Preschool Milestones

Eating & Drinking

By the time your child is 3 years old, he should be eating and drinking most of the same foods that the rest of the family is eating. It might still be hard for him to chew tough foods. Also, because of choking risks, it is still important at this age to avoid serving foods in large chunks (e.g large grapes, large pieces of hot dog, hard candies, etc.)

A lot of preschoolers can be described as “picky eaters.” Children at this age are starting to assert their independence and, therefore, want to have some say in what they will eat. This is quite a normal stage of development.

Red Flags for Eating and Drinking Problems

If your child is showing some of the following signs, it may be helpful to talk to your doctor or another health professional, such as a speech language pathologist, occupational therapist, dietician, or public health nurse.

Regular coughing or choking during eating
Taking a really long time to eat a meal (more than 30-45 minutes)
Getting sick often with pneumonia or chest infections
Gurgly, hoarse, or breathy voice after eating
Less than normal weight gain or growth
Lots of leakage of food or liquid from the mouth
Coughing, gagging, or throwing up during or after meals
Stuffing mouth with food
Holding food inside pockets in mouth for long periods
Difficulty accepting new textures of food

Avoidance behaviours to specific foods and textures (gagging, vomiting, blocking the spoon with hands or closed lips, crying, pushing food away, etc)
Refusing to eat more than a few foods, or refusing to eat anything from one of the food groups
Being extremely rigid about how food is prepared or how it is served
Abnormal bowel movements that last longer than a few days (diarrhea, constipation, loose stool)
Skin reactions to foods (dry patches, hives, rashes) Note: If your child seems to be having a severe allergic reaction to a food (difficulty breathing, turning red, developing hives or rash on the face/chest), you should seek medical help immediately

If you have concerns about your child at any age, please feel free to contact us to speak to a professional. You can also make a referral to our centre at anytime.

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We received physiotherapy for our daughter who was being considered for a helmet for plagiocephaly. From our first appointment to our last, we received wonderful care. The staff at CTFRC were always very friendly, welcoming, and had a great spirit. The Physiotherapist was very kind, gentle and provided us with so much knowledge!

The outlet to have a professional available for help and advice and direction was key in our success, along with the tips, tools and education I received. They are so great at checking in and making sure I know there are supports, if necessary.

Having someone to talk me through the stages and calm my nerves about [my child's] development is what helped me the most. the sessions were always super informative and gave great advice on what to work on with [my child]. Just having the peace of mind that we were on the right track. I appreciate the service so much and I would recommend to any concerned parent!

Eating & Drinking

Red Flags for Eating and Drinking Problems

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