Parenting a toddler can be both challenging and rewarding. We have practical tips on toddler behavior , basic care and bedtime routines. Keep informed with our health, safety and development tips. Need ideas for ways to play with your toddler? We have made it easy with our toys and activity suggestions.
Tips for feeding picky toddlers
Can a toddler survive on air?
A. The "norm" for toddlers is to view foods suspiciously, display picky eating behavior and confuse parents by eating seemingly nothing one day and voraciously the next. Children between the ages of one and three often go into food jags, eating mostly one or two foods, and then they get over it. This is normal behavior for a toddler. The rapid growth that occurs during the first year of life slows considerably at about age one. Thus, the dip in appetite seen in most tots reflects this slowing growth rate. Also, as toddlers become more independent, they begin to exert control over a variety of situations. Parents who try to push or cajole toddlers into eating often end up in a lose-lose power struggle. It's important to relax and trust your child's judgement since the ultimate goal is to establish positive lifetime food habits.
Parents can also avoid focusing on one particular meal and instead ask, "What did they eat for the day or even the week?" Concerned parents may want to keep a food diary to help track what their toddler is actually eating over the course of a few days. Finally, make sure your child's growth is monitored regularly by your child's health care provider.
By Connie Evers, MS, RD - Connie is a registered dietitian, author and child nutrition specialist. Her website is http://nutritionforkids.com
Q. My toddler seems to survive on air! Even when she shows interest in food, there are only three or four foods she will eat. Any ideas?
A. The "norm" for toddlers is to view foods suspiciously, display picky eating behavior and confuse parents by eating seemingly nothing one day and voraciously the next. Children between the ages of one and three often go into food jags, eating mostly one or two foods, and then they get over it. This is normal behavior for a toddler. The rapid growth that occurs during the first year of life slows considerably at about age one. Thus, the dip in appetite seen in most tots reflects this slowing growth rate. Also, as toddlers become more independent, they begin to exert control over a variety of situations. Parents who try to push or cajole toddlers into eating often end up in a lose-lose power struggle. It's important to relax and trust your child's judgement since the ultimate goal is to establish positive lifetime food habits.
Parents can also avoid focusing on one particular meal and instead ask, "What did they eat for the day or even the week?" Concerned parents may want to keep a food diary to help track what their toddler is actually eating over the course of a few days. Finally, make sure your child's growth is monitored regularly by your child's health care provider.
More tips for feeding toddlers:
- Continue to offer your toddler a wide variety of nutritious foods from all the food groups, including whole milk (or breast milk if you are nursing) until her second birthday. Whole milk and breast milk provides the extra fat needed for brain development for children under the age of two. Nonfat or 1% milk are acceptable after the age of two. Make sure your toddler is not drinking too much milk because small tummies fill up quickly and milk can replace other nutrient-rich solid foods. When milk replaces iron-rich foods, toddlers can develop anemia. Toddlers need just 2 total servings of dairy each day and a serving is 8 ounces of milk or yogurt and 1.5 ounces of cheese.
- Offer healthful snacks at regularly scheduled time between meals. Think of snacks as "mini-meals" that contain smaller portions of nutritious foods. Snack time should not be equated with "treat" time.
- To promote healthy feeding development, allow her to feed herself, never force her to try a new food and accept it as final when she indicates she is full.
- Parents teach best by example. Model healthful eating at meal and snack time.
Next: Feeding a picky eater while traveling
By Connie Evers, MS, RD - Connie is a registered dietitian, author and child nutrition specialist. Her website is http://nutritionforkids.com
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