Feeding toddler lunch?

Question

What are some good, healthy, and quick lunch ideas for a 13 month old? At 13 months old how much whole milk and juice did they get in a 24 hour period? Also, did you have your children on a flexible feeding and napping schedule, if so, tell me what your day was like, and what time they were put down for a nap and fed. I seem to have a hard time keeping him on a consistent schedule. Seems like one day he can go all afternoon without a nap(then he is so ill by 5:00 that I cannot do anything with him, but let him sleep, then that messes up bedtime. Then some days I can barely get his lunch made before he is ready to take a nap, and I've tried doing all these things at the same time each day. Has other Mom's had this problem and how did you deal with it?

Answer 1

My son eats every 3-4 hours. We are on a strict schedule because that's how he is! lol .. He drinks some juice I don't give him any more than 3 sippy cups full. But I mix it half water half juice. He eats like a grown man! He'll be 1 April 3rd. I have those pasta pick ups from gerber and he likes those. But when it comes time for lunch or dinner it's just pretty much anything I eat. I've given him jelly sandwiches torn in small pieces, waffles cut up plain! He loves bananas. I cut the grapes in half, don't do whole ones.

As far as the schedule goes for sleeping. He's on a strict schedule with naps. Not because I want him on one, because that's just how he is. He's been that way since he was like 3 weeks old. I can pretty much plan my day easy bc of this. The only thing that sucks is that he only likes to sleep in his bed with the mobile on! That's it!!!! No if's, ands, or buts about it!

Good Luck with you! :o) You can always ask your peditrician about food ideas! :o)

**www.happysahm.com**

Answer 2

I loved to make little finger foods that were easy to swallow and eat for teeth or no teeth. Cheerio's were always a fave. They mush up real quick. Try lots of fresh fruit that is cut up real small and you need to stick to whole milk and instead of straight juice, try a baby juice with water that is mixed like 40-60 ratio with water being the 60. Try to stick to a consistent nap and feeding schedule. I know that it is hard. I have a 4 year old who is the world's worst about naps and eating. But, if you stick to the routine, baby will come around too. Try not to be out at the time that lunch is due and not in the car for nap. That way baby is comfy in own bed. I would make lucnch the night before (along with breakfast) so that way i could keep an eye out for if lunch was coming early and sneak it in. Try giving small snacks inbetween meals so that way baby is held over and isn't so crabby and wore out till the next meal. Try to wake baby up at same time every morning and have a time to wake up from nap too. That way bed time is a lot easier. Also, my son was always a little messy after lunch so he would take a small bath and we would rubb down good with lotion and new sleeper or clothes and he was tuckered out and ready for nap on most days. Good luck to you!

Answer 3

We are not strict schedulers, but some babies prefer this, thank goodness those weren't mine. Cause I'm a flexible scheduler myself. I do demand a nap (or at least a rest) of the two babies (just turned 3 and almost 2. This usually works best on a full tummy within a hour after lunch. But lunch (and thus nap are early or late depending on mood and the demands of the toddlers and the day)

A few lunch tips from this mom...

I always halve the apple juice with water to keep the sugar intake down.

Mine absolutely loved soft cooked chunked up veggie finger food from ages one to two (the littlest is nearing two now). Canned green beans are the easiest and fastest.

Leftover soft cooked carrot slices (I'm not against the Gerber ones in the can, I just usually have leftover veggies)

Canned peas (a bit harder for little hands to capture - but yummy)

Noodles with melted velvetta or Cubed Velveeta (2 of mine did not take to milk from a cup well so we did a lot of cheese)

Yoplait peach and strawberry yogurt with Cheerios. The little baby holey spoons help them eat this when they demand to feed themselves

I also got those little gerber fruit and veggie stars that dissolve so easily when they were just learnig to eat. A little expensive but yummy.

Answer 4

agree with tech523's ideas.... i give my daughter (just over 12 months) finger foods for lunch - eg, cheese on toast, small pieces of steamed vegies, chicken, cheese, fruit such as grapes, banana (prepare them earlier and have the ready in a container). she is now having one sleep a day, from 12-1 for 2-3 hours. we usually go out in the morning for a walk, so quite often she will eat her lunch in the pram so finger foods are really easy. she eats a lot of fruit, i don't give her juice, they don't need it, it is not good for their teeth anyway. she drinks water and is still breastfed 3 times a day (after breakfast then before her nap and before bed at night)

Answer 5

consult doctor