Your toddler joins the family table
As a busy mom you might grab breakfast on the go or eat lunch in the car and think nothing of it. But as someone who’s new to eating, your toddler needs to practice her skills at the table.
When it comes to meal and snack times, remember the three S’s: safe, seated, and supervised. It’s much safer than letting her walk around while eating. Can’t get your little one to sit still long enough to eat? Try these tricks:
Set a good example. If your toddler sees everyone eating at the dinner table, she’ll want to do it too. Try to sit down and eat meals as a family.
A place of her own. Your toddler will want to eat at the table if she looks forward to it. Set out her favorite plate, cup, and tableware. Make sure everyone else has a place setting as well, so she sees that she’s just like the big people.
Regular mealtimes. Little ones like routine, so the more you can stick to one, the better. Try to have dinner around the same time each night. If you wait too long, it will be closer to her bedtime, when she’s likely to be not as cooperative.
Give it time. As she grows into an active toddler, she’ll have even more things to engage her interest. This may be frustrating as you try to focus her on things like eating. Everything will take a little longer. But be patient, because your little one has a whole world to discover.
Learn more about teaching your toddler to eat healthy.