Does my child need feeding therapy?
Feeding development happens gradually as babies learn to coordinate their lips, tongue, jaw, breathing, chewing, and swallowing skills. Meeting the following feeding and oral motor developmental milestones help support safe eating, drinking, and texture progression.
Birth to 3 Months
Feeding is mostly reflexive during the newborn stage.
Common skills: • Rooting and suckle reflexes • Coordinated sucking and swallowing • Tongue cupping for liquid intake • Strong gag reflex toward the front of the tongue
4 to 6 Months
Reflexes begin decreasing and babies start developing more voluntary feeding skills.
Common skills: • Beginning spoon feeding • Early munch chewing pattern • Improved suck swallow breathing coordination • Gag reflex becoming less sensitive
7 to 12 Months
Babies become more active and coordinated eaters.
Common skills: • Improved lip closure • Beginning cup drinking • Side to side tongue movement • Early chewing development • Rotary chewing begins developing
13 to 24 Months
Toddlers gain better control of jaw, tongue, and lip movements.
Common skills: • Improved chewing efficiency • Better bite control • Straw drinking • Chewing with lips closed • More mature swallowing patterns
25 to 36 Months
Feeding skills continue refining toward mature eating patterns.
Common skills: • Circular rotary chewing • Mature swallow pattern • Better jaw stability • More precise tongue movements
When to Seek Support
Talk with a pediatric feeding specialist if your child has: • Difficulty progressing textures • Frequent gagging or choking • Limited chewing skills • Difficulty with cups or straws • Extreme food selectivity • Stressful mealtimes
Early support can improve feeding safety, nutrition, and confidence during meals. If you think your child may be behind in some of these skills, please call us 904.324.7489 or email (Lively Therapy FL) at info@livelytherapyfl.com to set up a feeding & swallowing evaluation with both a skilled speech therapists and occupational therapists at our St Augustine Clinic (32092), Jacksonville Clinic (32216), or at your child’s behavioral center.
References
Overland, L. L., & Merkel Walsh, R. A Sensory Motor Approach to Feeding.
