When your baby first tries to feed herself, she'll probably just push food into her face (and occasionally her mouth) with a flat hand. Later, chances are she'll try smearing her food all over the tray or table. You can put this instinct to good use by putting bread or a cracker between her hand and the tray — or better yet, use our Beech-Nut® Stage 4® Toddler Snacks. She'll smear the food onto the bread all by herself — as a result, she'll be more inclined to eat it.

Juice Wigglers (8 months+)

1 Tbsp. (1 oz.) unflavored gelatin
1/2 cup water
1 1/4 cups Beech-Nut® Apple Juice

Place gelatin and water in 1 qt. saucepan and melt over low heat until dissolved, stirring continuously. Add juice and mix well. Pour into an 8" x 8" x 2" pan and refrigerate until firm (1-2 hours). When firm, cut into 1/2 inch cubes. Dip knife in hot water for smooth cutting. Makes 3-4 servings. For variety, try other Beech-Nut Juices.

Peach Swirls (8 months+)

2 slices white sandwich bread
2 Tbsp. Beech-Nut® Stage 1® Peaches

Toast bread and remove crusts. Roll out each slice of bread as thinly as possible. Spread with peaches and roll up like a jelly roll. Cut each roll into 8 (1/2 inch) slices. Makes 16 slices.

Banana Sticks® (8 months+)

You'll need:
1 small toasted waffle
1-2 Tbsp. Beech-Nut® Chiquita® Bananas

Spread the Beech-Nut Chiquita® Bananas on the waffle. Cut the waffle into sticks about 1/2-inch wide. Makes 4.

Chiquita^® is a registered trademark of Chiquita Brands, L.L.C.

Ice Trays Aren't Just For Ice

Use a plastic ice tray as a serving dish for foods of different textures: strained fruits and vegetables, diced pieces of toast, cheese bits, yogurt. By including some strained foods, you allow your child to use pieces of the toast to dip into the strained purees. Your child gets nutrition from the various food groups, explores new taste sensations... and has a lot of fun, too.