Take Small Bites and Sips for Safer Swallowing
Top Tip Tuesday: Take Small Bites and Sips for Safer Swallowing
Supporting individuals with dysphagia (swallowing difficulties) involves simple strategies that can make a big difference.
This is our seventh week of sharing practical safe swallowing tips to support carers, nurses, and aged care teams in improving mealtime safety. These tips are designed to be simple, practical, and easy to apply in real-life settings.
Why Small Bites and Sips Matter
Taking smaller amounts of food and drink helps improve control during eating and drinking.
When too much food or liquid is taken at once, it can be harder to manage safely in the mouth and throat.
Smaller bites and sips can help:
improve control during chewing and swallowing
reduce the chance of food or drink going down the wrong way
make swallowing more manageable
Supporting Slower Pacing
Taking small bites and sips naturally slows down the pace of eating.
This gives the person more time to:
chew properly
prepare for swallowing
fully clear the mouth before the next bite or sip
Rushing or taking large amounts can make swallowing more difficult, especially for individuals with dysphagia.
Some individuals may:
take very large bites or sips without realising
require reminders to slow down
need assistance to control portion sizes
Support should always follow recommendations from a speech pathologist.
Simple Tips for Staff
To support safer eating and drinking:
encourage small bites and small sips
provide verbal reminders if needed
allow enough time between each mouthful
avoid rushing the person
Final Note
If you are unsure about the appropriate strategies for an individual, it is important to seek guidance from a speech pathologist.
Check out our other article to see how to reduce choking risk in aged care during mealtimes:
