Question

A father reports that his infant has just begun to drink from a cup and uses pincher grasp. The dietitian should recommend introducing which of the following foods to the infant's diet?

a. finely cut meat
b. unflavored yogurt
c. graham crackers
d. pureed vegetables

Answer 1

The dietitian should recommend introducing unflavored yogurt to the infant's diet, as it is nutritious, easy to swallow, and promotes hand-mouth coordination that is in line with the development of a pincher grasp.

Step-by-step explanation:

Considering the infant has begun to use a pincher grasp, which refers to the coordination of the index finger and thumb to hold an item, the dietitian should recommend foods that can help encourage this fine motor skill while also being safe and appropriate for the infant's developmental stage. Options such as finely cut meat may be difficult for an infant to chew and digest without enough teeth. Foods like pureed vegetables are likely already a part of the infant's diet as they are a common first food. Graham crackers might be a good option as they are easy to hold and can dissolve in the mouth, however, they may contain sugar and is not the healthiest first finger food. Introducing unflavored yogurt is a suitable choice since it is nutritious, easy to swallow, does not require chewing, and can be eaten with the fingers or a spoon, which can help improve hand-mouth coordination.