Eating on their Own - For New Parents

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eating on their own

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Young children want to be like the rest of the family, and can often be found mimicking you or their older siblings. Being a part of family mealtimes is an important way that your young child can be "just like everyone else." To help him feel included and expose him to a variety of tastes and textures, feed your child the same foods the rest of the family is eating whenever possible. Not only does this help him to feel like a big kid, but it helps you save time when preparing meals.

Just like you, your child needs food from all food groups. However, there are some foods — like salad — that your child will not be able to handle yet. Here are some tips for making table food into toddler-friendly food:

grind or finely chop meats
cut vegetables into small pieces and cook them so they are soft and mushy
serve soft or fork-mashed pieces of fruit
provide cooked noodles, rice, or small pieces of toast or bread

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			Cheerios: an ideal finger food Pediatricians and generations of moms have trusted Cheerios® as an ideal finger food. Find out why Cheerios is good for your toddler. >Learn more We saw our daughter take her first steps to go get Cheerios® cereal. –Edie, Millersville, MD >Read more >Share your story Start a Growing Book for your child! Track your child's growth, record milestones, and share the fun with family and friends! >Register Now!