Age (month) | Food Type | Oral Development | Neuromotor Development |
---|---|---|---|
0-6 | Breast milk | Tongue extrusion and tongue retraction | Sucking and searching reflexes are intact. Head control is improving. |
6-7 | Soft mashed foods Liquid foods | Passively takes from the spoon, moves food from the front of the tongue to the pharynx | Grabs objects with both hands and has developed head control. Sits with support. |
7-8 | Pureed foods (lumpy) | Chewing movements begin, and they can drink from the cup. | Transfers the object from one hand to the other. Sits without support. |
8-12 | Foods mashed with a fork into a puree consistency. | Rotates the bite in the mouth with movements of the tongue in both directions. | Can use the thumb and the index finger. Head and shoulder control is complete. Can bring the food to their mouth |
12-18 | All easy-to-chew foods | Chewing and tongue movements | Walks. Can feed herself/himself. |
Babies can safely chew and swallow complementary foods at 6 months when such foods are given in the form of a puree using a spoon.1
Foods should not be given in puree consistency for extended periods. Infants should be eating semi-solid foods by eight to ten months. Babies should be able to drink from a glass at 12 months.1
Since babies’ hand skills develop around 9-12 months, the baby’s participation in feeding should be supported and self-feeding should be encouraged from this period on.2
References
- Pekcan, A. G. (2018). Tamamlayıcı Beslenme: Avrupa Pediatrik Gastroenteroloji, Hepatoloji ve Beslenme (ESPHGAN) Birliği Komitesi Görüş Raporu. Beslenme ve Diyet Dergisi, 46(1), 1-6.
- Yazıcı, B. (2018). Tamamlayıcı Beslenme. Klinik Tıp Pediatri Dergisi, 10(1), 7-16.
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