The age of physiological infant swallowing is:

• A. 0-3 months
• B. 0-8 months
• C. 3-4 years
• D. 4-5 years

Answer: (B)

During infancy, swallowing starts as a reflexive, suck–swallow pattern coordinated with the tongue against the palate and a relatively immobile jaw. This physiological infant swallowing is normal in the early months and reflects the immature but coordinated neuromuscular control of the oral structures. As development progresses—roughly by around eight months—the tongue control and jaw movements mature, and a more adult-like swallow pattern emerges. Because this transition typically completes by about the 0–8 month window, that range best captures the period of physiological infant swallowing.