FEEDING TIPS FROM 12 MONTHS TO 24 MONTHS

FEEDING YOUR TODDLER

Ages 12 to 24 months

What should my toddler eat?

Your toddler needs to eat a variety of foods every day using the Food Guide Pyramid.

WIC helps by providing these foods for your toddler:

• Juice
• Eggs
• Dry Beans
• Milk
• Cheese
• Cereal

Talk to the WIC nutritionist if your toddler has a health problem or cannot have some or all of these WIC foods.

What should my toddler drink?

• Milk
  16 oz per day
  Toddlers should drink whole milk.  They need the extra fat in whole milk for growth.
• Water
  8 oz per day or the amount needed to satisfy your toddler’s thirst. 
• Juice
  4 to 8 oz per day
  100% fruit or vegetable juice without added sugar 
• Other Beverages
  Tea, coffee, soda, sweetened fruit drinks, and sports drinks should not be offered to your toddler or should be given only once in a while.

  Make sure your toddler drinks only the suggested amounts.

Too much milk, juice or sweet drinks can “fill up” a toddler.  Your toddler may then have a poor appetite and not eat other important foods that would help him/her to grow and be healthy.

Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is recommended and is healthy for toddlers.

• Continue to breastfeed your toddler as long as you both enjoy it. 
• The nutritionist or breastfeeding educator can help you with questions about breastfeeding educator can help you with questions about breastfeeding or weaning your toddler. 

Physical Activity

• Encourage your toddler to play actively each day.  Active play includes running; skipping; jumping; dancing; and pushing/pulling small toys, wagons, or strollers. 
• Limit television watching to 1 to 2 hours a day 

Be Wise … Immunize!

• Children need shots to protect them from disease. 
• Bring each child’s shot record each time you come to WIC

Prevent Tooth Decay

• Let your toddler begin to drink from a small cup with a spill-proof top.  Later, let your toddler practice drinking from a small cup without the spill-proof top.  Remember, spills are normal. 
• Toddlers should stop drinking from a bottle by the time they are 12 to 14 months old.  Ask your nutritionist for ideas on how to wean your toddler from the bottle. 

Do not let your toddler sip juice, milk, or sweet drinks frequently during the day or at bedtime.  Instead, you can give your toddler water when he/she is thirsty between meals or at bedtime.

 Prevent Choking

• Toddlers should always sit up while eating. 
• Toddlers should be told to take small bites and completely chew food before swallowing. 
• Cut hot dogs and sausage-shaped meats into small, thin pieces – not in round, coin-shaped slices. 
• Mash cooked dry beans and peas

 These foods can cause choking and should not be given to your toddler:

• ice cubes
• marshmallows  
• hot, sticky breads
• large chunks of meat
• raisins and other dried fruit
• popcorn, pretzels, and chips
• fish, chicken, or turkey with bones
• nuts, seeds, peanuts, and peanut butter
• raw vegetables such as carrots and celery
• gum drops, chewing gum, and round-shaped candies

Mealtime Tips

• Parents are responsible for offering toddlers healthy foods at regular mealtimes.
• Toddlers are responsible for how much food they eat at each meal
• Toddlers should be encouraged to try at least one bite of a new food.
• Toddlers should not be forced to eat certain foods or to eat all of the food they are given at a meal.
• Use the Food Guide Pyramid as a guide for choosing foods to serve to your toddler each day.  The total amount your toddler eats will vary depending on his/her activity level and growth.
• The number of servings per day and serving sizes for toddlers are shown in each section of this pyramid.  Serving sizes for toddlers are smaller than serving sizes for adults and older children.
• Toddlers need fat and calories for growth and development.  They should not be put on a low-fat or low-calorie diet.
• Toddlers should be offered 3 meals and 2 to 3 snacks per day.

Meal & Snack Ideas

For more information visit the Florida Department of Health WIC web site.

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