Good feeding skills are an important part of the overall development in childhood. As they progress in a step-wise manner, each depending on the one before, it is important to support and encourage the progression, especially during the early stages.

 

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If a child experiences one or more of the following, consider this a red flag:

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0-6 months

• Persistent breast refusal

• Inability to effectively remove adequate milk from breast when latched well

• Inability to co-ordinate sucking, swallowing and breathing during feeding

• Consistent coughing during feeds that is not caused by the flow being too fast

• Insufficient weight gain

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6-8 Months

• Lack of interest in solid foods

• No transition to solids i.e. purees

• No introduction to cup drinking

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9-12 Months

• No transition to table foods i.e. soft pieces of food

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12-18 Months

• No transition to cup drinking

• Not eating a variety of foods from each food group

• Not self-feeding any table foods

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18 Months

• Not self-feeding most soft table foods

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2 Years

• Not chewing pieces of a variety of food textures and consistencies

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