Parenting Tips for Your 15-16 Month Old Toddler
As your child grows, she is getting better at feeding herself. She can pick up finger foods, and can use a spoon and fork. She knows some foods she likes, and maybe a few foods she doesn’t like. Now is a great time to begin introducing her to new foods.
Children have different reactions to new foods. If you put a new food on the plate with foods that toddlers have eaten before, they will eat the foods that are familiar before they eat something new. Encourage your child to taste new foods.
Here are some easy tips to encourage your child to try and enjoy new foods:
- Introduce only one new food at a meal. A plate full of too many new foods is too much to deal with. Pair a food she’s never tried with one she likes.
- Pay attention to texture. Toddlers may not like foods that are slimy, grainy, or crunchy. Start by introducing smooth-textured foods like corn, potatoes, chicken, or pears.
- Cut food into bite-sized pieces. Your child is more likely to try a food if she can pick it up.
- Be a role model. Your child will probably try a new food if she sees you eating it. Serve yourself some of the food, and ask your child to taste it with you. Serve your child foods you like!
- Talk about the food. Tell your child what the food is called. Talk about its color and texture. Ask your child to touch and smell it, but don’t pressure her to eat it if she isn’t ready.
- Take little steps, and celebrate any success. Trying a new food is a big risk for children. Touching the food, smelling it, chewing it, and swallowing it are all parts of trying a new food. If your child puts a new food in her mouth and then spits it out, praise her for at least trying it.
- Serve a new food many times. Some children won’t eat a food the first time they see it. That’s normal, and doesn’t mean they won’t ever try that food. It could take 7-15 times before your child eats a food she’s never eaten before.
- Don’t force your child. Forcing your child to eat something new can make her less likely to try the food later, and more likely to dislike it.
- Try new foods as a family. Find healthy foods that your child might like, give them to her many times, and ask her to try them when she’s ready. Over time, she’ll find a whole new set of foods to like.
Learn more about Your Toddler: 15-16 Months from Just In Time Parenting. You can also go to our Resource Links for additional information on child care and development.
