Advancement in Texture in Early Complementary Feeding and the Relevance to Developmental Outcomes

A child's transition to independent eating is a protracted process that progresses over the course of many years. Although major health agencies, such as the World Health Organization, now offer clear guidance when to begin introducing solids, advice about how to safely transition to progressively challenging foods is varied and comes from a staggering number of sources. The resulting conflicting views have promoted parental confusion and anxiety about what foods are appropriate and when to advance to new textures. Efforts to develop science-based recommendations for complementary feeding include research on the development of chewing motor skills. Chewing development is an essential aspect of feeding readiness that is often overlooked by agencies developing recommendations for complementary feeding, and little is known about the development of chewing motor skills and how children learn to accommodate foods with varying textures. Such information is essential for designing developmentally appropriate foods, minimizing food aversions, providing caregivers science-based guidance regarding the safety and appropriateness of new foods, and identifying children at risk for choking or feeding impairments.