If you thought feeding your baby was challenging, then eating with a toddler is going to be even more amusing for you!

The good news is your little one is now well on their way to enjoying foods that the whole family eats. It is important to remember that all children are different so be patient as they explore foods and experiment with different tastes and textures.

Try to embrace the mess, keeping mealtime a fun and stress-free environment. This will give your toddler confidence to continue to learn through food and the reassurance that mealtimes are a positive experience.

Around 12 to 18 months

At this age and stage your toddler’s coordination is improving and this means they are able to lift food to their mouth more easily and drink from a cup (with some help). They can now move their tongue side to side allowing them to chew and swallow well. They may start to refuse some foods, as they begin to utilise their independence.

Because of the risk of choking, make sure you sit with them while they eat.

Around 18 months

You will notice your toddler is able to bite pieces off larger amounts of food, even if the foods are of different textures and thicknesses. They might be able to chew with their lips closed at times and will be able to hold and drink from a cup without spilling any liquid. The more practice they have at this the better they will be.

Around 24 – 36 months

Your toddler will begin to move their jaw in different ways to manage larger bites, and eat food that the whole family is eating, all by themselves.

Chewing will help develop their facial muscles that are important for speech. Table manners will start to develop as they begin to wipe their own mouth and hands, serve themselves, and pour liquids into their cup … with some spillage.

Your toddler will now know the difference between food and non-food items and start to show clear likes and dislikes of some foods.

A helping hand

If your toddler is not consuming a variety of foods, and in the right quantities, then a toddler milk may be an option to help ensure that they get the additional nutrients they need.

See more:

• Toddler Nutrition For A Bright Future
• Is My Toddler Getting Enough Nutritious Food?