Why Skipping Meals Can Be Risky for Your Toddler!
When your baby is now considered to be a toddler they are usually ready to eat the food that you eat. But unlike you your toddler will not be able to miss any of their meals. You may think that it is not big deal since on occasion you do it. But when your toddler misses a meal they are losing nutrients that they need in order to grow and develop. In addition to the fact that they will become very cranky when they are hungry. If your toddler does not eat at regular intervals through the day, they will lose a large amount of energy as well as lower their blood sugar. When most toddlers eat they have very small portions unlike the larger portions that most adults eat. In addition to those small portions they will also need snacks.
It is possible that your child will choose not to eat at the time you have designated for them. If this is the case you will want to refrain from trying to force them to eat a snack or a meal. The important thing is to make sure that they eat a certain number of meals each day. The last thing you want to do is put your child’s health at risk, by allowing them to miss a meal. According to many pediatricians in the United States a toddler between the age of twelve and twenty four months will usually need to eat about four times a day. This is not counting the small snacks that they will need in between each meal. You should also not keep any meals from them if they seem to be a little over weight. Instead of cutting back or skipping a meal it is always better to feed them something healthier instead.
Try replacing their snack with some fresh fruit or something else that will give them the nutrition they need, and at the same time curve their appetite. If you know that you will be spending a large portion of your day out of the house then you should back a small cooler of snacks for your toddler to take along with you. Your snack bag should include at least one cold drink and two snacks. You can have one fruit snack and some toddler cookies, or half of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Just make sure that you prepare something that you can keep cold in the car. The bottom line is to keep snacks with you at all times this way even if you are out running errands you will still be able to give your baby a snacks, and they will not miss any of the meals that their bodies so desperately need.
