Well-cooked large shapes, like fusilli or penne. | Well-cooked small shapes, or larger shapes cut up. | Firm, undercooked pasta |
| Peanut butter | A thin, smooth spread on toast, or thinned into yogurt or oatmeal. | A thin spread, or stirred into food. | Spoonfuls, globs, whole or chopped peanuts |
Gagging is a normal reflex while babies learn to move food around their mouth. It is loud: coughing, sputtering, watery eyes, maybe pushing food forward with the tongue. Stay close and stay calm while your baby works it out.
Choking is quiet. A choking baby cannot cough or cry well and may look pale or blue around the lips. That is an emergency. Call 911 and start infant first aid. The NHS has a clear guide to telling the two apart.
As an Amazon Associate, WeanWell earns from qualifying purchases. See the full BLW Starter Pack.
About the length of an adult finger and soft enough to squish, so your baby can hold it in a fist with some food sticking out the top. Slippery foods like avocado can be cut wider, about two fingers across.
Switch when your baby starts picking up small things between thumb and pointer finger. This pincer grasp usually shows up between 9 and 12 months, and the CDC lists it as a 12-month milestone. Follow your baby, not the calendar.
Cut each grape lengthwise into quarters. Whole and halved grapes are choking hazards. The NHS advises cutting small round foods like grapes, cherry tomatoes, and berries into quarters.
Not in chunks or sticks. Steam or roast them until soft, or grate them raw. The AAP lists raw vegetables and hard fruit chunks among the foods to avoid before age 1.
Press a piece of food between your thumb and finger. If it flattens with gentle pressure, it is soft enough for a baby who is new to solids. If it does not, cook it longer.
Yes. The NHS calls gagging a normal reflex while babies learn to eat. Gagging is loud, with coughing, sputtering, or watery eyes. Choking is quiet, and the baby cannot cough or cry well. Choking is an emergency. Call 911 and start infant first aid.
Next: first foods by age, the egg guide, the avocado guide, or easy breakfasts for 9 to 12 months.
Updated October 2026. Sources: AAP (HealthyChildren.org), CDC choking hazards, NHS preparing food safely.
Pick your baby's age and we'll email a simple 7-day plan with how to serve every food, and new foods spaced out the way pediatric guidance suggests.
Setting up for meals? See our BLW Starter Pack, the gear parents reach for first.