The authoritative guide to feeding babies and toddlers “responsively”—the no-fuss method that follows your child’s cues and sets the stage for healthy eating!

Tired of struggling with your little one at breakfast, lunch, and dinner? Enter responsive feeding! Recommended by the US Department of Health and Human Services and the Academy of American Pediatrics, this revolutionary approach takes the worry out of mealtimes.

Feeding therapist and speech-language pathologist Melanie Potock gives parents the tools—and the confidence—to read baby’s communication cues and follow baby’s lead. Gone is the pressure to cajole your baby to “open wide” for mouthful after mouthful when she’s fussy or disinterested. Your baby’s appetite knows best; when they're hungry, they will tell you!

The guiding principle of responsive feeding—you provide, your child decides—applies equally to families who practice baby-led weaning, spoon feeding, or a mix. Potock unpacks the evidence to turn daunting mealtimes into a joyful dance: By listening to your baby, anticipating her moves, and taking it in turns to “lead,” you’ll build trust and connection, help them gauge their own fullness, and encourage tactile learning about delicious, healthy food!

What are people saying about this book?

“Guided by the evidence-based information in Responsive Feeding, caregivers can feed their children with confidence. The information for navigating feeding disorders and difficulties while providing a responsive approach is critical!”—Autumn R. Henning, MS, CCC-SLP, COM, IBCLC, founder of Chrysalis Orofacial

“This book will help you create successful and stress-free experiences when feeding your child—especially in the first 3 years of life—and makes it easy to transition your baby to solid foods! As a mother and pediatric feeding specialist, I wish I had this book when my children were infants.”—Hallie Bulkin, MA, CCC-SLP, certified Orofacial Myologist

“Every so often you come across a book that inspires a YES YES YES response. Responsive Feeding is one of those rare gems! From learning to respond to your baby’s signals to dispelling feeding myths to proactively addressing feeding challenges, Responsive Feeding provides all the tools, techniques, and tenderness parents need to make mealtimes joyful instead of stressful.”—Lindsey Biel, Occupational Therapist, co-author of Raising a Sensory Smart Child

“Responsive Feeding is a comforting, engaging must-read for all parents, caregivers, and professionals in the pediatric feeding space. Melanie Potock uses her decades of experience and expertise as a feeding therapist to unite the often conflicting camps of baby-led weaning and puree enthusiasts by educating readers about the beautiful simplicity of what is perhaps the most underappreciated concept in pediatric feeding.”— Malina Malkani, MS, RDN, CDN, author of Simple & Safe Baby-Led Weaning