After your baby is born, feeding them is one of the first things you do. Sometimes it’s an easy task,
and for others, it can be difficult from the very start. After you get breastfeeding and bottling
figured out, the next worry is when and how to start solids.
Knowing what to expect as your child progresses
with eating throughout the years can be stressful.
Like many other areas of development, it’s
important to know what to expect as children
grow and develop. A good understanding of
feeding milestones and development for infants
and toddlers up to 2 years of age can help parents
identify early concerns. It’s important to note that
every child develops at a different pace, and below
are general guidelines to keep in mind.
Birth - 3 Months:
Consuming breastmilk and/or formula from the
breast or bottle.
Latching, sucking, and swallowing should come
without difficulty.
Eating 2-3 oz a feeding, 6-8x/day and sometimes
more often if breastfeeding.
4 - 6 Months:
Beginning to eat pureed baby food and working
up to eating up to 3 times per day.
Demonstrating increased neck and trunk control
for sitting, and being fed in a supported highchair.
Shows interest in food. You may not see this until
closer to 6 months of age.
Eating solids at this age is more for exposure to
different tastes versus nutritional needs. A baby’s
main form of nutrition should continue to be
breastmilk/formula.
6 - 9 Months:
Baby should now be independently sitting and can hold their own bottle.
Will readily accept a spoon in their mouth by opening as a spoon is approaching.
Meltables and mashed/soft table foods are introduced (usually closer to 8-9 months), and babies can tolerate thicker pureed solids.
9 - 12 Months:
Sitting without the need for external support;
however, continues to benefit from sitting in a
highchair or booster for eating.
Consuming small pieces of soft-cooked
vegetables, soft fruits, and finger foods.
Finger feeds themselves.
Adequately removes food to clear a spoon.
Able to transfer food (lateralization) when placed on center of the tongue to the side.
12 - 18 Months:
Eating coarsely chopped table foods.
Begin to self-feed using utensils.
Holds and drinks from a cup.
Uses tongue to move food from side to side in the mouth
18 - 24+ Months:
Consuming most table foods- including meats
and raw vegetables.
Fed sitting unsupported.
Self-feeding using utensils by 24 months.
May refuse to eat certain foods and become more selective. It’s important to continue to
offer a variety of foods.
If you have any concerns about your child’s
feeding and swallowing skills, it’s important
to seek medical advice from your healthcare
provider as early as possible. There are specialists
who can help children with feeding issues,
including lactation consultants, speech-language
pathologists, and occupational therapists
who have specialized training in feeding and
swallowing.
Here at LifeScape, we also offer a free feeding/
swallowing screening that can be completed
over the phone at 605-444-9778.
Check out our past articles:
4 Tips to Help with Picky Eaters
Parents – take a look at your mealtimes. Are they stressful? Is picky eating or other mealtime challenges preventing you from using that time to connect with one another after another busy day? Breathe easy, as you are not alone. Research indicates that up to 50% of all infants and children will experience difficulties with feeding. What’s important to remember is that early intervention is key, because difficult dinners can negatively impact parent-child relationships. What can you look out for as a parent? There are many behaviors that can indicate difficulty for a child to safely eat including, but not limited to:
Food aversions, including avoiding textures, flavors, etc.
Difficulty swallowing and/or chewing
Coughing and/or choking when eating or drinking
Poor weight gain
Eating a limited variety of foods, food groups
Refusal to eat or drink
If you recognize any of these behaviors, even if you feel your concern is minor, reach out to your child’s PCP to see if your child should be evaluated for feeding therapy. You can also contact LifeScape for a free feeding screening through a fast and easy over-the-phone consultation. You can speak with a feeding specialist who will answer your questions and listen to your concerns, no strings attached. In the meantime, here are a few tips to try at home to make food and eating a more positive experience for everyone at home:
Exposure - The number one thing that can help prevent picky eating is exposing kids to different foods, and not just once, but over and over. It can take up to 20 times for a child to try (chew and swallow) a new food for them to know if they truly don’t like it.
Stay Positive - Don't make mealtimes all about what your child will or will not eat. Focus on family time, conversation and having it be a time where you can connect as a family.
Make Food Fun - Let your kids explore and play with their food. Take non-preferred foods and think of a creative way to prepare them. For example, give your kids some toothpicks, grapes and strawberries and see what they can build! The ideas are endless!
Get Involved - Bring your kids into the kitchen and have them participate in preparing meals and snacks. This provides exposure to those foods, and teaches a variety of other skills- math, reading, problem solving, following directions.
Remember the end goal is bringing the joy and connection back to the dinner table, for the entire family.
The LifeScape family took time out during the week of September 11th to celebrate and honor our Direct Support Professionals and Teaching Assistants during a national week of recognition. If you're unfamiliar with what our direct care staff and Teaching Assistants do, you're not alone. They are a vital part of the LifeScape mission to empower people to live their best life.
Each and every day they make a difference in the lives of those we support. It's a job that isn't always easy, but is extremely rewarding. During this time of the year, the LifeScape family does what it can to say "Thank You", to ensure our DSPs and TAs know they are appreciated. If you follow LifeScape on social media, you're probably seen the many, many celebrations that took place.
However, if you didn't, we wanted to share with you the messages of thanks from staff, families and the people we support.
