Toddlerhood is full of intense emotions. One moment your little one is happily playing and enjoying life, and the next they may be on the floor screaming as if the world has ended. As many parents quickly discover, this is a normal part of toddler development — even though it can be very challenging.
One of the biggest hurdles during this stage is mealtime. Depending on the day, sharing a meal with a toddler can be a lovely bonding moment or it can feel like a battle. With a few helpful strategies, however, you can make mealtimes smoother and more enjoyable for everyone.
Prepare Before Mealtime
Preparing dinner isn’t the only thing that should happen before mealtime begins. Toddlers benefit from transitions, so it’s helpful to give your child a warning that a change in activity is coming.
A few minutes before serving food, let your toddler know that breakfast, lunch, or dinner will be ready soon. If possible, make eye contact and clearly tell them they’ll need to stop their activity shortly.
Once the meal is ready, guide your toddler to wash their hands. This step helps establish a healthy routine and also makes the transition to the table easier.
Depending on your toddler’s age, they may sit in a high chair, booster seat, or regular chair. If your child can’t comfortably see the table from a regular chair, a booster seat may be the best option. Being able to see their food clearly often increases the chances that they will actually eat it.
Creating a Positive Mealtime Environment
Once everyone is seated, try to enjoy the meal together as a family. Even if you’re not eating a full meal, sitting with your child while having a snack or drink helps build a strong family routine.
Consistency is also very helpful. Having a toddler feeding schedule that stays roughly the same each day helps toddlers know what to expect and can reduce resistance during meals.
Keep conversations about food positive and relaxed. Avoid pressuring your toddler to eat or using negative language. The goal is for your child to associate mealtime with a pleasant experience.
It’s also a good idea to remove phones, tablets, and other technology from the table. This helps everyone stay focused on the meal and each other.
Serving the Right Portion Sizes
Toddlers don’t need large portions. A helpful guideline is to serve about the amount of food that fits in the palm of your toddler’s hand.
Large plates filled with food can feel overwhelming to small children. Starting with smaller portions makes the meal feel more manageable, and you can always offer more if they’re still hungry.
Make sure foods are cut into small pieces to reduce choking risks. Toddlers should always be supervised while eating.
Dealing with Picky Eating
Many toddlers go through phases of picky eating. They may only want to eat a small selection of foods and refuse to try anything new.
While this can be frustrating, try to stay calm and positive. One helpful strategy is to include at least one food your toddler already enjoys in every meal.
Encourage your toddler to try new foods, but avoid forcing the issue. Instead, keep offering healthy foods repeatedly. It can take up to 20 exposures for a child to accept a new food.
Even if your toddler doesn’t eat the food, simply seeing it on the table is a small step toward eventually accepting it.
Be Patient with Changing Appetites
Toddlers naturally go through phases where they eat a lot and phases where they eat very little. Continue offering healthy food options and stay patient throughout the process.
Sometimes adjusting snack times can help ensure your toddler is hungry at mealtime. If you ever feel concerned about your child’s eating habits, speaking with your pediatrician can provide reassurance.
Do you have any tips for feeding toddlers? We’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments below!