If your baby shows an interest in finger foods before the age of one, feel free to begin this fun (and messy) phase—but be sure to stay away from these potential choking hazards:
Hot dogs or sausages (unless cut into noodle-like strips and then again into ½-inch chunks)
Sausages
Whole grapes (okay if chopped in half)
Whole Grapes
Cherry tomatoes (tomatoes of any size usually aren’t introduced until after baby’s first birthday because of their acidity)
Cherry Tomatoes
Popcorn
Popcorn
Chunks of hard cheese (okay if chopped into very small pieces)
Hard Cheese
White bread (unlike whole-grain bread, white bread can be very mushy and can stick to the roof of baby’s mouth and back of his throat, making it difficult to swallow)
White Bread
Raisins and other sticky, dried fruits
Raisins
Hard, raw vegetables such as carrots, apples, celery, broccoli, and cauliflower
Vegetables