Feeding a Toddler - The Complete Transition to Adult Food

As I have talked about before, we have been in the process of transitioning Willow from baby food to adult food. And like I have said time and again we knew she would let us know when she was ready to make the complete switch to Adult food.

While I have been mentally preparing for the change, I didn't know what a challenge it would be for me. Not for Willow, since she pretty much gets what she wants like most babies and toddlers tend to. If she doesn't want something, she throws it on the floor in defiance and gives us this "are you kidding me" look.

We started this "transition" in August and now that we are half way through December, she has finally gotten to the point where jarred food is just not on her menu anymore. And it's not for lack of trying...

As a mother I am constantly finding things to worry about. If it's not her overall health, it's her clothes or shoes or toys. I find something. It helps keep me sane. This month it's a combination of making sure she gets the nutrition she needs and making sure she is comfortable overall since she's been sick quite a bit complete with her first ear infection.

So, how do I make sure Willow is getting all the calories a growing toddler needs when she only likes yogurt and Cheeto's? That's a great question!! AND, how do I know what kind of portions are good for her? The answer to those questions (and many more I am sure) is: No one knows!!

Just kidding.

Actually, to make sure Willow gets the vitamins and minerals she needs for the day I give her a multivitamin. Poly-Vi-Sol, to be exact. it tastes terrible but she is so used to it she opens her mouth for it right before her morning bottle. I have said this before and I'll say it again. NEVER MIX THIS STUFF WITH ANYTHING TO MAKE IT TASTE BETTER!! Why? Because nothing helps and you are just prolonging the agony for your child by diluting it in something.

Other than that, eating real food is an experiment. Willow likes grilled cheese and I like it too because we give her whole wheat bread and what's not good about cheese? She also likes peanut butter and jelly and peanut butter is nutritious. She is a fan of pasta and the aforementioned yogurt as well. Basically we try and feed her something of what we are eating because if we give her something other than what we eat she throws it on the floor and reaches for what we have.

Portion sizes are small. You have to remember that toddler bellies don't equal big. When we give her a sandwich, it's actually half a sandwich. Grilled cheese is 1 slice of cheese and 1 piece of bread. PB&J is 1 piece of bread with peanut butter on the whole thing and jam on top in a light coating.

You get the idea.

Willow tells us when she wants more by crying. We are working on the sign for "more". And if she doesn't like what we give her we do NOT make everything under then sun until we find something she likes. That sets a bad precedent and she needs to learn that she gets what I give her and nothing else.

It's all basically a learning curve and if you are in my situation please know that you are not alone. There are others struggling through it as well and I am one of them. But know that there is hope!! Your toddler will not be a toddler forever and you will look back fondly at these "difficult" times when your child was learning to eat real food. And as long as your child is continuing to chart up in weight when they visit the doctor, you are doing something right!!

Before I know it she will be able to tell me exactly what she wants. I both long for and dread the coming of those times.


Previously:
Babies and Food - Part I: The Beginning
Babies and Food - Part II: Transitioning to Solids
Babies and Food - Part III: Transitioning to "Adult" Food
Toddler Snack and Meal Ideas