CHAPTER
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DEVELOPMENT OF INFANT FEEDING SKILLS
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n infant’s developmental stage determines the type and texture of foods he or she should be fed. An infant should be fed with human milk or formula starting at birth while being gradually introduced to a variety of solid foods of different textures at around 6 months, when he or she is developmentally ready. Although an infant’s age and size often correspond with his or her developmental readiness, these should not be the only factors a parent or caregiver considers when deciding what and how to feed an infant, as each infant develops at his or her own rate. The rate at which an infant progresses to each new food texture and feeding style is also determined by the infant’s individual skills and attitudes. For example, some infants are cautious, others adventurous; it is always best to allow infants This chapter reviews: to set their own pace for feeding. It is important for ■ Infant behavior, including reflexive responses parents and caregivers to be aware of the stages of during early infancy, infant development and development for an infant’s oral skills,1 gross motor feeding skills, and hunger and satiety cues skills, and fine motor skills. When this awareness is by age present, a parent or caregiver is more open to ■ The feeding relationship nutrition counseling regarding food types, texture, ■ The effect of developmental delays upon feeding methods, and social skills appropriate for his infant feeding skills or her own infant at each stage.
Infant Behavior
SHUTTERSTOCK
Infant behavior ranges from the earliest oral skills, such as sucking, to the development of fine motor skills, such as maneuvering food into the mouth. It is important for a parent or caregiver to understand the stages of development in an infant’s life and to know the signs that indicate an infant’s temperament and needs. The first signs a parent or caregiver will notice are the infant’s reflexive responses, which help the infant find and take in food. These reflexes also indicate when an infant is full, needs something to be different, or is ready to sleep. As an infant grows and develops, new skills are learned and practiced, such as self-feeding and
drinking. At each age, an infant’s hunger and satiety cues will differ. It is vital to recognize the infant’s cues.
Reflexive Responses During Early Infancy Oral Skills Infants are born with the instinctive ability to suck and swallow liquids. These skills are integral to their survival. Their ability to feed well at birth can be attributed to a combination of reflexive responses that enable them to locate the source of nourishment, suck, and swallow the liquid.2
Oral skills: Movement and coordination of the lips, cheeks, tongue, and palate that allows milk to be extracted from the breast or bottle (sucking) and to make safe transport through the mouth into the stomach (swallowing) Gross motor skills: Movement and coordination of large body parts—e.g., arms and legs—allowing trunk stability for standing, walking, and running Fine motor skills: Movement and coordination of smaller body parts—e.g., wrists, hands, and fingers—allowing ability to pick up objects between the thumb and finger Social skills: The series of supportive behavioral interactions between parents or caregivers and infants that results in effective feeding and a healthy nutritional status INFANT NUTRITION AND FEEDING
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