Many parents find feeding their toddler to be a challenge. These are the ten most important facts and tips to remember when feeding your toddler.
- Toddlers transition to whole milk from 12-24 months, then skim or low fat milk after turning two. Toddlers should not drink more than 16-24 ounces of milk per day. Less is fine.
- Do not give toddlers more than 4-6 ounces of 100% juice per day (less or none is fine). Juice is not a health food. Avoid sweetened drinks except as an occasional treat. If you give juice, mix it half-half with water. Total intake of the juice part should not be more than 4-6 ounces a day.
- Bottles should be phased out by 18-24 months of age; toddlers should drink only from a cup by age two. Toddlers may continue to breastfeed if desired. There should be no night feedings.
- Toddlers should eat 3 meals 2-3 snacks a day and should fully transition from baby food to table food. They should eat meals with the family.
- Avoid choking hazards until around age 4.
- Most healthy toddlers do not need to take a multivitamin, and almost none need a liquid nutritional supplement (Pediasure, etc.). Your doctor will check your child’s growth at checkups and let you know if there is a problem.
- Toddlers do not grow fast and will not eat as much. Toddlers will not starve themselves and will eat enough as long as they are offered healthy foods and are not filling up on milk or juice.
- Toddlers grow in spurts had will have weeks of good appetite followed by eating not as much. They also have food jags where they really like and want one particular kind of food, and also times where they suddenly dislike some food they used to like. This is completely normal.
- You decide what foods to offer your child and when. Let your child decide which foods to eat and how much to eat. You don’t have to force them to eat; they will eat when they are hungry and will not starve themselves. They will even eat the healthy food; you don’t need to offer a substitute food if your toddler refuses to eat a healthy choice.
- Do not stress about balancing your child’s diet at every single meal or every day, but over several days to a week.
