When your baby’s first little tooth erupts, it gives rise to mixed emotions. On one hand, there’s joy, because your little one is growing and on the other hand, there’s horror, if you’re still breastfeeding! For most babies, the first tooth makes an appearance anywhere from four months onward and some babies are even born with teeth. On the other end of the spectrum, you may have a late bloomer, whose first tooth takes its own sweet time, maybe even till he’s a year old! Here are 50 foods for 1 year old with few teeth.
But you’re obviously not going to wait till his first birthday to start solids! Since the recommended age for starting to wean is 6 months, many babies don’t depend upon their teeth to eat. Besides, the first teeth that appear are usually the front teeth, which aren’t used for chewing anyway. (Their gums are enough for that, which your poor nipples probably know by now!)
For most babies till the age of 8 months, the puree and porridge phase goes by smoothly. But many Moms worry about their child’s diet after this phase, when they start thinking about introducing lumpier textures in their baby’s diet. Now you don’t need to worry if your baby still doesn’t have any teeth yet – we assure you, he’s not going to starve! Keep breastfeeding him for as long as you want, and as for foods, we’ve drawn up a list of 50 foods for babies without teeth , even if he’s still waiting for that first tooth!
50 foods for 1 year old with few teeth
Fruit Finger foods for babies without teeth
Most fruits can be fed directly, as long as they’re ripe. For starters, avoid the peel and ensure there are no seeds. For harder fruits, you can stew them for a few minutes to make them soft. These are finger foods for 6 month old baby with no teeth
1. Bananas – Can be fed as it is, just ensure that it is ripe enough
2. Avocado – Go for perfectly ripe avocados, or it’ll be too hard for baby
3. Peach – Feed ripe peaches directly
4. Mango – Go for ripe ones, but avoid the extremely squishy ones
5. Strawberries – Hull before offering to baby
6. Watermelon – Remove the seeds and ensure only the red parts are given
7. Pear – Peel and give baby; if it seems to hard, stew it for some time
8. Apple – Peel before giving baby; if the apple is too crunchy, stew it first
9. Muskmelon – Can be given directly, if it is ripe and soft enough
Vegetable Finger Foods for Babies without teeth
Vegetables are hard for babies without teeth to eat directly, so will require some steaming or boiling. Cook till just soft and not any more, or else they’ll turn into mush and won’t be the texture you’re looking for. These are good for finger foods for 7 month old baby with 2 teeth.
10. Carrot – steam or boil to make it soft, but don’t overcook
11. Cauliflower – Roast or steam; take care to prevent burning
12. Broccoli – Roast or steam lightly; it’ll crumble if overcooked
13. Potato – Boil or steam well till soft
14. Pumpkin – Cook for a short while till the cubes are just soft
15. Zucchini – Steam or cook lightly till soft
16. Beetroot – Steam or boil till quite soft
Breakfast Recipes for Babies without Teeth
Many of these breakfast ideas can be made for the whole family or older kids as well. Choose from Indian and other cuisines so your baby gets used to sweet and savory breakfasts. You can add fruit on the side as well. These are good foods for toddlers with few teeth
Meals like lunch and dinner seem to be the biggest challenge for Moms of babies with no teeth, but there are many options. Adjust the salt content when you cook for baby – try adding spices instead to flavor the food. You can add all these foods in your 1 year old baby food menu
27. Flavored Paneer – Make sure the paneer is soft and not rubbery
35. Ghee Rice – Use homemade ghee for better results
36. Chicken Nuggets – You can use turkey or chicken here, be sure that you’re using boneless pieces
These are a few of best delicious foods for 1 year old with few teeth.
Snack Finger Food Recipes for Babies without Teeth
If you’re trying to get baby to eat on a schedule, you can offer her these snacks when she gets hungry in between. Try to balance it like this: if she hasn’t had any veggies all day, try with a veggie snack.These are perfect finger foods for 1 year old
44. Broccoli Cheese Nuggets – Substitute bread crumbs with powdered baby cereal and use cheese with less salt
Dessert recipes for Babies without Teeth
While you don’t need to make a sweet dish a daily affair, once in a while even baby deserves a treat! Making them less sweet will prevent a sweet tooth later, whenever the teeth come in! These are perfect finger foods for 9 month old with no teeth
45. Carrot Cake – Skip the soda, and use almond or coconut milk
49. Egg Pudding – Substitute the milk with coconut milk or almond milk
50. Wheat Halwa – Try not to make it too runny to give baby a chance to chew
Tips for feeding babies without teeth/foods for 1 year old with few teeth
1. Check the age recommendation on each recipe before feeding your baby.
2. Make sure you follow the 3 day rule with all new foods to be aware of any allergy.
3. Always be in the room with your baby when he’s eating.
4. With a new food, introduce small amounts at a time.
5. In case of any doubt, consult a doctor.
Most babies will find a way to gnaw on their food, chew on it at the back of their mouths and swallow. They generally have a natural gagging reflex to prevent choking, so they’ll spit out food that’s may be dangerous – don’t force it back down. With some trial and error, you’ll soon find that your baby is able to enjoy most foods – you’ll know when you see that loving toothless grin!
Hope this huge list of foods for 1 year old with few teeth was helpful for you, please let us know your queries in comments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you give finger foods to baby with no teeth?
Yes, we can give finger foods to baby with no teeth. As baby's gums are very strong, they can easily chew on soft finger foods with ease. In this article we have listed 50 foods for babies without teeth
What can my baby eat with 2 teeth?
Here are the list of foods that your baby can eat with 2 teeth - soft fruits, soft steamed vegetables, pancakes, soft dosas, mac and cheese, khichdi etc. we have compiled a interesting list of 50 foods for babies with few teeth
What can I feed my 1 year old with no teeth?
Here are the list of foods that you can give your 1 year old baby with no teeth - soft fruits, soft steamed vegetables, pancakes, soft dosas, mac and cheese, khichdi etc. we have compiled a interesting list of 50 foods for 1 year old baby with no teeth.
What should 1 year old be eating?
A 1 year old baby can eat all the foods that the family eats with less spice and salt
Buy Healthy Nutritious Baby, Toddler food made by our own Doctor Mom !
You are most welcome 🙂 You can gradually introduce finger foods after 8 months. Introducing all the consistencies of food is also important, so that it would be easy for the kid to accept all family foods when grows up..
You have some great ideas on your website….but there are WAY too many adverts popping up. It makes it nearly impossible to navigate your page. what a shame 🙁
Really love your website and its been quite a go-to for me. My baby is a year old and has sprouted his 2 bottom teeth recently. He has never really put anything in his mouth to chew on, except his fingers occassionally or a soft toy or something (recently) if he’s hungry. He used to have khichdi, yogurt, but now wont even look at it. He hates banana and I believe im seeing a pattern where he dislikes slimy foods.
Out of desperation I’ve offered him biscuit (he will have a little) and chocolate he loves. Gets half a piece occasionally. But these days he only prefers crispy food like kurmura or a wafer.. and that too he swallowed a kurmura or bite of wafer whole, without chewing. Sometimes while offering food, if he does not like it, he will retch and at times vomit everything out, including milk that he’s had an hour ago.
What do I do? At the most if he likes something, and it’s on his lip, he will try to push it in with his palm. He had not developed his pincer grip yet.
He is very active.
I’m not one of those moms who wants their child to eat as per their expectations but at least something, even teaspoonfuls..anything to reduce the milk intake and increase other wholesome food.
Do I try BLW? How long could it take before he actually eats well or even puts Some food in his mouth?
Do I keep him hungry (for milk) and then give food? Though I’m not comfortable doing that and he does not give in easily either (tried 2ice before)
Please advice.
Hi Komal,
I can completely understand, as this is a phase in every baby’s life. It’s time to improve his feeding abilities dear, Give him more finger foods. Allow him to use his hands and explore foods, let that be messy, never worry. Let him have small amounts of nutritious foods. I suggest not to look for junks just because he eats it. Make the meal time more fun. Please find below link with tips on BLW- Baby led weaning. This would definitely be helpful dear.
Link – https://goo.gl/63TZZz
Many moms have the same concern that their baby is not eating properly, Between 6 and 12 months of age, many babies or even toddlers go through a passing stage of refusing solids and favoring milk—either from the breast, or formula. This preference is likely due to the ease and familiarity of sucking from the breast or bottle versus the hard work of swallowing solid food. As long as your baby gets the nutrients she needs during this phase, there’s no real cause for concern.
Here’s how to keep her healthy and encourage her to return to solids:
1. Feed enough breast milk
2. For picky solid-food eaters, stick with foods that pack the most nutritional punch in a small volume. Best choices are avocado, yogurt, tofu, eggs, veggies (such as carrots and squash)
3. Perhaps your baby is trying to tell you that she wants an upgrade in cuisine! Give her more finger foods Just let her eat with her hands and clean up when she’s finished.
4. Continue to put a wide variety of foods in front of your child and then TOTALLY IGNORE what she does with the food. No comments, no begging, no cajoling
The important thing is not to react or turn it into an emotional issue or a power struggle. Then you will get a picky eater for sure!
Hope this helps,
Also check the 10 months food chart on the site for variety of food options.
Dear , as long as the baby is active and achieving all other milestones well, there is not much need to worry. Continue to offer her food full of nutrition.
Hi ,
On reading few recipes as given above for babies without teeth I couldn’t get a clear picture on the age factor. My baby is 10 months and not sure if it’s safe for her. Would really appreciate if you could update these recipes with the age factor or if any particular link where I could get it.
Thanks. I have been following your suggestions and recipes which have helped me.
Baby led weaning!!! Baby can have anything starting at 6 months with or without teeth. I never did any purées for my kids. I did a lot of the food listed and more. Made everything…never processed because then you get all the garbage. No salt, only spices. Unsalted butter was my best friend and so good for that age so used that cooking all them time. Best is banana pancakes. 2 eggs(entire egg baby doesn’t have to wait on either part of egg until certain age) 2 bananas cinnamon and splash of vanilla extra (optional). Mash up, not puree, and throw in a frying pan.
Hi ma’am,
Thank you for guiding moms with such wonderful dishes. I am worried about my one year old child growth rate. She doesn’t eats well and she is weighing just 7.3kgs.I give her four to five meals a day but still she is not putting weigh. She has two teeths on top and bottom. But she is not ready to take finger foods and regular food. Please guide maam.
My baby will turn to 1year on 23rd april
,his name is shlok, please give me ideas related to his name. my 2nd anniversary and hubby’s birthday are on same day or related to it.
This is a huge help and I’m so excited to try these recipes and explore the website more! Thank you so so much!!!!
It’s definitely our pleasure. Happy to help 🙂
Thanks mam for the information, it has been of great value. my son is 7months he likes compared to liquids. is there need to worry
Hi,
You are most welcome 🙂 You can gradually introduce finger foods after 8 months. Introducing all the consistencies of food is also important, so that it would be easy for the kid to accept all family foods when grows up..
Can you feed a 9 month old pancakes made from the “just add water” type of mix?
Hi,
Yes, Small pieces of pancakes can be given as finger foods or it can also be soaked in dal and fed to the baby.
You have some great ideas on your website….but there are WAY too many adverts popping up. It makes it nearly impossible to navigate your page. what a shame 🙁
Hi Lynne,
Sorry for the inconvenience caused. The issue has been rectified now.
Hi
Which brand of brown rice should I prefer and brown rice basmati or sonamasuri
Hi,
You can opt for sonamasuri. That would be the best 🙂
Dear Doctor,
Really love your website and its been quite a go-to for me. My baby is a year old and has sprouted his 2 bottom teeth recently. He has never really put anything in his mouth to chew on, except his fingers occassionally or a soft toy or something (recently) if he’s hungry. He used to have khichdi, yogurt, but now wont even look at it. He hates banana and I believe im seeing a pattern where he dislikes slimy foods.
Out of desperation I’ve offered him biscuit (he will have a little) and chocolate he loves. Gets half a piece occasionally. But these days he only prefers crispy food like kurmura or a wafer.. and that too he swallowed a kurmura or bite of wafer whole, without chewing. Sometimes while offering food, if he does not like it, he will retch and at times vomit everything out, including milk that he’s had an hour ago.
What do I do? At the most if he likes something, and it’s on his lip, he will try to push it in with his palm. He had not developed his pincer grip yet.
He is very active.
I’m not one of those moms who wants their child to eat as per their expectations but at least something, even teaspoonfuls..anything to reduce the milk intake and increase other wholesome food.
Do I try BLW? How long could it take before he actually eats well or even puts Some food in his mouth?
Do I keep him hungry (for milk) and then give food? Though I’m not comfortable doing that and he does not give in easily either (tried 2ice before)
Please advice.
Hi Komal,
I can completely understand, as this is a phase in every baby’s life. It’s time to improve his feeding abilities dear, Give him more finger foods. Allow him to use his hands and explore foods, let that be messy, never worry. Let him have small amounts of nutritious foods. I suggest not to look for junks just because he eats it. Make the meal time more fun. Please find below link with tips on BLW- Baby led weaning. This would definitely be helpful dear.
Link – https://goo.gl/63TZZz
Hi mam. My baby is 7 months old. Shall I add ghee for food. Is digestion problem will come?
Yes you can start, add minimal amount initially, so that baby learns to digest it.
Dear mam, my baby was born 1.15 KG she is 16 month now and her weight is 9.5 KG is this normal, she is gaining weight very slowly but she is active
Dear i think you have done a commendable job as a mother. If the baby is active a little underweight is not a trouble. Check this link, perhaps you can include some of these in her diet too https://www.mylittlemoppet.com/20-super-healthy-weight-gain-foods-babies-kids/
Hi Maam,
My daughter is 10months old and is refusing to eat from the start of summer. Pls suggest few recipies.
Many moms have the same concern that their baby is not eating properly, Between 6 and 12 months of age, many babies or even toddlers go through a passing stage of refusing solids and favoring milk—either from the breast, or formula. This preference is likely due to the ease and familiarity of sucking from the breast or bottle versus the hard work of swallowing solid food. As long as your baby gets the nutrients she needs during this phase, there’s no real cause for concern.
Here’s how to keep her healthy and encourage her to return to solids:
1. Feed enough breast milk
2. For picky solid-food eaters, stick with foods that pack the most nutritional punch in a small volume. Best choices are avocado, yogurt, tofu, eggs, veggies (such as carrots and squash)
3. Perhaps your baby is trying to tell you that she wants an upgrade in cuisine! Give her more finger foods Just let her eat with her hands and clean up when she’s finished.
4. Continue to put a wide variety of foods in front of your child and then TOTALLY IGNORE what she does with the food. No comments, no begging, no cajoling
The important thing is not to react or turn it into an emotional issue or a power struggle. Then you will get a picky eater for sure!
Hope this helps,
Also check the 10 months food chart on the site for variety of food options.
Hello mam, my daughter birth weight 2.8kg…now she is 15 months old..her weight is 9 kg…is it normal??l am worrying about her weight…
.
Dear , as long as the baby is active and achieving all other milestones well, there is not much need to worry. Continue to offer her food full of nutrition.
mam,
shall i give curd vermicelli to my 11month baby?
Hi ,
On reading few recipes as given above for babies without teeth I couldn’t get a clear picture on the age factor. My baby is 10 months and not sure if it’s safe for her. Would really appreciate if you could update these recipes with the age factor or if any particular link where I could get it.
Thanks. I have been following your suggestions and recipes which have helped me.
Baby led weaning!!! Baby can have anything starting at 6 months with or without teeth. I never did any purées for my kids. I did a lot of the food listed and more. Made everything…never processed because then you get all the garbage. No salt, only spices. Unsalted butter was my best friend and so good for that age so used that cooking all them time. Best is banana pancakes. 2 eggs(entire egg baby doesn’t have to wait on either part of egg until certain age) 2 bananas cinnamon and splash of vanilla extra (optional). Mash up, not puree, and throw in a frying pan.
Mam ,My som 5 yr old baby not yet chew .how can i train to chew
Dear Leena,
Please check this link – How to train babies to chew
Ma’am my daughter is lactose intolerant as well as cow’s milk protein allergic too. She is 7 month old. Can I introduce curd to her.
Mam,
My baby is 11 months old.
From when can I start giving her panneer, cheese and dry fruits.
Dear saranya,
You can start giving from now, for more information, check out our complete guide on Can I give my baby?
Hi ma’am,
Thank you for guiding moms with such wonderful dishes. I am worried about my one year old child growth rate. She doesn’t eats well and she is weighing just 7.3kgs.I give her four to five meals a day but still she is not putting weigh. She has two teeths on top and bottom. But she is not ready to take finger foods and regular food. Please guide maam.
My baby will turn to 1year on 23rd april
,his name is shlok, please give me ideas related to his name. my 2nd anniversary and hubby’s birthday are on same day or related to it.
mam,
shall i give bread to my 8 months baby..
Yes, homemade preferrable