Eats Solid and Semi-Solid Foods
“Breakin’ Bread”

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Using
foods of different textures, allow your child to accept new foods.
Position
the food toward the back of your child’s mouth to elicit a swallow.
Position
your child at a 90-degree angle whenever introducing foods or liquids.
Lightly
massage your child’s lower jaw and neck to facilitate a swallow.
Make
sure utensils are an appropriate size for your child.
Comment
on how good the food is, “MMMM”. Verbally instruct you child to chew and
swallow.
Introduce
your child to a variety of semi-solid and solid foods.
Present
one new food at each meal.
Model
eating the new food introduced.
Vary
the texture of the same food (e.g., present a piece of chicken in its regular
form, then grind it or puree it). This way the taste and temperature remain
the same and only the texture varies.
Allow
a sufficient amount of time for each meal. Remain calm and do not rush him to
eat.
Give
your child’s favorite food plus a small amount of the new food. Increase the
amount of new food until your child is eating only the new one.
Semi-solids
can be thickened by adding other foods to it (e.g., yogurts with fruit, oatmeal
with fruit).
Vary solids and liquids during meals.
Gradually increase the amount of solids introduced.