Parenting Tips for Your 17-18 Month Old Toddler

Have you ever cooked a healthy and well-balanced meal, placed it in front of your child, and watched while he pushes the plate away after a few bites – or without even trying anything? You may feel frustrated and you might worry that he’s not getting the proper nutrition.

When your child refuses a certain food, or refuses to eat at all, many parents think he’s just being stubborn. But if you watch your child’s behavior, you may get a clearer idea of why he’s not eating.

Here is what might be happening:

• He’s not hungry right then. Like adults, children have different hunger schedules. Some toddlers wake up starving. Others are not ready to eat until after they’ve been up a while. The good news is that children are good at figuring out if they’re hungry and how much they need to eat. Serve nutritious meals and snacks at regular times, but never force a child who’s not hungry to eat something.

• He’s full after just a few bites. Toddlers’ stomachs are small, and can’t hold much food at one time. That’s why snacks are an important part of what your child eats every day. Encourage your child to eat when he’s hungry, but stop eating when he’s full.

• He doesn’t like a particular food. Children develop food likes and dislikes as soon as they begin eating solid foods. Some children love vegetables; others want fruits. Many children have a specific food that they have tried and just don’t like. If your child refuses a particular food, keep serving a small amount, but don’t force him to eat it.

• It’s new and different, and he’s not sure about it. Many young children don’t like foods with strong smells, crunchy or slimy textures, or sharp flavors. Your child may refuse to eat a certain food just because of what it looks like or smells like, without even trying it. It may take 7-15 times before he’s willing to eat it. When he sees the food over and over, he may be more willing to try it.

• He’s distracted by something else. Toddlers have very short attention spans. He may not want to eat because he sees or hears something more interesting. Serve meals and snacks at a table, away from toys he likes. Turn off the TV, and don’t answer the phone. If there’s nothing else to focus on, he may spend more time on the food.

• He’s trying to get your attention. Children want attention from their parents. If they can’t get that attention through good behavior, they will misbehave to get attention. Spend more time with your child during meals. Instead of using his mealtime as a chance to do housework, sit down and eat as a family. Use the mealtime to talk, and be sure to include him. When he gets your attention in positive ways, he is less likely to act out.

• He wants to make his own decisions. Toddlers want chances to decide things for themselves. Your child may refuse to eat as a way of controlling his world. If you try to force him to eat, you are setting up a power struggle. Give him simple choices about the meal: choose between the green bib and the yellow one; decide whether to eat the corn or the beans first.

Browse related Articles by tag: parenting, parenting enewsletters, 17-18 month old child