Safe Finger Foods for Toddlers Aged 13 to 18 Months

What counts as a finger food?

Finger foods are pieces a child can pick up and bring to the mouth. They let toddlers practise grasping and self-feeding.

Choose soft foods that can be mashed easily and cut them to a shape and size your child can manage.

A toddler still needs close supervision; self-feeding does not mean eating alone.

Which fruits and vegetables can be offered?

Offer soft ripe fruit, peeled or cooked as needed, and cooked vegetables that are easy to mash.

Cut grapes, berries, cherry tomatoes, and similar round foods into small pieces; do not serve them whole.

Avoid hard raw fruit and vegetables unless prepared in a safer form, such as cooked until soft or finely grated.

How can egg, meat, and fish be served?

Serve egg fully cooked and cut into soft strips or small pieces.

Offer meat as tender, moist pieces without bones, and fish carefully checked for bones.

Prepare each food for your child’s chewing skills; large, tough chunks can be choking hazards.

Are pasta, cheese, and beans suitable?

Soft pasta, well-cooked beans that are mashed or flattened, and cheese prepared in small manageable pieces may be suitable.

Whole beans and large cheese chunks can pose a choking risk.

Offer a variety of foods and supervise closely while your child eats.

What should you know about bread?

Bread can become sticky or form a dense lump in the mouth for some children. Offer manageable pieces and watch how your child handles them.

Avoid breads containing whole nuts, seeds, or kernels that are hard to chew.

If your child repeatedly struggles with bread or other textures, ask a health professional for advice.

How can you reduce choking risk?

Have the child sit upright in a high chair or other safe seat; do not let them eat while walking, crawling, or riding in a stroller or car.

Avoid whole nuts, popcorn, whole grapes, hard raw vegetables, spoonfuls of nut butter, and tough large pieces.

Cut, cook, mash, or thinly spread foods to match the child’s ability, and supervise continuously.

How should a toddler sit while eating?

Use a stable upright seat with the child’s body supported.

Keep mealtimes calm and avoid distractions, rushing, or feeding while the child is moving.

Stay close and watch each bite; choking may happen quickly and quietly.

When should you seek support?

Ask for advice if your child cannot manage age-appropriate finger foods, has repeated coughing or choking, or struggles to chew or swallow.

A clinician or feeding specialist can suggest suitable textures and positions for a child with additional needs.

For an active choking emergency, call local emergency services and use age-appropriate first aid.

What can you do today?

Offer soft pieces that are easy to hold and prepared for your child’s skills.

Avoid common choking hazards and keep your toddler seated upright.

Supervise continuously and let your child practise at a calm pace.

Ask a clinician about repeated difficulty with finger foods or swallowing.