What is the practice?
This practice uses mealtimes for talking to infants, encouraging infants to vocalize and gesture to adults, and to make mealtimes enjoyable occasions for listening and communicating. The practice works best when you are feeding the child foods he especially likes. The more relaxing and enjoyable the activity, the more it will be a time for talking and communicating.
What does the practice look like?
Imagine a hungry infant seated in a highchair or an infant seat. The parent tells the child, “It’s time to eat!” The child gets excited and begins to open his mouth. The parent says, “Do you want some (child’s favorite food)?” The child gets even more excited. The parent feeds the child while saying, “Yum, yum, good.” The back-and-forth flow of the mealtime is filled with lots of talking, vocalizing, gestures, and excitement.
How do you do the practice?
The whole idea of this practice is to help the child become a conversational partner by providing opportunities for him to communicate things like, “I want more,” “I like the food,” “talk to me some more,” and “this is fun” in whatever way he is able. The ways in which the child communicates and becomes a conversational partner will depend on the age and interests of the child.
How do you know the practice worked?
- Does the child anticipate being fed by opening his mouth?
- Does he communicate to you by getting excited or reaching out toward the food?
- Does he vocalize to try to get your attention?
- This activity works best when the child is hungry and in a comfortable position. Be attentive to the infant’s signals and signs that he wants to be fed.
- The activity also works best when you and the child are facing each another. A child seated in a high chair, an infant seat, or any other seating device in which he is comfortable is important. You may need to prop pillows or towels on either side of him to help him sit upright.
- Talk to the child in short sentences like, “It’s time to eat,” “I have your favorite food,” or “Okay! It’s chow time!” Ask simple questions: “Are you ready to eat?” and “Do you want more (child’s favorite food)?” The idea is to get the child excited about mealtimes and back-and-forth “talking” with you.
- Pay attention to anything the child does to “tell you” he wants more or wants your attention. Respond to any and all things he does to get you to continue the mealtime play and “conversation.” This can be gestures, sounds, or movements.
- Make the conversational exchanges fun and enjoyable. Spark your baby’s interest with feeding games—like using a spoon as an airplane!
Take a look at more mealtime conversations
Mealtime Back-and-Forth
If 8-month-old Ashley had her way, she would only eat applesauce! She gets so excited whenever she sees that she gets to eat her favorite food. She coos, squeals, and yells with delight. Corrine, her caregiver, knows that this mealtime will have Ashley “talking up a storm.” Corrine tells Ashley, “I have your favorite food! Applesauce!” in an excited manner. Ashley immediately responds by getting excited and by vocalizing as loud as she can. Corrine puts Ashley in her highchair and says, “Open up. Here it comes!” Without hesitation, Ashley is “biting at the bit” to get her first mouthful. “You like that, don’t you?” Corrine asks. The entire mealtime turns into a back-and-forth exchange between Corrine and Ashley, each playing their part in this delightful conversation.
Your-Turn/My-Turn
Seven-month-old Nathan will pretty much eat whatever is put in front of him, and he’ll let you know in no uncertain way that he is hungry! His home visitor has suggested that because he likes to eat so much, mealtimes are a good chance to engage Nathan in back-and-forth communication. His father feeds Nathan while his son is in an infant seat sitting on the kitchen table. Dad puts some food on a spoon and begins feeding Nathan. He asks, “Do you like that? Do you want more?” Nathan says “Yes” by waving his arms and making movements with his lips. Dad says, “Let’s try some peaches. What do you think?” Next he asks, “What about some bananas? Is that a yes?” Dad continues engaging Nathan in conversation by asking questions, as his home visitor suggested, describing what he is doing, and so forth, which involves his son in a your-turn/my-turn exchange throughout the meal. It is clear that Nathan not only likes his food but very much enjoys this father-and-son time together.
Do You Want More?
Nicole has had difficulties taking liquids from a bottle ever since she was born. Mom has gotten advice from an early interventionist, who has helped her increase Nicole’s fluid intake. Mom noticed a while back that Nicole has started looking at her bottle or at her mom while being fed. Mom began experimenting with feeding time to see if she could make it more fun and enjoyable for her daughter. With Nicole nestled in her arms in a feeding position, Mom announces, “It is time for your bottle! Are you ready to eat?” Any time Nicole looks at the bottle or at mom, she puts the nipple in her daughter’s mouth. After about four or five sucks, mom removes the nipple and says, “That was good! Do you want more?” Nicole begins to make sucking movements and mom again puts the nipple in her daughter’s mouth. This has turned into a back-and-forth, your turn/my turn conversation where Nicole has figured out that looking, sucking, and making sounds gets mom to give her more to drink.
