TABLE 1.

Example of the progression of feeding behavior and responsivity for young children and caregivers¹

	Caregiver proactive preparation	Child skills and signals	Caregiver responsivity	What child learns
Birth to 6 mo	Prepare to feed when infant signals hunger.	Signal hunger/satiety through voice,facial expression, and actions	Responds to infants signals: feeds when hungry, stop with satiety	Caregiver will respond and meet her needs
6–12 mo	Ensure child is comfortably positioned; establish family mealtimes/routines	Sit; chew and swallow semisolid foods; self-feed with fingers	Respond to child's signals; increase variety, texture, and tastes	To begin to self-feed; to experience new tastes and textures; that eating and mealtimes are fun
			Respond positively to child's attempts to self-feed
12–24 mo	Offer 3–4 healthy choices/meal; offer 2–3 healthy snacks each day; offer foods that can be picked up, chewed, and swallowed	Self-feed many different foods; use baby-safe utensils; use words to signal requests	Respond to child's signals of hunger and satiety; respond positively to child's attempts to self-feed	To try new foods; to do things for herself; to ask for help; to trust that caregiver will respond to her requests

¹Represents a nonexhaustive example of caregiver preparation and responsivity.