Speech, Swallowing, & Voice Specialists of Hawaii
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10-12 MONTHS
Feeding/Swallowing Milestones
Typical milestones during this age range
Feeding/Swallowing
Finger feeds self
Eating an increasing variety of food
Begins to use an open cup for drinking
Ready to try soft-cooked vegetables, soft fruits, and finger foods (i.e.; banana slices, cooked pasta)
Might be ready to start self-feeding with utensils
Enjoys a greater variety of smells and tastes.
Chewing includes a rotary (circular) jaw action
Should be eating 3 meals a day plus several healthy snacks
Can bite into harder foods as teeth erupt
Can use upper teeth to clean food off of lower lip
Easily takes food off spoon with lips
Cup drinking more than bottle drinking
Feeding/Swallowing is a fine motor skill that also involves a great deal of sensory components. For this reason, motor and sensory milestones for this age group are also listed below as a delay or disturbance in either could influence your child's feeding/swallowing ability.
Motor
Releases objects into a container with a large opening
Uses thumb and pointer finger to pick up tiny objects
Gets into sitting position without help
Pulls to stand and cruises along furniture
May stand alone
May takes few steps without holding on (first steps around 12 months)
Moves in and out of various positions to explore environment and get desired toys
Maintains balance in sitting when throwing objects
Claps hands
Assisting with spoon
Sensory
Enjoys listening to songs
Enjoys playing/banging musical instruments
Explores toys with fingers and mouth
Crawls to or away from objects baby sees in the distance
Cries and notices when hurt
Usually able to calm self to fall asleep