Is your baby pointing and grabbing for the food you're eating? Are you wondering if it's okay to share some of your meal? When children get close to one year old, they're getting ready to expand their tastes. The South Dakota Department of Health offers these guidelines to help you know what is appropriate to be feeding your growing little one.
     By 9-12 months, some babies will fit into the family eating schedule-eating table foods and possibly some baby foods. At this age, many babies will: A baby's growth from five to eight months will allow for many changes in food intake. Breast milk or iron-fortified formula still needs to be the main part of a baby's diet. Solids may be started at this time.

• Eat with their fingers
• Reach for a spoon to start spoon-feeding themselves (may need help)
• Want to drink from a cup that is held, or may begin to hold cup
• Want to eat table foods

     To help your child get accustomed to eating table foods, remember the following:

• A relaxed, pleasant atmosphere is an important part of feeding children of all ages.

• Offer more breast milk or formula from the cup so your baby begins the weaning process from breast to bottle.
• Your baby will gradually move from baby foods to table foods as he or she is able to eat foods with more texture.
• Table foods should be soft and easy to chew.
• Always stay with your baby when he/she is eating.
• Your baby's stomach is small, so feed healthful foods first. Don't let your baby fill up on junk foods such as sweets and potato chips, which do not provide adequate nutrients.
• Do not give your baby soda (pop), Kool-aid, fruit punch, tea, or coffee.

     To help your child learn to eat solid foods, remember the following

Grain products

• Offer infant cereal until one year of age. If refused, mix in with other foods in small amounts.
• Grain products make good finger foods: crackers, dry cereals, bread, noodles, mashed rice, soft tortilla pieces, toast, etc.
• No need to add sugar or syrups to cereal, etc.

Meat

• Offer pureed or finely chopped lean meat, poultry, cooked egg yolk, cheese, yogurt, or mashed beans or peas.
• Limit use of fried meats, gravies, and sauces.
• Avoid use of too many processed meats such as hot dogs, luncheon meats, bacon and sausage. They are high in fat and salt and can cause choking.

Fruits and Vegetables

• Plain fruits and vegetables are best. No need to add salt, sugar, syrups, oil, butter or other fats or seasonings. The child learns to enjoy the flavor without these.
• Never add honey to your baby's foods-it can contain botulism spores that can make the baby sick.
• Be sure to remove seeds and pits.

Juice

• Offer 100% juices, adult or infant.
• Offer juice in a cup, not bottle.
• Avoid offering soda (pop), fruit punches, aides and drinks, gelatin, water, coffee, or tea.
• Be aware of juice serving size for age. Too much juice can affect your baby's appetite and prevent your baby from eating enough other foods.

     Choking is a major cause of fatal injury in infants. It can occur anytime, anywhere.