Introduction
As a child grows, they will go through important feeding stages that contribute to their ability to eat, drink, and enjoy a variety of foods. From their first suckle as a newborn to the mastery of using a fork and spoon, each stage plays a crucial role in shaping their lifelong eating habits. Understanding these milestones can help parents support their child’s feeding journey, identify potential challenges early, and create a positive relationship with food.
In this blog, we will explore the key feeding milestones, including what behaviours to expect during mealtimes and when they eat and drink. We will also cover some recommended foods and/or liquids at each stage to give you a better idea of what you might wish to expose your child to. Finally, we also share some tips for feeding to encourage healthy eating habits in your child.
Whether your child is learning to drink from a cup, trying new textures, or practising self-feeding, we’ll provide insights to help make mealtime a smooth and enjoyable experience for both you and your little one.
Feeding Milestones
Feeding Tips
- Trust your gut—if your child struggles with breastfeeding, bottle-feeding, or eating solids, seek help early. Addressing feeding challenges early on can support a positive and stress-free eating experience.
- Encourage awareness of hunger and fullness—help your child recognise these cues. Developing this skill promotes healthy eating habits, such as eating sufficiently and preventing overeating, and an overall positive connection with food.
- Introduce a variety of foods to your child—don’t be discouraged if they reject something at first. Repeated exposure increases the likelihood of them accepting new flavours over time.
- Make food exploration fun—since kids learn best through play, turn mealtimes into engaging experiences. Try having a picnic, arranging food creatively, or letting them experiment with textures, like finger painting with purees.
- Offer new foods multiple times—it gives your child the opportunity to become familiar with them. Sometimes, it takes several tries before they decide whether they like a particular food. It may even be normal to try a single food for 8-10 or more times before a child learns to accept new food.
- Expand on their favourites—gradually introduce similar foods. For instance, if they enjoy chicken nuggets, try offering a grilled chicken patty as a next step.
- Encourage trying new foods without pressure—ask them to taste something new but avoid using rewards or force. Too much pressure can lead to negative feelings about food and mealtime.
- Get them involved in cooking—let your child explore different ingredients, smells, and flavours. When they help prepare meals, they often feel more excited and willing to taste new foods.
Every child is unique
These milestones primarily serve as a guide for parents and caregivers to judge their child’s feeding development, and every child is unique in their growth. While these stages are generally predictable, they are not definitive of every child’s feeding development journey. Some children may take a bit more time to feel comfortable exploring with different tastes and textures. It’s important to be patient and celebrate each small step, as gentle encouragement and exposure can help your child become more comfortable with exploring new foods at their own pace.
If you notice that your child is consistently facing issues with any aspect of eating and drinking, and you are concerned about your child’s development, feel free to reach out to our speech and language therapy team here at Ohana Therapy!
References
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (n.d.). Feeding and Swallowing Milestones: Age Ranges.
https://www.asha.org/public/developmental-milestones/feeding-and-swallowing-milestones/?srsltid=AfmBOorCdwZi7q1bqcGvHO6hWwTlHNMYvpjqsoXBejbwyqtRLj8zUfjD
KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital. (n.d.). Feeding in the first year.
https://www.kkh.com.sg/patient-care/areas-of-care/allied-health-services/Documents/nd-handouts/9.1.1%20Feeding%20In%20The%20First%20Year%20(Weaning)%20Eng%20_no%20QR_no%20PW.pdf
