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Eating Tips For Children Young Toddlers

Last Updated Oct 5, 2008 08:26 AM

Eating Tips For Children Young Toddlers

After 12 months of age, there are few foods a child cannot have. Children should be offered a variety of different foods, flavours and textures for balanced nutrition and to help them enjoy new tastes. Children will learn to eat what the family eats if they are given the same food and encouraged to try it. Low fat or restricted diets are not recommended for toddlers as they may result in poor growth.

Common parental concerns
Picky eating is common in toddlers. The world has become an exciting place and food may be less important when there are many other things to do. Some other reasons why toddlers' eating patterns change include:

Slower growth - growth slows down in the second year. This means toddlers often have small appetites and need less food. The amount eaten from day-to-day can change dramatically. Although this sometimes worries parents, this change is normal and doesn't mean your child is being difficult or is unwell.
Grazing and snacking - toddlers rarely follow a traditional meal pattern. They tend to need small and regular snacks. This suits small tummy sizes and provides the energy to keep moving all day. The amount eaten at mealtimes, in particular the evening meal, may be smaller than parents would like. However, children can balance the amount of food eaten with exactly how much they need if they are not forced to overeat or finish all the food on the plate. This means that healthy snacks are important to help provide the energy and nutrition your child needs during the day.
Fussy eating - showing independence is part of normal toddler development and this often includes refusing to eat foods to see what will happen. Rejecting a food does not always mean the child doesn't like it. If you offer it on another day, they may eat it!
Other common toddler feeding problems
Other common toddler eating behaviour may include:
Meal-time tantrums and food refusal
Unusual food habits or 'pica' (eating non-food items)
Delay in self-feeding
Preference for pureed foods or difficulty with chewing
Overeating
Reduced intake of food or reliance on drinks.
Let your child decide
The parent may decide what and when to feed, but the child decides whether or not to eat and how much they'll eat. Remember that children eat when they're hungry and don't starve themselves. Children have a natural ability to sense when they are hungry and when they are full. If you insist that your child eats more than they choose to, you are likely to be overriding this natural ability. Let your child decide whether they will eat and how much they will eat - don't get involved in these decisions.

Mealtime suggestions for parents
Some things to keep in mind and suggestions include:
Be a role model by eating a healthy, balanced and varied diet.
Remember that toddlers need small meals and regular snacks.
Don't' worry too much - a toddler's appetite and food intake can vary daily.
Offer small serves and give more if needed.
Serve the same foods as the family eats.
Serve a new food with one your child likes.
Be patient and keep offering new foods, even if they are rejected at first.
Assume your child will like new foods.
Let them tell you they're full, and don't force a child to finish all food on their plate.

Remove food after 20 minutes if your child has lost interest.
Offer new foods in a relaxed environment.
Don't use food as a reward, pacifier or punishment.
Use mealtimes to give some nutrition education to your toddler.
Make mealtimes a positive experience
Mealtimes should be relaxed and happy. Suggestions include:
Let your child explore food by touching, and expect some mess.
Let children feed themselves, and give help if needed.
Toddlers should sit at the table and eat with the family whenever possible so they can watch and copy others, try the family foods and enjoy company while eating.

Keep it relaxed, don't have too many distractions like the TV on.
Offer encouragement, but don't argue or force your child to eat.
Talk pleasantly to your child at mealtimes not just about food.
Don't ask your child to eat quickly.
Safety suggestions
To reduce the risk of choking, safety suggestions include:
Young children should always be supervised when eating.
Encourage your child to always eat sitting down to prevent falls and accidents.
Avoid small hard foods such as nuts, raw carrot, hard lollies and popcorn. Offer lightly steamed vegetable sticks instead.

Drinks for toddlers
Toddlers should be offered all drinks in a cup. Some children may fill up on drinks, particularly sweet ones like juice, and this leaves little room for solid food. Suggestions include:
Offer up to three glasses of milk only per day, and water at other times.
Give food before drinks at mealtimes, particularly for small or picky eaters.
Juice and sweetened drinks are unnecessary.
Professional help may be needed
Many parents worry about their child's eating at some stage, particularly in younger children when food intake and appetite appear to change daily. You should ask for professional help if:
You have concerns about your child's growth
Your child is unwell, tired and not eating
Mealtimes are causing lots of stress and anxiety.

Where to get help
Your doctor
Community dietitian
Maternal and Child Health nurse
Maternal and Child Health Line (24 hours) Tel. 132 229
Parentline (24 hours) Tel. 132 289
Things to remember
The parent may decide what and when to feed, but the child will decide whether or not to eat and how much they'll eat.
Toddlers' appetites and food intake can vary daily.
New foods may be rejected at first, so be patient and keep offering them. betterhealth.

See also Child 380 1 - 7