Eating is a full-body skill.
Around 6 months, babies are refining:
• Head and trunk stability
• Hand-to-mouth coordination
• Swallowing control
• Early chewing movements
You might notice them grabbing the spoon… or missing their mouth entirely. Both are learning.
At this stage, they’re developing the ability to move food from the front of their tongue to the back for swallowing. That’s why textures matter- smooth at first, gradually thicker (and lumpier) over time.
Pre-loaded spoons can help. So can soft finger foods they can explore independently.
It’s less about how much goes in, and more about the repetition of the skill.
Grasp - Lift - Taste - Try again.
Maybe there’s a few extra steps in there which involve a hairwash or a hose down, but that’s all part of the fun 💛
