Feeding Tips for a Developmentally Delayed Child

Feeding a developmentally delayed child presents challenges. Meeting standard milestones such as eating solid or finger foods, drinking from regular cups and holding his own spoon can be made easier by observing the child's specific needs, and allowing him to reach these stages in his own time. It is important to know the best choices when it comes to the child's first six months of life, positioning during feeding, how to introduce solid foods and correct portion sizes.

The First Six Months

• The first six months of a child's life primarily involves sucking movement, and a developmentally delayed child might exhibit early sucking problems. During this stage, parents should properly communicate with their child during feeding. Watch for the child voluntarily opening her mouth to indicate hunger, and pay attention to when the child is done. Also, don't wiggle the bottle inside the child's mouth to encourage feeding after the baby stops. This removes the need for the baby to respond to the feeding her own way. Letting her act on her own appetites will help improve any problems faced with sucking.

Positioning

• Positioning is highly important in feeding a child with developmental delays. Knowing how to position the child will alleviate possible problems with eating such as difficulty chewing, swallowing or getting the food in his mouth. Face the child, and remain eye level with him. Keep the child's body and head are upright, with the head pushed forward slightly. Keep his arms forward, possibly resting on the tray of a high chair, and allow the child's knees and hips to be in a sitting position with feet resting flat. This is the position for optimum ease when feeding the child.

Solid Foods

• When it's time for solid foods, pay attention to acceptance and refusals of food. When drives are present, like wanting to eat solid or finger foods, comply with them. One acceptance cue might be if the child focuses on or gestures toward a cup or on the food you are eating and with her mouth open. This might show her readiness to move on to that stage of feeding. Keep the child's neck erect. If she struggles with this, support her neck while she attempt to hold the cup. To help a child learn how to eat solid foods, place some food in a spoon and put it to her lips. Allow her to choose whether to accept the food. This emphasizes the specific needs of the child, and helps her to learn for herself.

Portion Size

• Portion size can be decided by allowing the developmentally delayed child to accept or refuse food at any time during feeding. Never force a certain portion size on the child. As long as the child is maintaining a normal weight, allow for small, periodic changes in the child's appetite. Let the child decide how much he wants to eat.