I gave my 7month old large finger shaped chunks of apple and she loved it!!! I chopped the side off an apple and then cut that into three lengths.... I left the skin on too. She could get a really good grip and really chewed into it.... she didn't actually eat much of it. But she sure LOVED trying. It is all about tasting with BLS before 12months IMO, and that is what a lot of the experts say. She also had the stewed or softened apples. The chocking isn't much of a hazard. they do sometimes gag with BLS and their finger food. You must not leave them alone with food, but they have great gag reflexes and if they put it in their mouths too much the spit it out.... and they learn how to handle their food.

Good luck hon