Babies and toddlers with visual impairments lack one major avenue of exploration, and this significantly influences their awareness, perceptions, and anticipation of the food which is presented to them. Learning to eat is a complex process which involves sensory stimulation and awareness, controlled movements, coordination, and exploratory behaviors.
Cultural practices are also factors in the learning process.
Most children learn to eat with ease, and parents often have almost no awareness of the stages children pass through, or the complexity of the task. Feeding a child is considered an important aspect of nurturing which enhances the bonds of love and trust between parent and child. When everything goes well, parents feel confident in their ability to successfully meet one of their child's most basic needs. Parents and caregivers may feel frustrated and inadequate when their child does not react with excitement in the same way that other children do when different eating experiences are offered. The process of helping a child learn to eat independently can take a long time.