My son is 9 1/2 months old. While he loves to feed himself Cheerios and other hard foods (crackers, pretzels), he doesn't do too well with other foods, such as peas, carrots, pasta, etc. He's okay with thick mashed potatoes, but not much else. Any advice on helping him along with feeding himself beyond the food we spoon-feed him? Certain foods you suggest I try? Am I rushing him?

What a wonderful age of discovery--for your son and for you! At 9 1/2 months, most kids still get most of their nutrition from breast milk or formula, so the solids become something that they can experiment with without pressure (for you or for him) and he can take his time learning to like them.

Kids are so delighted when they can feed themselves! The urge to do it is strong. This is a wonderful opportunity to provide small pieces of fruits or vegetables for their little fingers – foods that are either soft or will dissolve well in the mouth, so as not to be a choking hazard.

It’s easy to teach kids to like cereal, crackers, pretzels and bread – so it seems a shame to me to waste this once-in-a-lifetime, fascinating -inger window on those items. If you do you use them, I suggest spreading a little veggie puree on the crackers, or dipping the pretzels in something healthy.

Other finger foods you might try include (be sure to get videos!) are slices of banana, cubes of avocado or roasted (or microwaved) sweet potato. Carrots work best if they have been cooked so they are pretty soft. Shredded apple works well for some kids, perhaps dusted with cinnamon. String cheese is often a hit.

Kids at 9 months tend to especially like foods that have been on your plate first. Imitating those they admire is very fun. Chicken and other meats can also be great choices, as long as they are cut small enough that choking is not an issue.

Feeding Baby Green has an entire chapter of suggestion on how to transition from being spoon-fed to mostly finger-fed. It’s an exciting time, full of possibilities.