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But there’s also no reason to linger too long with bland cereals and mushes: Research shows that most babies have the motor skills to grasp foods and self-feed by 7 to 8 months, if not sooner.

"From about eight months a child can self-feed," Black says.

Before the surgeries, however, temporary staples held the pelican’s pouch together that, within a few days, allowed the bird to self-feed on sardines.

Mixed with either buttermilk or kefir along with some bread crumbs, an egg, baking soda and some seasoning, the salmon is transformed into a soft, spongy pancake that older infants can self-feed.

Other options are homemade baked goods with no added sugar that contain peanut butter; quick cooking oats mixed with peanut butter and mashed banana can be baked into a soft "cookie" that older infants can self-feed.