Feeding and Vision in Infancy

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• We learn who is our feeder
• We learn that foods look different
• We learn about differences in food textures
• We learn about the pace of the meal, how fast is that food coming, and from what direction
• We learn how a cup, fork, straw, spoon, and plate are used

We learn a lot about feeding through vision. We learn about the feeder. We learn that foods look different. We learn about the pace, or how fast is that food coming at us, and from what direction. We learn about cups, forks, straws, spoons, and utensils. We learn how other people use those utensils. We learn how enthusiastic other people are at trying new things. And, we learn what things in our environment we might want to try.

• We learn that one food is being offered and then our feeder changes it, so we learn change is coming.
• Vision helps us prepare for change!
• Vision allows for previews of sensory change from a distance
• And mealtimes change a lot!

We also learn that one food is now being offered. "The food that is being offered to us right now is baby food pears, and now my feeder just changed those pears to something green. That food that is coming at me right now is a different color, and it may look like a different texture." We learn through vision that change is coming. And, vision helps us prepare for change. Vision allows for previews of sensory change from a distance. It is our distant warning system, and mealtimes change a lot.