Feeding Developmental Milestones
Feeding Developmental Milestones
0-6 Months feeding milestones
Breast or Bottle Exclusively
Eagerly accepts breast or bottle
Nurses or finishes bottle in 30 minutes or less
Easy breathing and coordinated sucking
4-6 Months feeding milestones
Cereal, Purees
Gets excited to eat
Anticipates and follows spoon by opening mouth wide
Spoon is placed easily in the mouth
Swallows without grimace, gag or loss of food
6-9 Months feeding milestones
Textured Purees, Dissolvable Solids
Moves food side to side to mash soft textures
Shows interest and eagerly accepts all textures
“Chews” using back gums or teeth
9-12 Months feeding milestones
Beginning Cup Drinking, Finger Foods
Tongue moves food from side to side during chewing
Completely chews foods without difficulty
Drinks from open cup without coughing
12-18 Months feeding milestones
Cup Drinking, Mostly of Table Food
Swallows food or liquid without coughing
Bites through solids, moves to the side to chew
Self-feeds and easily chews a large variety of foods
18 Months Feeding Milestones
Variety of Table Foods
Has discontinued baby foods and bottle.
Competent self-feeder of a wide variety of table foods
Chews table food completely Feeding Developmental Milestones
24 Months Feeding Milestones
Most Table Foods
Eagerly accepts new foods
Eats food from all food groups24 Months Most Table Foods
Eagerly accepts new foods
Eats food from all food groups
RED FLAGS!
Chokes or coughs during eating
Gags or vomits
Congestion with eating
Fussing and irritability
Feeding refusals
Disruptive feeding behaviors
Difficulty transitioning to purees
Inability to chew table foods by 12 months
Holds food or spits out food
Accepts less than 20 foods
Does not chew foods completely
Refuses a food group
Dependence on puree or bottle after 12 months
If any of these red flags sound like your child, contact us today for a free feeding consultation!