Feeding Milestones

Latches onto nipple or bottle.

Tongue moves forward and back to suck.

Drinks 2 oz. to 6 oz.  per feeding, 

Sucks and swallows well during feeding.

Coughing, inability to stay latched, milk leaking should be reported to your doctor immediately.

Shows interest in food.

Opens mouth as spoon approaches.

Moves pureed food from front of mouth to back.

Present the spoon and wait for baby to open mouth.  

Holds and drinks from a bottle.

Begins to eat thicker pureed and mashed table foods.

If baby starts to gag on thicker textures, return to smoother textures. 

Baby will close lips around spoon and then pull the spoon out.  Don’t scrape the food off on the gums.  

Finger feeds self.

Eating an increasing variety of food.

Begins to use an open cup.

Ready to try soft-cooked vegetables, soft fruits, and finger foods.

Wants to self feed with utensils.

Toddlers crave routines and structure: eat at a table, eat together, offer a small variety, always have one preferred food, and creating a positive atmosphere.  NO GRAZING and walking around the house snacking. 

If your toddler isn’t eating a meal...

-add a condiment to dip,

-grab a fun spoon or fork,

-poke the food with a tooth pick,

-cut into new shapes,

Do NOT...... 

-cook something else (you already had a preferred food or two),

-beg, barter or bribe,

-get into a power struggle