Age

Expected Age Outcomes

Problem signs … if a child is experiencing any one of the following, consider this a red flag:

2 years

• Drinks from a cup  and swallows solid food with easy lip closure; no loss of liquid
• Chewing motion is rapid and skilful from side to side without pausing in the centre
• Will use tongue to clean food from the upper and lower lips
• Able to open jaw to bite foods of varying thicknesses

• Arching or stiffening of the body during feeding
• Irritability or lack of alertness during feeding
• Won’t accept different textures of food
• Takes a long time to eat (more than 30 minutes)
• Lots of drooling or leaking food or liquid from mouth
• Gurgly, hoarse or breathy voice quality
• Coughing, gagging, or throwing up during or after meals
• Frequent pneumonia or chest infections
• Difficulty coordinating breathing with eating or drinking
• Frequent spitting up
• Less than normal weight gain or growth
• Pocketing food in the mouth for a prolonged period of time.

3 years

• Eats the same food as the rest of the family

• Any of the above red flags
• Extremely picky eater.

If there are concerns, advise the parent to contact the Children's Therapy & Family Resource Centre at 371-4100 (Speech Therapy or Occupational Therapy department)