Finger feeding: how the skill grows from 12 to 20 months
Finger feeding means picking up pieces of food with the fingers and feeding themselves. It builds the pincer grasp and independence at meals. Picking up small bits of food between thumb and pointer finger is a CDC 12-month milestone; feeding themselves some food with their fingers is a 15-month milestone, and eating finger foods without help is an 18-month milestone.
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Finger feeding: the ladder, step by step
Pick the step that looks most like your child today. The next step and activities that practise it appear below.
No step picked yet. There is no wrong answer: pick the closest one.
Next step: Pincer grasp. Picks up a pea-sized piece between thumb and finger.
Activities that fit this step
- Ice Tray Snack Picking · 12–18 months · 5–10 min
- Two-Choice Snack Pick · 12–18 months · 5–10 min
- Blanket Picnic Finger Lunch · 12–22 months · 10–20 min
Next step: Feeds some. Brings some pieces to the mouth during a meal.
Activities that fit this step
- Two-Choice Snack Pick · 12–18 months · 5–10 min
- Blanket Picnic Finger Lunch · 12–22 months · 10–20 min
- Snack Signs: More and All Done · 13–22 months · 5–15 min
Next step: Feeds a whole snack. Eats a snack of soft pieces without help.
Activities that fit this step
- Blanket Picnic Finger Lunch · 12–22 months · 10–20 min
- Snack Signs: More and All Done · 13–22 months · 5–15 min
- One for You, One for Me Snack · 15–27 months · 5–10 min
Next step: Feeds in new places. Eats finger foods at a picnic or at another caregiver's table.
Activities that fit this step
- One for You, One for Me Snack · 15–27 months · 5–10 min
- Muffin Tin Snack Hunt · 16–26 months · 5–12 min
- Snack Tub Lid Twist · 20–34 months · 3–10 min
Top of the ladder (feeds in new places). Keep it flexible: offer it in a new place, with a different person or with new materials.
Activities that fit this step
- One for You, One for Me Snack · 15–27 months · 5–10 min
- Muffin Tin Snack Hunt · 16–26 months · 5–12 min
- Snack Tub Lid Twist · 20–34 months · 3–10 min
The finger feeding ladder
5 steps from the first sign to a flexible skill, covered here from 12 to 20 months. Children move at their own pace: use the steps to see what comes next, not as deadlines.
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Rakes food
Sweeps food into the palm with the whole hand.
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Pincer grasp
Picks up a pea-sized piece between thumb and finger.
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Feeds some
Brings some pieces to the mouth during a meal.
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Feeds a whole snack
Eats a snack of soft pieces without help.
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Feeds in new places
Eats finger foods at a picnic or at another caregiver's table.
When finger feeding usually shows up
This page follows finger feeding from 12 to 20 months, a window that spans the 12-month, 15-month and 18-month CDC checklists.
In the library, 7 activities practise finger feeding (3 as their main skill), for ages 12 to 34 months. One of them needs no prep and takes 10 minutes or less. By age, they sit closest to steps 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the 5-step ladder.
Related items appear on the CDC checklists for 12 months, 15 months and 18 months.
Related milestones
CDC checklist items (paraphrased) that involve finger feeding. Checklists are for monitoring, not a test.
| Checklist | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 12 months | Pinches small things, such as bits of food, between thumb and pointer finger. |
| 15 months | Feeds themselves some food with their fingers. |
| 18 months | Eats finger foods without help. |
Activities that practise finger feeding
Placed on the closest ladder step by age. By primary domain: 2 fine motor, 2 practical life, 1 cognitive, 1 early concepts and 1 language. Quickest to start: Ice Tray Snack Picking (5–10 minutes).
Step 2: Pincer grasp
Step 3: Feeds some
Step 4: Feeds a whole snack
Step 5: Feeds in new places
Skills practised alongside
The activities for finger feeding most often also work on gestures and signs (2), pointing to ask (2), counting (1), finding hidden objects (1) and following directions with gestures (1). Pairing them keeps practice playful: one activity, several skills.
Practise it inside everyday routines
- Offer soft, small pieces that squash easily between your fingers.
- Seat your child upright and stay with them during every meal and snack.
- Put a few pieces on the tray at a time, not the whole meal.
What to avoid
- Round, hard or sticky foods such as whole grapes, nuts, popcorn or chunks of raw vegetable; they are choking hazards.
When to mention it to the pediatrician
If your child cannot pick up small pieces with thumb and finger by 12 months, or cannot feed themselves finger foods by 18 months, mention it to the pediatrician; also mention frequent gagging or coughing at meals.
Worried about finger feeding between visits? Call the pediatrician; CDC's free resources also explain how to contact your local Early Intervention program directly. Milestones are for monitoring, not diagnosis.
Frequently asked questions
When do toddlers start finger feeding?
Picking up small bits of food between thumb and pointer finger is a CDC 12-month milestone; feeding themselves some food with their fingers is a 15-month milestone, and eating finger foods without help is an 18-month milestone. The first step to look for: sweeps food into the palm with the whole hand.
How can I help my toddler with finger feeding?
Offer soft, small pieces that squash easily between your fingers. Seat your child upright and stay with them during every meal and snack. A good first activity is Ice Tray Snack Picking (12–18 months).
What should I avoid when practising finger feeding?
Round, hard or sticky foods such as whole grapes, nuts, popcorn or chunks of raw vegetable; they are choking hazards.
When should I mention finger feeding to the pediatrician?
If your child cannot pick up small pieces with thumb and finger by 12 months, or cannot feed themselves finger foods by 18 months, mention it to the pediatrician; also mention frequent gagging or coughing at meals. You can also contact Early Intervention yourself.
Related
Monitoring, not medical advice. Talk to your pediatrician about any concern. Our sources and method.