![]() ![]() Breast milk is low in iron, but the iron is well-absorbed by the child's body. The reason? Unlike fortified infant formula, cow's milk is low in iron and may lead to iron deficiency that compromises a child's thinking capacity, energy levels, and growth. "Wait until his first birthday to offer cow's milk," says Zied. There's no rush to serve a child milk, however. Feeding Toddlers: Milk and Other Dairy Products for Toddlersĭairy foods, particularly milk, are rich in bone-building calcium and vitamin D. "Self-feeding is an important developmental skill that parents should nurture," Zied says.Īllow children to self-feed as much as they can and want to, advises Altman, but if they aren't getting enough food, you can help, too. Toddler self-feeding gives a whole new meaning to the term mess hall, but it's worth it to let them try to get food into their mouth, says Elisa Zied, MS, RD, author of Feed Your Family Right! and a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. ![]() Once a child discovers they can get food into their own mouth, they may not want you to help so much anymore. "After age 2, most toddlers can use a regular cup without a lid without spilling, but if they enjoy a straw cup or a sippy cup, there's no harm in that," Altman says. ![]() Many toddlers can self-feed an entire meal at around a year old, while other toddlers may need help until 18 months or so, Altman tells WebMD. Mastering the pincer grasp, which allows children to pick up small bits of food (and other objects) between their thumbs and the forefingers, is one of the first steps to self-feeding, says pediatrician Tanya Remer Altman, MD, author of Mommy Calls.Ĭhildren start to develop the pincer grasp around 9 months, the same time they're ready for a lidded sippy or straw cup filled with infant formula or breast milk. Toddler Feeding Chartģ, at least half from whole-grain sourcesĥ, at least half from whole-grain sourcesġ slice of whole-grain bread 1 mini bagel 1/2 cup cooked pasta, rice, or cereal 1 cup ready-to-eat cerealġ small apple 1 cup sliced or cubed fruit 1 large bananaġ cup cooked mashed or finely chopped vegetables including legumes (chickpeas, black beans, etc.)ġ cooked egg 1 ounce cooked meat, poultry, or seafood 1 tablespoon nut butter 1/4 cup cooked legumesġ cup milk or yogurt 2 ounces processed American cheese 1 1/2 ounces natural cheese, such as cheddar (low-fat for ages 2 and older)įeeding Toddlers: Signs Your Toddler Is Ready to Self-FeedĮvery day, toddlers hone their motor skills, including at the table. In addition to choices from each of the food groups, toddlers need the equivalent of 3 to 4 teaspoons of healthy oils, such as canola oil. The amount of food a toddler requires from each of the food groups is based on daily calorie needs. Toddlers need between 1,000 and 1,400 calories a day, depending on their age, size, and physical activity level (most are considered active). That doesn't diminish the importance of good nutrition, but it does present some challenges. It's ironic: Because of a slowdown in growth, toddlers, who are far more active than infants, have lower calorie needs, pound for pound. Armed with some basic know-how, you'll discover how best to nourish your child up to age 3. Such developmental milestones mean their nutritional needs have changed, too. Your child is walking, climbing, running, and "talking" nonstop now. ![]()
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