You will probably unknowingly do a lot of things wrong when feeding toddlers. Your child will soon stop drinking milk, and when dinnertime rolls around, he will find himself on a completely new playing field. Therefore, all parents should know common food mistakes made by them while feeding their toddlers.
The range of choices available to parents is enormous. Some people must develop and prepare their baby food. In contrast, others are content to purchase ingredients from the grocery store to prepare puree at home, and some purchase pre-made baby food.
Whatever option works best for your family, there are a few fundamentals to consider when planning your toddler’s supper. Here are some common food mistakes that parents make as well as the most recent studies on introducing allergens and other special diets. We will even talk about solutions for typical lunchtime problems.
Some Common Food Mistakes Made by Parents Feeding their Toddlers
Prepare to hone your small child’s boosting skills:
1. A Surplus of Sugar
It is challenging to accept, however, since children worldwide often consume more sugar than adults (which is not a healthy number in and of itself). We are all aware that consuming too much sugar can result in several problems, chief among them being obesity and tooth decay.
The World Health Organization has taken note of this problem and recommends that children’s diets contain close to 10% “free sugars.” These are simple sugars in honey, organic products, unprocessed and natural sources, and basic sugars added to prepared food (including locally sourced baby food).
In addition, making your unique toddler meal is okay, but it is best to steer clear of the usual sweets. Do not forget to include meat and veggies in his agenda as well. Additionally, you may purchase baby food brands that have less sugar and do not rely as heavily on fruits or sugar.
2. Not Beginning with Foods High in Iron
A baby’s digestive system is incapable of digesting solid food until he is six months old, and even then, it takes time for the system to adapt. It takes some time and is a long process for his digestive system to get strong enough to digest solid food.
Apart from breast milk, he should begin getting iron through food at a young age. In particular, as he approaches toddlerhood, iron-rich solid food should be a regular part of his diet. You can select meat, eggs, beans, lentils, and other pureed foods to avoid common food mistakes. Once your baby is eating well, you can check whether their iron requirements are complete and explore various options with other food groups.
3. Vegetarian Diets that Lack Balance
If your child joins you in your vegetarian diet, you must include important nutrients from various sources. Little ones can do fine on vegan diets, but you must also be aware of your child’s protein requirements.
Protein deficiencies can be a concern at any age. However, they are not as hazardous to adults as to infants, whose long-term development and growth can be hampered by protein and nutrient deficiencies in infancy and toddlerhood.
4. Unreasonably Large Salt Intake
A toddler should consume no more than two grams of salt each day between the ages of one and three. Children who are just starting to consume solid food are used to the low salt content of breast milk or infant formula, and adding too much salt to their diet can upset their stomachs, raise their blood pressure, and put them at an increased risk for heart disease, obesity, and other problems.
There is no compelling reason to salt your children’s food, so you may need to keep an eye on how much salt they consume from foods you buy at the supermarket.
5. Not Paying Attention to a Satisfied Diner
If you have the good fortune of having your toddler eat happily and appropriately at mealtimes, be sure to offer him lots of attention and praise when he does so.
If you only praise your child when he misbehaves, he will act out the following time to get your attention. You can stop bad behavior if it is okay, but encourage and congratulate him if he eats happily.
6. Excessive Interruptions during Meals
Distracting your toddler while eating is one of the parents’ most common blunders. With so many distractions, how is your toddler meant to learn to eat?
Your child will put more effort into eating if you make it the major diversion. However, if your child finds eating upsetting in and of itself and struggles at mealtime due to a learning disability, another activity can be more beneficial. On the other hand, a little TV or soft music could engage an anxious child and ease their anxiety.
7. Feeding your Child after they are Already Full
Trying to coerce your toddler into eating can be tempting if he does not seem interested in eating during mealtime. Given that he or she is your child, it is obvious that you want to make sure they are getting their fair share of nutrients, but one of the most common food mistakes parents make when feeding toddlers is to feed them when they are already full.
However, most children can recognize when they are full. You should assume that your child is full if they refuse to swallow, spit up, heave, turn away from food, close their mouth to it, or cover their mouth with their hand. Demanding more food from a child will discourage them from eating fruits and veggies in the long run.
8. Following a Few Vegetables
Sticking to a limited number of vegetables when feeding your toddler is another common food mistake. Since veggies are rarely a toddler’s favorite meal, it can be difficult to ensure they receive enough. You will likely achieve more as a parent if you are open to negotiating with your toddlers over their dinner than if you are demanding or careless.
Besides, providing a wide selection of veggies at dinner and between meals is one aspect of that trade-off. It is a satisfying dinner if you give your toddlers broccoli and carrots, and they eat them.
Offer a variety of vegetables regularly and keep experimenting until you find a couple your child will consistently consume. Think beyond the box; your youngster might like a variety of squashes, beans, and root veggies that you do not typically eat.
9. Reducing Treats to Encourage Healthier Eating
Even though it is a common practice, informing a child that they cannot have a cupcake until their vegetables are finished would not properly inspire them.
Instead, over time, this increases a child’s desire for the reward and causes them to undervalue nutritious food. Instead, it is advised that you be more direct with your child and gently suggest that they try eating the vegetable. In addition, if you or your child’s sibling eats the vegetable, your youngster is more likely to do the same.
10. Being on an Erratic Schedule
An erratic schedule when feeding a child is one of the common food mistakes. We have discussed how to make mealtimes especially organized and how nervousness can be a big problem at mealtimes.
In the unlikely event that a young child can predict when dinner will occur and mealtime is signaled by some other regular ritual, like laying the table. This is also a good way to establish a strong relationship with your child, one in which they know what to anticipate from you.