Newborn MIami – Baby nurse, newborn specialists, and newborn nurses in Miami.
FEEDING YOUR TODDLER-
Baby nurse Miami. Toddlers aren’t known for their table manners and willingness to try new foods, but these years are prime time for introducing healthy eating habits! Here are some suggestions, but as always please refer to your Pediatrician or Dietitian for individualized care of your little one! <3
Ages 12 to 24 months
What should my toddler eat?
Your toddler needs to eat a variety of foods every day using the Food Guide Pyramid.
Signs of readiness
- Can start to use a spoon (though proficiency will take a while!)
What to feed
- Whole milk
- Other dairy (soft pasteurized cheese, full-fat yogurt and cottage cheese)
- Same food as rest of family, mashed or chopped into bite-size pieces
- Iron-fortified cereals (rice, barley, wheat, oats, mixed cereals)
- Other grains (whole wheat bread, pasta, rice)
- Fruits: melon, papaya, apricot, grapefruit
- Vegetables: broccoli and cauliflower “trees”, cooked until soft
- Protein (eggs; cut-up or ground meat or poultry; boneless fish; tofu; beans; thinly spread smooth peanut butter)
- Citrus and non-citrus juice
- Honey is now okay
Talk to your pediatrician if your toddler has a health problem or cannot have some or all of these foods.
What should my toddler drink?
- Milk
16 oz per day
Toddlers should drink whole milk. They need the extra fat in whole milk for growth. - Water
8 oz per day or the amount needed to satisfy your toddler’s thirst. - Juice
4 to 8 oz per day
100% fruit or vegetable juice without added sugar - Other Beverages
Tea, coffee, soda, sweetened fruit drinks, and sports drinks should not be offered to your toddler or should be given only once in a while.Make sure your toddler drinks only the suggested amounts.
Too much milk, juice or sweet drinks can “fill up” a toddler. Your toddler may then have a poor appetite and not eat other important foods that would help him/her to grow and be healthy.
Feeding tips
- Experts used to say you shouldn’t give young children eggs, fish, or peanut products because the child might develop a food allergy. But the latest research from the American Academy of Pediatrics found there’s no evidence that babies develop allergies from the early introduction of these foods. Still, some doctors recommend caution when it comes to introducing foods. If you’re concerned that your child might have an allergy to certain foods, introduce them one by one and keep an eye out for any signs of allergic reaction.
- Choking is still a danger. Learn more about which foods to watch out for from your pediatrician or nutritionist.
Breastfeeding:
Breastfeeding is recommended and is healthy for toddlers.
- Continue to breastfeed your toddler as long as you both enjoy it.
- The nutritionist or pediatrician can help you with questions about breastfeeding or weaning your toddler.
Age: 24 to 36 months
Signs of readiness
- Self-feeding
- Eagerness to make own food choices
What to feed
- Low-fat milk (It’s okay to switch to low-fat or nonfat milk once your child is older than 2, but check with your child’s doctor if you have questions.)
- Other dairy (diced or grated cheese; low-fat yogurt, cottage cheese, pudding)
- Iron-fortified cereals (rice, barley, wheat, oats, mixed cereals)
- Other grains (whole wheat bread and crackers, cut-up bagels, pretzels, rice cakes, ready-to-eat cereal, pasta, rice)
- Fruits, sliced fresh or canned
- Dried fruit, soaked until soft (apples, apricots, peaches, pears, dates, pitted prunes)
- Vegetables, cooked and cut up
- Protein (eggs; cut-up or ground meat or poultry; boneless fish; tofu; beans; smooth peanut butter)
- Combo foods like macaroni and cheese, casseroles
- Fruit and vegetable juices
How much per day
One serving for a child this age is about a quarter the size of an adult serving.
- 2 cups dairy (1 cup milk or yogurt; 1 cup = 1 1/2 ounces natural cheese or 2 ounces processed cheese)
- 4-5 ounces grains (1 ounce = 1 slice of bread; 1/3 cup ready-to-eat cereal, or 1/4 cup of cooked rice, cooked pasta, or cooked cereal)
- 1 to 1 1/2 cups fruit (fresh, frozen, canned, dried and/or 100 percent juice) Emphasize whole fruits rather than juice.
- 1 1/2 cups vegetables
- 3 to 4 ounces protein (1 ounce of meat, poultry, or fish; 1/4 cup cooked dry beans; or 1 egg)
- Toddlers should always sit up while eating.
- Toddlers should be told to take small bites and completely chew food before swallowing.
- Cut hot dogs and sausage-shaped meats into small, thin pieces – notin round, coin-shaped slices.
- Mash cooked dry beans and peas
Prevent Choking:
These foods can cause choking and should not be given to your toddler:
- raw vegetables such as carrots and celery
- popcorn, pretzels, and chips
- ice cubes
- marshmallows
- hot, sticky breads
- large chunks of meat
- raisins and other dried fruit
- fish, chicken, or turkey with bones
- nuts, seeds, peanuts, and peanut butter
- gum drops, chewing gum, and round-shaped candies
Physicial Activity:
- Encourage your toddler to play actively each day. Active play includes running; skipping; jumping; dancing; and pushing/pulling small toys, wagons, or strollers.
- Limit television watching to 1 to 2 hours a day.
- Use the Food Guide Pyramid as a guide for choosing foods to serve to your toddler each day. The total amount your toddler eats will vary depending on his/her activity level and growth.
- Parents are responsible for offering toddlers healthy foods at regular mealtimes.
- Toddlers are responsible for how much food they eat at each meal
- Toddlers should not be forced to eat certain foods or to eat all of the food they are given at a meal.
- Toddlers should be encouraged to try at least one bite of a new food.
- The number of servings per day and serving sizes for toddlers are shown in each section of this pyramid. Serving sizes for toddlers are smaller than serving sizes for adults and older children.
- Toddlers need fat and calories for growth and development. They should not be put on a low-fat or low-calorie diet.
- Toddlers should be offered 3 meals and 2 to 3 snacks per day.
Finally, if you’re a vegan or vegetarian, you can still provide your infant or toddler with everything she needs. The American Dietetic Association and American Academy of Pediatrics agree that well-planned vegetarian and vegan diets are fine for infants and toddlers. Just pay attention to make sure your child gets plenty of the following nutrients:
- Calcium: Vegan babies may need calcium-fortified foods, beverages, or supplements. Check with a dietitian or your doctor if you’re not sure.
- Vitamin B12: Vegetarians can get this nutrient from milk products and eggs; vegans can use fortified soy or rice beverages, cereals, and meat substitutes.
- Vitamin D: Breastfed babies should get an additional 400 IU per day through a vitamin supplement or, after 1 year of age, from fortified cow or soy milk.
- Iron: Found in iron-fortified cereal or supplements.
- Protein: Vegans can find plant proteins in beans, cereals, and fortified soy milk. Vegetarians can add in protein from yogurt and eggs.
- Fiber: Good sources of fiber include whole grain breads, fortified cereals, and pastas, and higher-fat plant foods like sunflower butter and avocados.
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