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Developmental Behavior in Toddlers: Learning to Eat
A toddler learns to eat by practicing with both
finger feeding and holding a spoon. Once she starts
doing it for herself, you can expect an occasional
mess; being a neat eater takes lots of practice.
Some toddlers will feed themselves certain foods but
want a parent to feed them others. If this practice
continues, it is possible that Toddler will build up
faulty eating habits she will discriminate between
the foods she wants and the foods you want her to
eat.
Such a practice can develop into a parent/toddler
tug-of-war. In the future you may find that she may
not have an appetite for your foods. We urge you to
allow Toddler to feed herself in spite of the mess
she may make.
Between the first and second years many youngsters
will give up certain foods, particularly some
vegetables. Accept her preferences and return to the
rejected foods in a few weeks.
By pushing a temporary dislike on her, you increase
the probability that the particular food may become
permanently distasteful to her.
Toddler's preferences may result in an occasional
lopsided meal but from day to day or week to week
her choices should even out to a well-balanced diet.
There is no doubt that the quality as well as the
quantity of her appetite will change during this
period. She may drink less milk, but a pint a day
(in any form) is satisfactory to cover her needs if
she's receiving a reasonable diet.
If she rejects milk, don't force it just quietly
take it away. Experienced parents report that each
time Toddler says "no, " her determination becomes
stronger.
Should it happen that she is without a daily pint of
milk or other calcium-containing products (such as
cheese or yogurt) for more than two weeks, it might
be wise to report to this to your physician.
Toddlers require variety in their menu just as we
do. Chewy foods, especially finger foods like
shredded carrot strips or a chicken leg are
excellent for their emerging teeth and for
exercising the muscles of her month.
The identical muscles used in chewing are used in
speaking. Regular vigorous chewing practice will
make the movements of tongue, lips, and jaws more
proficient.
Caution: finger foods should be introduced with care
and in small amounts, such as shredded carrots, not
sticks. Meat bones should be checked carefully to
make sure there are no small fragments that can come
off and choke Toddler.
Courtesy of
http://www.growingchild.com
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