FAQs for Toddlers
I want my toddler to eat different types of foods but every time I try she simply won’t have it. What should I do?
For your peace of mind it’s reassuring to know that your toddler refusing food is absolutely normal and that it’s well known that children refuse foods in their second year of life. This refusal seems to peak at about 18 months of age. You may have to try your toddler with a new food more than 10 times before they accept it. Drinking too much milk or squash can reduce appetite so check that they are drinking the right amount. The important thing to remember is that most faddy eating and refusal of food stops with time.
Can I give my toddler semi-skimmed milk and low fat foods?
Cow’s milk whether it’s whole, semi-skimmed or skimmed contains the same amounts of protein and calcium. There is less fat, calories and vitamin A in semi-skimmed and skimmed milk and so should not be given to children under 2 years old. Toddlers that are eating well can be given semi-skimmed milk after the age of 2. Skimmed milk is not good for children under 5 years old.
Low fat foods are not good for toddlers as a time when they are in rapid growth and are moving around a lot. This means they need lots energy from the food they eat.
How much should my toddler be drinking?
Your little one should be given 6-8 drinks in a day. You should give drinks at each of the main meals, and also between meals and along with snacks. 100-120mls or any drink (this includes milk) or soup counts as a portion.
As toddlers need less milk than babies, you shouldn’t give them bottles of milk after 12 months. If they do continue to drink too much milk they can fill themselves up on milk which may mean they miss out on iron rich foods. This can lead to anaemia.
How do I make sure my toddler gets enough iron?
Iron is important to make the red blood cells which carry oxygen round the body. If your toddler doesn’t get enough iron they can develop anaemia which can make them tired and sluggish and not able to concentrate.
There are 2 types of iron that you can get from the food your child eats
- iron from meat and oily fish which is well absorbed
- iron found in leafy green vegetables, grains, pulses and beans which is less well absorbed by the body
Vitamin C helps with the absorption of iron and if your toddler is vegetarian eating their meal with a glass of orange juice or followed by a vitamin C rich fruit like strawberries is a great way to help them increase iron intake. Fibre, calcium and the tannins in tea actually prevents iron absorption.
Try and give your toddler 1-2 servings of meat or fish a day, or 2-3 servings of egg, pulses and beans with a high vitamin C food if your child is vegetarian. Fortified breakfast cereals also contain iron but watch the amounts of added salt and sugar.
Here at
Little Dish
We make fresh, healthy food for kids using only 100% natural ingredients, and we never add salt or sugar.
Barnardo’s Big Toddle
We have partnered with Barnardo's Big Toddle to help transform the lives of vulnerable children under 5 across the UK
Buy online
Get Little Dish fresh, tasty toddler meals online.
What you say
"Just wanted to say a huge THANK YOU for the fab coolbag I received this morning. I hope that by recommending my friends, their children come to love your meals as much as my little ones do."
Jo, mum to Aiden & Eleanor.
See what parents have to say about Little Dish or leave your own comment here
