At about one year of age, your child will be making the change to eating more table foods. At this time a child should be changed to whole milk and be drinking all fluids from a cup. Your child needs the fat and calories from whole milk for proper growth and brain development, and should continue drinking whole milk until at least 2 years old. Aim for 16 to 24 ounces of milk per day, and limit juice to 4 to 6 ounces per day.
Offer three meals and two to three snacks a day. Try to offer at least two or more servings (one serving = ¼ to 1/3 cup) of fruits and three or more servings of vegetables per day. Offering a variety of healthy foods at an early age is the best way to establish good eating habits that will last a lifetime.
Choking is a big concern at this age. Make sure you cut food into bite-size pieces. Foods that are soft, moist and served at room temperature are relatively easy for a toddler to manage. Be sure that your child is securely seated in a high chair while eating.
The following items should be avoided:
- Gum drops, hard candies, lollipops
- Hard raw vegetables such as carrots, celery and peppers
- Hotdogs
- Nuts
- Popcorn
- Raisins
- Whole grapes
For safety, train your toddler to chew food completely before swallowing.