Parenting Tips for Your 17-18 Month Old Toddler
Mealtimes can be wonderful for your growing toddler and the rest of the family. They are a time for families to talk and spend relaxed time together.
Here are some tips to develop a mealtime routine:
- Choose a day and time. If your family can’t have dinner together every night, choose one or two evenings a week to have dinner as a family. Write the time on your calendar.
- Eat at the table. Toddlers get distracted easily. Sitting at the table, without the television or other distractions, will help them focus on their food. Set the table before the meal. Seeing the dishes on the table helps your child learn to associate the table with dinner. As your child gets older, she can help prepare for the meal by putting napkins and silverware on the table.
- Serve “family-style”. Put the food in serving containers on the table, and encourage your child to put some food on his plate. Serving himself helps your child learn how much food to take that will fill him up. At first help him by saying things like, “Just take one piece of chicken and if you need more, you can have it after you eat what is on your plate.”
- Handle spills in a kind way. Toddlers’ motor skills are still developing, so eating with a fork or spoon is tough to do. When spills happen, be calm. Say, “Everyone spills sometimes.” Let your child help clean up the spill.
- Talk with your toddler. Talk about what he did during the day. Ask questions that he can answer. You can also model talking with the rest of the family.
- Remember toddlers have short attention spans. Don’t be surprised if your toddler is finished eating after a few minutes. Encourage him to sit with the family for a few minutes, but let him get up and do something else when he starts squirming. Have a few toys nearby that he can play with while the rest of the family finishes the meal.
- Be consistent. Toddlers learn routines by doing them over and over. Do the same things in the same order every time you eat a meal together. Over time, your child will learn what to expect, and the routine will make her feel more comfortable and secure.
Learn more about Your Toddler: 17-18 Months from Just In Time Parenting. You can also go to our Resource Links for additional information on child care and development.
