Common Feeding Issues with Toddlers
I am here to answer some of the many questions that parents have about feeding their toddlers.
1. How much do I feed my toddler to keep them fuller longer to Improve sleeping?
First, There Is no magical amount of food that can help a toddler sleep through the night. Second, as long as you are offering a balanced dinner, allowing them to eat what they need, and MAYBE offer a bedtime snack. If bedtime Is more than 2 hours after dinner, food Is not an Issue.
2. Highchairs!!!
How do you get a toddler to stay In their highchair? If you have never used a highchair with your toddler, the adjustment will be difficult. Using shorter periods of time like snacks or small timers for activities (3-5 minutes) to work up to mealtimes can better Improve your child's ability to sit for longer periods of time like meals. Be sure you child Is comfortable. Your child should be In the upright position so they are at a 90 degree angle at the hips. A towel or blanket can be used to support their back. Your child will need a footrest to provide proper stability. With a footrest, pressure Is taken off their abdominal muscles for them to remain In the upright position for longer.
3. What do I do If my toddler refuses to eat dinner, but wants a snack right before bedtime?
Often, most toddlers opt for a bedtime snack because the snacks are WAY more appealing. Bedtime snacks should be filling, not thrilling. Sticking to a general schedule should help with this Issue. Meals and snacks offered at certain times, which are decided by you, and If you dont offer a bedtime snack regularly then dinner Is their only time to eat before breakfast the next morning. Your toddler needs to learn that the kitchen Is not open 24/7. A few days/nights of setting these boundaries and your toddler will begin to understand you mean business. IF you child Is refusing to sit and continue to eat, that Is fine too, but be sure to remind them they do not get a snack (and follow through).
4. My toddler Is sick/teething, do I cater to their "pickiness" until they begin to Improve?
No. Plain and simple. It may seem easiest right now. But in the long run, you (and your toddler) will thank me because most child do not understand why their ability to choose Is now over or they may say they are not feeling well In order to get out of eating what they don't want to. So, while It Is tempting to cater to their needs, It makes things WAY harder when they are feeling better. However, some toddlers may refuse food due to low appetite or sore throat. This can be difficult, but not Impossible. Continue to offer the Items that may be "difficult" to eat along side a food that the child loves or that they find easier to eat. This way you are still offering what Is for dinner and giving a full menu, but allowing them to make choices and considering their Illness.
5. How long Is too long for a toddler to eat?
First, watch you child and observe the way they eat. Is your child struggling to eat the food because they cannot eat It. I do not mean a steak that you gave to your 1 year old. I mean age appropriate foods like cheerios, yogurt, cheese, etc. If you child cannot eat these Items I want to recommend a feeding evaluation. It should not take a toddler 60+ minutes to eat a meal. Toddlers will continue to eat until they are done, once they begin to play with their food It Is okay to end mealtime. It Is okay to have a set time for meals and say to your child "Okay, dinner Is over right now. It Is time to get ready for bed." Mealtime should be capped at 60 minutes max, but typically lasting 30-45 minutes.
These are 5 common feeding Issues that parents have about their toddlers, but these are not all of the Issues that can arise while feeding your toddler. If you have other questions about your toddler and their eating habits, let's set up a discovery call and see how I can help you!