Steps to Eating

Below are the Steps to Eating- There are a lot of steps to eating (totalating, interacting, touching, and tasting). This means that a toddler might not just pick up food and begin eating. 

If you have a toddler who isn't eating or who has very few safe foods (foods a child will eat) then starting with the steps to eating is the best place to begin. Begin at the top and master (child can tolerate) one step before moving on to the next. Please note that most of these ideas do not involve EATING the food- it's about exposure and tolerating interactions with foods.

When your child is ready to play with food, use small amounts so that you do not overwhelm your child and so that you are not wasting very much food (as you will most likely throw the foods away if they are not yet eating these foods). 

Please view this short video: https://www.tiktok.com/@peds_slp/video/7263496345024056619

The video demonstrates how to approach your child, how to talk/not talk to them, and how to encourage play. 

*If your child is not eating- do not make them. This is a time when we want to tolerate being around food, touching and playing with the food with NO expectation to eat. 

*Pick a time between meals (not a meal time).

*Sit your child in a high chair or at a table (this is not a time for grazing-when a child walks up to eat, then walks around before coming back for another bit) **Please note that grazing is okay for other times but not this particular activity.**

*Use tiny amounts (literally one bite or one small spoonful of each food).

*Don’t let the foods touch when you first present the foods, use a divider plate or try an ice tray (see photo- do not load food up like in the picture but see how the foods do not touch and look fun to explore). 

These are just a few basic ideas as I do not truly know your child’s journey with food and have not completed an evaluation with you or your child. This is not therapy and can not replace feeding therapy- however, I hope it helps you learn where your child is and empowers you to try food play without the expectation to eat.