Feeding and swallowing milestones

Feeding Source: Breast milk or formula only

Feeding Reflexes 

(Present at Birth)

* Rooting Reflex: Turns head toward touch on cheek to find nipple or bottle
 

* Sucking Reflex: Automatically begins sucking when the roof of the mouth is stimulated
 

* Swallowing Reflex: Coordinates with sucking to move milk safely to the stomach
 

* Gag Reflex: Helps protect the airway by preventing objects (or too much milk) from going too far back in the mouth
 

* Tongue Thrust Reflex: Pushes foreign objects or solids out of the mouth—prevents choking and signals readiness for liquids only

Skills:

Strong, rhythmic sucking (suck-swallow-breathe coordination), usually in bursts of 10–30 sucks with pauses to breathe

* Able to latch onto breast or bottle nipple, although it may take practice and support early on
 

* Feeds every 2–4 hours, including overnight, typically consuming 8–12 feeds in 24 hours

Feeding Source:  Continue breast milk or formula; solids may be introduced if baby shows readiness signs

Readiness Signs:

* Good head and neck control when seated upright
 

* Sits with support (e.g., in a high chair with straps or on caregiver’s lap)
 

* Decreased tongue thrust reflex, allowing spoon feeding
 

* Opens mouth for a spoon or shows interest in food others are eating
 

* Watches food intently and may reach for it
 

* Starts to close lips around a spoon and move food to the back of the mouth
 

New Skills:

* Learns to accept food from a spoon
 

* Begins to swallow soft purees (e.g., iron-fortified cereals, pureed veggies)
 

* May make messy faces or gag slightly, which is part of learning

* Longer intervals between feeds (e.g., every 3–4 hours) as baby can take in more milk per feed
 

* May become more distracted during feeding—easily turning toward sounds or movement

Feeding Source:  Breast milk/formula + increasing variety of solids

New Skills:

* Sits upright in a highchair with minimal support

* Eats 1–2 small meals per day of solids, increasing to 2–3 by 9 months

* Can swallow thicker purees and soft mashed foods with minimal tongue thrusting

* Gag reflex becomes less sensitive, moving further back in the mouth
 

* Begins munch chewing with up-and-down jaw movements
 

* Begins to pick up finger foods using a raking or palmar grasp (entire hand)

* Enjoys messy eating—smearing, squishing, and exploring food through touch and play
 

* Starts drinking small amounts of water from an open cup or straw cup with help

* By 9-12 months - holds a bottle or cup with both hands

Feeding Source:  Increasing solids; breast milk/formula still important (3–4 feeds/day)

New Skills:

* Uses pincer grasp to pick up small foods
 

* Self-feeds small, soft finger foods (e.g., cooked pasta, shredded chicken)
 

* Imitates adult eating behaviors
 

* Independently drinks from straw cup with less spilling

* Continue offering new foods even if rejected at first—repeated exposure matters

Feeding Source:  Family meals + 2–3 snacks per day; milk intake ~16–24 oz/day
 

New Skills:

* Uses fork and spoon with improving accuracy

* Holds and drinks from a small open cup with increasing control
 

* May experiment with dipping foods (e.g., dunking veggies in hummus or toast in yogurt)
 

* Recognizes mealtime routines and rituals
 

* Asserts independence (“I do!”)

Feeding Source:   Fully transitioned to family foods; encourage water as the main drink
 

New Skills:

* Chews efficiently; able to eat most table foods without gagging or coughing
 

* Drinks from an open cup without help
 

* Learns simple mealtime manners (e.g., using napkin, staying seated)
 

* Begins to help with simple food prep tasks (washing veggies, stirring)

Eats 3 meals + 1–2 snacks with the family
 

New Skills:

* Uses utensils neatly and with control
 

* Can serve themselves small portions
 

* Expresses clear preferences, but more willing to interact with new foods when encouraged (e.g., tolerate on plate, touch with utensil, touch with fingers, hand, arm, or face, taste, chew)
 

* Engages in conversations during meals and follows table manners

* Can pour liquids (like water or milk) from a small pitcher into a cup with some help
 

* Holds open cup properly and drinks without spilling
 

* Scoops, spears, and transfers food to mouth with good coordination

* Uses a child-safe knife to spread foods (e.g., butter or peanut butter) while holding the plate with the  non-dominant hand

* Starts to use a table knife to cut foods

New Skills:

* Can open containers and packaging (e.g., snack bags, lunchboxes) with some assistance

* Pours liquids from a small pitcher or cup into another cup with little to no spilling

* Chews efficiently using mature rotary chewing patterns

* Can safely bite and chew raw, crunchy foods like apples and carrots (when sliced appropriately)

* May help prepare simple snacks or parts of meals, such as:

• Making their own sandwich
   
• Topping their own pizza
   
• Washing fruits or vegetables

New Skills:

* Packs simple snacks or lunches with supervision
 

* Demonstrates awareness of hunger/fullness cues and has improved self-regulation

* Begins helping with meal planning and grocery shopping

* Expands willingness to try new foods, especially in social settings

* Learns basic kitchen safety (e.g., using toaster, microwave, basic knife safety)