Infant Feeding & Swallowing at 36 Months: A Snapshot

Feeding can be a daunting prospect for mother and toddler alike. There are lots of things for both of you two learn as you get to know the best routine for a feed. Below is a list of the approximate milestones you could expect from your toddler by the time they are 36 months old.

New Skills:

• Feeds Self: Uses a fork and spoon to eat, but still often uses fingers.

How Toddler Eats:

• Drinks Without Spilling: Drinks from an open cup without spilling.

• Chews Well: Chews all foods, including tougher textures, without gagging or choking.

What Can Toddler Eat/Drink:

• Variety of Textures: Can eat most crunchy, hard, or mixed food textures. Avoid foods that carry a choking risk, like popcorn, hotdogs, or grapes. Cut challenging foods into smaller pieces.

• Liquids: Human milk, pasteurized fat-free or low-fat milk, and water.

Feeding & Swallowing Tips & Tricks:

• Seek Help Early: If your child has trouble breastfeeding, bottle-feeding, or eating solids, get help early to prevent problems and support a healthy relationship with food.

• Teach Hunger and Fullness Cues: Help your child understand when they are hungry and full to promote healthy eating habits.

• Serve a Variety of Foods: Offer different kinds of foods and don’t get discouraged if they don’t like something the first few times.

• Make Meals Fun: Turn mealtime into a playful experience. Have a picnic lunch outside or finger paint with applesauce to introduce new foods.

• Introduce New Foods Repeatedly: Have your child try new foods many times to give them a chance to decide if they like it.

• Build on Favorites: If your child likes a certain food, try offering similar foods. For example, if they like chicken nuggets, try a chicken patty.

• Encourage Without Pressure: Ask your child to try new foods, but don’t push or bribe them. Pushing can make them dislike eating.

• Cook Together: Involve your child in cooking. This makes trying new foods exciting because they helped prepare them.

Please note the above information is general in nature and is not intended as professional medical advice. Please seek an appointment with a registered speech-language pathologist if you are at all worried about your child's development.

References:

• ASHA (2024). Feeding and Swallowing Milestones: 36 Months. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. https://www.asha.org/public/developmental-milestones/feeding-and-swallowing-milestones-2-to-3-years/