Feeding Milestones
0-3 Months (newborn)
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Breast milk and/or formula
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Latches on to nipple or bottle
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Sucks and swallows well during feeding
4-6 Months (Supported Sitter)
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Breast milk and/or formula
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Begins to eat infant cereals and smooth, pureed foods (single ingredient only)
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Shows interest in food
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Opens mouth as spoon approaches
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Moves pureed food from front of mouth to back
7-9 Months (Crawler/Independent Sitter)
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Breast milk and/or formula
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In a highchair, holds and drinks from bottle
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Begins to eat thicker pureed and mashed table foods
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After the introduction of lumpy solids, infants can co-ordinate all of their mouth movements; sucking, biting, and up and down munching (Early chewing can develop before the teeth have erupted as the gums are hard from the teeth within them)
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Stays full longer after eating
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Starts to look and reach for objects, such as food that is nearby
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Shows strong reaction to new smells and tastes
10-12 Months (Beginning Walker)
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Breast milk and/or formula
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Finger feeds self
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Eating an increasing variety of food
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Begins to use an open cup and can drink from a straw
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Ready to try soft-cooked vegetables, soft fruits, and finger foods
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Might be ready to start self-feeding with utensils
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Enjoys a greater variety of smalls and tastes
12+ Months (Independent Walker)
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​Hold and use open cup independently
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Improved, controlled biting skills
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Increases variety of chopped table foods
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Uses tongue well to move food from side to side in the mouth
21-24 Months
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Chews with mouth closed
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Chews using jaw movements in all directions (up and down, side to side in a rotary fashion)
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Distinguishes between finger food and food that requires a utensil; distinguishes food vs. non food items
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Has food preferences
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Eats a variety of foods
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Scoops foods with a spoon, with some spills
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Starts to stab food with a fork and bring it to her mouth
Some Possible Red Flags for Feeding & Swallowing Issues:
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Cannot latch on to breast or bottle
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Sucks in light, quick, fluttery motions rather than taking deep, regular sucks
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Stiff body or arching of back during a feeding
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Frequent spitting up and/or vomiting after feeding
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Taking a really long time to feed (more than 30-45 minutes) or unusually short time to feed
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Being very irritable/fussy during or after feeding
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Appears hungry shortly after a feeding
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Less than normal weight gain or growth
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Consistently rejects solid foods
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Unable to keep food or liquid in mouth/leakage
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Difficulty chewing age appropriate food
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Stuffing mouth with food
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Holding food inside pockets in mouth for long periods
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Difficulty accepting new textures of food​
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Does not enjoy a variety of foods and demonstrates avoidance behaviors to specific foods and textures (gagging, vomiting, blocking the spoon with hands or closed lips, crying, pushing food away, etc)
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Gagging, Coughing, and/or choking, throwing up while or after eating and/or drinking
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Gurgly, hoarse, or breathy voice
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Frequent respiratory illness, such as pneumonia or chest infections​​
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Abnormal bowel movements that last longer than a few days (diarrhea, constipation, loose stool)
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Skin reactions to foods (dry patches, hives, rashes) Note: If your child is having a severe allergic reaction to a food (difficulty breathing, turning red, developing hives or rash on the face/chest), you should seek medical help immediately.
