Measure 46 — SH 3

Personal Care Routines: Self-Feeding

Child refines ability to feed him or herself independently

Young children begin to develop self-feeding skills by alerting their caregivers to when they are hungry and then accepting food from their caregivers. With time, children begin to use their fingers to feed themselves and begin to learn to use a cup and spoon with assistance. Children gain independence and confidence as they become able to perform self-feeding skills more competently, developing the skills to serve themselves and even prepare very simple snacks. Sociocultural beliefs and practices influence the timing or extent to which a child may be expected to feed himself. Practitioners will need to be sensitive to the varying beliefs held at a child’s home and also be able to express those expectations and practices in the early care program/school.

Infants are able to coordinate sucking and breathing to be able to nurse or feed from a bottle without choking. As they develop the necessary oral motor skills, infants start to accept food from a spoon, eating small portions of solid foods that have been strained or pureed. They can indicate when they are hungry by crying or reaching for food. They can also indicate when they are no longer hungry by turning away or pushing food away.

Toddlers are able to feed themselves with assistance using their hands and child-sized utensils, although they are not yet proficient in using utensils. For example, toddlers may eat cereal or scrambled eggs off a tray on their highchair, using a combination of their hands and a small spoon. Sometimes, they may tire of using a spoon and resort to using their hands, or they may ask adults for assistance. They are able to drink from a “sippy” cup, and they begin to drink from a regular cup with some spilling. Toddlers will also begin to communicate to adults who are providing them food by asking for more or saying that they are “all done.” At times they may try to feed themselves too much of the food items they like and will need to be reminded to take small bites.

Young preschoolers use utensils more proficiently to feed themselves. They can sit at a table with adults and other children and eat a meal with very little assistance. Young preschoolers are able to wait until they have swallowed what is in their mouths before taking another bite. With time, they are able to begin to serve themselves food, but this skill is not yet refined. A child may attempt to scoop some fruit from a serving bowl or pour milk from a container, but she may spill some on the table or need adult assistance to complete the task.

Older preschoolers are able to serve themselves food with less spilling and less assistance. They have developed the motor ability to manipulate heavier bowls and utensils. Later, older preschoolers will be able to prepare simple snacks, such as pouring cereal and milk into a bowl or spreading peanut butter and jelly on bread to make a sandwich.