34 WEEKS GESTATION TO FULL TERM (40 WEEKS GESTATION)

• Is developing oral-motor coordination to begin bottle or breast-feeding, including a suck-swallow rhythm

0 – 5 MONTHS

• Takes nutrition primarily through breast milk or formula from a bottle
• Begins to explore rattles and toys orally
• Begins to bring hands to the mouth
• Makes cooing and gurgling sounds during play
• Cries in a manner that is purposeful and communicative

5 – 8 MONTHS

• Begins accepting spoon feeding of semisolid foods, such as stage 1 or 2 jar foods or baby cereals
• Sometimes displays munching pattern with thicker jar foods
• Begins sitting in a high chair
• Produces emerging babbling and sound play
• Holds a bottle and tips it accordingly to receive liquid
• Begins to use cup around 8 months with an adult holding the cup and tipping slowly

8 – 12 MONTHS

• Begins to eat soft-solid foods and some first finger foods and to produce more noticeable up and down movement of the jaw during chewing
• Picks up and puts to mouth foods such as Cheerios, soft vegetables cut into pieces, and small pieces of toast
• Is becoming adept at closing lips on a spoon to clear the food off
• Holds a spoon (will not necessarily feed himself, but will hold and experiment with his or her own spoon)
• Begins eating cold and warm foods of varying temperatures
• Tolerates massaging of gums
• Produces increased drooling with emergence of teeth
• Continues to mouth objects

12 – 15 MONTHS

• Starts to hold the cup and take a few sips on his own
• May begin drinking from a juice box with a straw
• Blows on a simple and easy instruments or infant blow toys
• Starts to hold the spoon and get it to his or her mouth with lots of mess
• May be able to take a bite of a sandwich when it is held by an adult
• May drool less, even with teeth emerging
• May continue to mouth toys, but becomes more selective
• Is introduced to the concept of toothbrushing

15 MONTHS – 2 YEARS

• Is pretty independent with mealtime in terms of feeding self, using utensils, and drinking from a cup or straw
• Should be able to request foods or choose foods when given options
• May have favorite foods
• Tolerates foods of all temperatures
• Has vocabulary of at least 50 words and starts to put two words together
• Imitates adult’s words and facial expressions

3 – 5 YEARS

• Eats independently
• Participates in mealtime routines at home and at school
• Is willing to try new foods on a limited basis
• Is able to blow bubbles and age-appropriate whistles and blow toys
• Produces speech and language that is similar to that of an adult with occasional articulation, grammer, or syntax errors
• Is able to imitate rapid oral-motor movements and up to three-syllable words
• Is able to chew gum when taught in an appropriate manner
• Brushes teeth independently