Baby Feeding Milestones: What to Expect (And When to Actually Worry)

St. Petersburg pediatrician here with the real deal on feeding milestones. Birth-3 months: learning to latch, coordinating suck-swallow-breathe. 4-6 months: reaching for objects, showing interest in food, some grab bottles. 6-8 months: starting solids, sitting independently, may hold bottle. 9-12 months: most hold bottles independently, self-feed finger foods, try sippy cups. 12-18 months: fully independent bottle/cup, self-feeding, using utensils (messy). What matters more than timelines: progress (even slow), individual readiness, right tools, baby's interest. Call pediatrician if: no interest in food by 8 months, can't sit by 9 months, no self-feeding progress by 12 months, severe choking, weight concerns. Don't panic if your baby takes longer – ranges are huge and normal. Every baby develops at their own pace! 🌴