Developmental Milestones: 

0-3 months​ 

• Latches to nipple/bottle​ 
• Sucks and swallows during feeding​ 
• Takes breast milk or formula​ 

4-6 months​ 

• Shows interest in food and opens mouth to spoon​ 
• Moves pureed foods in mouth​ 

7-9 months​ 

• Holds/drinks from bottle​ 
• Eats thicker foods and enjoys chewing to soothe teething​ 

10-12 months​ 

• Finger feeds soft foods​ 
• Starts using open cup; may be ready to start with utensils​ 

13-18 months​ 

• Independent with open cup; grasps spoon​ 
• Eats most foods by 1 year; participates in family mealtime​ 

18-24 months​ 

• Increased use of utensils; can pick up and bring foods to mouth​ 
• Harder to chew foods​ 

24-36 months​ 

• Fills spoon with hands (instead of scooping)​ 
• Faster and more efficient with eating; stronger chewing 

Physical & Motor-Based Strategies 

• Use built-up/adaptive utensils​: there are many adaptive utensils available for children. Thicker, built-up handles make grasping a lot easier, while a curved or bent handle can support motor planning when bringing the utensil to the mouth. Ask an occupational therapist for recommendations of appropriate utensils! 
• Seating and positioning: make sure your child’s trunk/upper body are supported, food is within reach, and body is upright in chair or highchair. Sit directly in front of your child while feeding in order to support engagement! 
• Practice oral motor skills: licking food off corners of mouth, blowing bubbles, sucking through a straw, making silly faces, using chewy toys or oral vibration toys (ask an OT or speech therapist for recommendations), and chewing on tougher foods or on foods in mesh food bags​ can all help strengthen oral motor skills necessary for successful eating 

 Sensory-Based Strategies 

• Experiment with different tastes, textures, shapes, and colors of food: exposure to many types of food can help to increase a child’s food repertoire and makes eating more exciting and engaging. 
• Have your child interact with the food! Touch, taste, smell, lick, play, etc. Kids are always more motivated to do an activity if it is fun and silly! 
• Gradually introduce different foods; only introduce one at a time: if you are trying to expand your child’s food repertoire, take it slow. Introducing a LOT of foods at once can be very overwhelming and may decrease engagement with the food. 
• Encourage family mealtimes and social interaction during meals: if possible, try to build a routine around mealtimes so that they are predictable and safe for your child. 
• Create a comfortable environment: use calming sounds, try to limit distractions, use appropriate seating, and model a positive attitude towards food and eating​.
• Try different colors, shapes, or patterns on plates and utensils: a plate with your child’s favorite cartoon character on it can make eating so much more fun! 
• SOS Approach to Feeding: a wholistic approach to feeding​. More information on the SOS Approach can be found here! 

 Sources for developmental milestones: one and two.