Feeding milestones by age

How to read this guide

This is a quick map of the feeding skills babies and toddlers build, and roughly when. For what to feed and how much at each stage, see the month-by-month pages, starting with feeding at 6 months.

Keep two things in mind:

• Milestones are ranges. The CDC describes each milestone as something most children (75% or more) can do by a certain age. So a quarter of children reach it later, and that’s often fine.
• Every baby is different. Some babies take to lumps and finger foods quickly; others need more time and practice (NHS). For babies born early, NHS Hounslow Healthier Together says starting solids should be based on corrected age and readiness signs, so ask your baby’s care team. See starting solids with a premature baby.

Around 6 months: first tastes

What you might see

• Sitting up with support, and holding the head steady (AAP, NHS)
• Picking up food and bringing it to the mouth (NHS)
• Swallowing food instead of pushing it back out (NHS). Some pushing out is normal at first (AAP).
• Putting things in their mouth to explore them, and closing their lips to show they don’t want more (CDC, by 6 months)

What helps

• Start with small amounts. Breast milk or formula is still the main food.
• Offer finger foods about the size of your own finger that break up easily in the mouth, as well as or instead of purées (NHS).
• Offer sips of water from an open or free-flow cup with meals (NHS).
• Watch for hunger and fullness cues. See hunger and fullness cues.

See is my baby ready for solids? and feeding at 6 months.

Around 7 to 9 months: more textures, more self-feeding

What you might see

• Sitting without support, and moving things from one hand to the other (CDC, by 9 months)
• Raking food toward themselves with their fingers (CDC, by 9 months)
• Managing mashed, lumpy and soft finger foods, and moving toward 3 meals a day (NHS)

What helps

• Move on from smooth purées to mashed, lumpy and finger foods as soon as your baby can manage them (NHS). This helps them learn to chew.
• Let them practice feeding themselves with their fingers, and using a cup with a little water. Expect mess (CDC).
• Offer the same food again and again. It can take 10 tries or more (NHS).

See how babies learn to chew and the pages for 7 months, 8 months and 9 months.

Around 10 to 12 months: the pincer grasp and the cup

What you might see

• Picking up small bits of food between thumb and pointer finger, the pincer grasp (CDC, by 1 year)
• Drinking from a cup without a lid while you hold it (CDC, by 1 year)
• Eating 3 meals a day with a wider range of finger foods, and using a cup with more confidence (NHS)

What helps

• Offer soft, small pieces they can pick up: about 1 cm (just under ½ inch) works well.
• Keep cutting round foods: grapes and cherry tomatoes in quarters (NHS).
• Eat together as a family when you can (NHS).

See pincer grasp, cup and straw drinking, and the pages for 10 to 11 months and 12 months.

12 to 18 months: family food, and a smaller appetite

What you might see

• Feeding themselves with their fingers, drinking from an open cup with some spills, and trying to use a spoon (CDC, by 18 months)
• A sudden drop in appetite after the first birthday. The AAP says this is normal: growth slows, so toddlers need less food than you might expect.

What helps

• Offer family food in small, soft pieces: 3 meals and 2 snacks a day (AAP).
• Let your child use an open cup and practice with a spoon (CDC).
• Plain cow’s milk can become a main drink from 12 months. See cow’s milk at 12 months.

See toddler meal schedule and toddler snacks.

Around 2 years: spoon and choices

What you might see

• Eating with a spoon (CDC, by 2 years)
• Strong likes and dislikes, and eating a lot one day and little the next

What helps

• The CDC says to let your child eat as much or as little as they want at each meal: your job is to offer healthy food, and your child’s job is to decide whether and how much to eat.
• Let them help, such as carrying cups or napkins to the table (CDC).

See picky eating in toddlers and toddler portion sizes.

Around 3 years: fork and helping out

What you might see

• Using a fork (CDC, by 3 years)
• Helping with simple jobs in the kitchen, like washing fruit and vegetables or stirring (CDC)

What still needs care

Chewing keeps maturing for years. The AAP says children don’t chew with a grinding motion until about age 4, so keep cutting food small and soft. Whole nuts and popcorn wait until at least age 4 (AAP; the NHS says no whole nuts under 5). See choking hazards.

Talk to your doctor if…

The CDC says that if your child isn’t meeting one or more milestones, has lost skills they once had, or you have other concerns, don’t wait: talk to your child’s doctor and ask about developmental screening. For feeding, also ask your pediatrician, GP or health visitor if your child:

• struggles with feeding, keeps gagging, or struggles to swallow (NHS Hounslow Healthier Together). If your child has choked or coughed hard while eating more than once, tell your doctor soon, even if they seem fine afterwards.
• isn’t growing or gaining weight as expected (NHS Hounslow Healthier Together)
• has a medical condition, was born early, or has ongoing feeding needs

You don’t need a red flag to ask. If something worries you, raise it at the next checkup or sooner.

If your child is choking, act right away. Have someone call 911 and start back blows straight away.Start back blows straight away, with chest thrusts if your child is under 1 or abdominal thrusts if they’re over 1. If the blockage hasn’t cleared after one round of each, call 999.Have someone call your local emergency number (such as 112 in Europe or 000 in Australia) and start back blows straight away. For the full steps, see gagging vs. choking and the NHS guide on how to stop a child from choking.

Where US and UK advice differs

• Cups. The NHS suggests an open cup or a free-flow cup without a valve from around 6 months. The AAP says an open cup, a sippy cup or a straw cup are all fine to start, and that it’s healthiest to drink from an open cup by about age 2.
• Milk or food first at 6 months. The AAP suggests a little milk, then food, then more milk at first. The NHS suggests offering food before the usual milk feed.