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Parents often wonder about their child’s health, leading to the frequently asked question: “Is my baby healthy and growing normally?”

These information sheets outline normal and healthy growth and developmental milestones, and common health topics for your baby.

Due to space constraints, some messages are repeated at several ages while others appear once only. Read the complete set of sheets to obtain the entire information.

The Rourke Baby Record (RBR) is a guide that many Canadian doctors and other healthcare professionals utilize for well baby and child visits for babies and children from 1 week to 5 years of age.

photo of a young boy

2 - 3 Years

Feeding & Growth

  • Feed your child following Canada’s Food Guide. Offer 3 meals and 2 to 3 snacks per day.
  • If your child is following a vegetarian, vegan, or alternative diet, get expert advice to be sure that it is nutritionally complete.
  • Offer a maximum of 500 - 600 mL cow milk or unsweetened fortified soy beverage per day in an open cup.
  • Avoid sweetened liquids or fruit juices as they can cause tooth decay, problems with weight gain or diarrhea, and can take the place of healthy foods. Encourage water.
  • Avoid processed foods high in sugar and/or salt.
  • Wash all fruits and vegetables that cannot be peeled
  • Remember to let him eat as little or as much as he is hungry for. Never force your child to eat.
  • To prevent choking, avoid small, round, hard, smooth, gummy and sticky foods until 4 years of age. Have your child sit when eating or drinking.
  • Be a good role model for healthy eating. Eat together as a family away from the TV or other distractions.
  • Find out if your child is a healthy eater using Nutri-eSTEP at www.nutristep.ca

Preventing Injuries

  • Car seat safety: Follow the instructions that come with your car seat to install it properly and keep your child in each stage as long as possible. Maximum height and weight may vary with your car seat model.
  • Both you and your child should wear a properly fitting bicycle helmet when cycling. Replace it if there is a heavy impact, if it shows signs of damage or if it is over 5 years old.
  • To decrease the risk of drowning, supervise your child near water (including in the bathtub), fence any pool completely with self-closing and - latching gates, use life jackets, and take boating and water safety training.
  • As your child grows, continue to childproof your home. Keep medicines, cannabis edibles, cleaners and other toxic substances locked up and out of children’s reach. Be vigilant about hot liquids on countertops. Have Emergency numbers handy 1-844-POISON-X (1-844-764-7669). Use safe toys for your child`s age.
  • Second-hand smoke (from cigarettes, E-cigs, cannabis) is harmful. Ask for help to quit smoking. Cannabis edibles should be locked away to prevent unintentional poisoning.

Other Advice

  • Your child is usually toilet training at this age. Signs that your child is ready to potty train include interest in toileting, and letting you know when she needs to use the toilet.
  • Under 3 years, brush your child's teeth twice daily with water (if low risk for tooth decay) or with a rice grain-sized portion of fluoridated toothpaste (if high risk for tooth decay). From 3 years, assist his brushing and use a small amount (pea-sized portion) of fluoridated toothpaste twice daily. Start flossing when any of his teeth touch each other. See your dentist for regular check-ups.
  • Recommended sleep duration per 24 hrs for 2 - 3-year-olds: 11-14 hrs. Turn off computer/TV screens 60 minutes before bedtime. No computer/TV screens in bedroom.
  • Decrease sedentary pastimes and encourage daily and frequent physical activity, with free and unstructured outdoor active play for young children.

Development

  • At 2 years your child should:
    • Kick a large ball.
    • Put objects into a small container.
    • Combine 2 or more words.
    • Use a toy for pretend play. E.g. Give the doll a drink.
    • Feed herself using a spoon.
    • Try to please you.
  • At 3 years your child should:
    • Walk up stairs using a handrail.
    • Turn knobs or twist off lids.
    • Turn pages one at a time.
    • Follow 2-step directions. E.g. Pick up your shoes and put them in the closet.
    • Use sentences with 3 or more words.
    • Play make-believe games with actions and words.
    • Listen to music or stories for 5 – 10 minutes.
    • Share some of the time.
    • Start to say his emotions. E.g. happy, sad, mad.
  • Limit TV, video and computer time to less than 1 hour per day, and not within 1 hour of bedtime. Spend time reading and in a variety of activities with your child.
  • Play silly games, guessing games, active games, and make believe.
  • Play sorting games with toys, blocks, and other objects. You can sort by size, colour, shape, etc.
  • Allow some independence such as dressing, helping with household tasks, etc.
  • Help put words to your child's feelings.
  • Make time for your child to socialize and play with other children.
  • Report any concerns about your child’s development, including her hearing and vision, to her physician or other healthcare professional.
  • Empathetic, consistent and responsive discipline techniques are associated with positive behavior outcomes. Praise good behavior.
  • Read, tell stories, rhyme and sing with your child.

Resources

For more information on your baby’s health, the top 5 websites cited by the RBR Parent Resources are:

  1. Canadian Pediatrics Society – Caring for Kids (www.caringforkids.cps.ca)
  2. Hospital for Sick Children – About Kids Health (www.aboutkidshealth.ca)
  3. Parachute - (www.parachutecanada.org)
  4. Dietitians of Canada – UnlockFood (www.unlockfood.ca/en/default.aspx)
  5. Health Canada (www.hc-sc.gc.ca)

Support and Acknowledgements

Financial support for the Rourke Baby Record has been provided by the Government of Ontario. In-kind support from the Canadian Paediatric Society, College of Family Physicians of Canada, and Dietitians of Canada. 2024 brochure revisions by Dr. Anne Rowan-Legg. As information is constantly changing, the Rourke Baby Record and these brochures should be used as a guide only.

August 2024