Home Feeding

Feeding

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)