Feeding your child healthy and nutritious food should start early in life. The earlier healthy eating habits and nutritious food are introduced, the more likely your baby will continue these habits as she grows. A lot of changes occur as your infant transitions to the toddler years -- including her diet and nutrition needs -- so be ready to adapt.
Transitions from Infant Feeding
In the first year of your baby's life, you learn a lot about how his feeding needs change. Transitions from breast or bottle feeding exclusively to adding pureed foods and then finger foods are common stages. The one-year mark brings other significant feeding changes, too. You may choose to start your 1-year old on cow's milk, leaving formula and breast milk behind. At first, you may have to mix cow's milk gradually into formula or breast milk if your baby isn't taking to the change well. Low-fat milk isn't recommended until the age of 2, so instead give whole milk only. Begin introducing a cup at this time, too, so your baby can gradually reduce bottle use. At 1 1/2 years, it's a good time to introduce utensils and let your child feed himself. Finally, at this age, your baby's meal times are similar to yours -- three meals a day with two to three snacks in between.
Feeding Tips
Your toddler may skip meals, and this isn't uncommon at this age. KidsHealth.org recommends not pushing your child to eat when she's not hungry and instead respond to her natural hunger and fullness cues. You should balance this with regular mealtimes and avoid overdoing on-demand feeding. It's important for parents to set boundaries but not be overly controlling. Don't expect your toddler's weight to increase rapidly as it did before. In the toddler years, activity level increases, and weight doesn't change as rapidly. Provide a range of healthy foods so you can fill your 1-year old's tummy with a lot of nutrients. Also offer water at or between meals for good hydration.
Considerations
Not getting enough iron leads to anemia and can affect development. To avoid this, make sure your toddler gets enough iron by feeding her iron-rich foods, such as meat, chicken, fish, beans and iron-fortified snacks and cereals. Also, keep milk consumption limited to 16 to 24 oz. per day. Avoid foods that are easy to choke on, such as nuts, popcorn, grapes, berries and hard vegetables and fruit. Start introducing foods that are considered more allergenic, such as eggs and citrus foods, but do so slowly and watch for signs of allergy, including hives, itching, vomiting and diarrhea. Also, don't overdo it with sweets and don't give your toddler caffeine products, such as soda, coffee, tea or chocolate.
Sample Menus
Your baby's menu at 1 year old may look very similar to yours as an adult. Annabel Karmel, author of several children recipe books, recommends meals that are healthy as well as visually appealing and fun for your child. Make your toddler's finger foods more interesting looking. Try a baked potato shell filled with a mix of mashed baked potato, roasted butternut squash and cheese, decorated to look like a cute mouse with a cherry tomato nose. Protein is an important component of your toddler's menu, so try a Morroccan lamb recipe with rice on the side. You can even offer your baby a nutrient-packed smoothie of bananas, strawberries and milk. Remember, don't limit the menu choices, add variety and experiment -- allow meals to be a fun experience for you and your toddler!
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