My Focus on Family Life and Parenting

Snack starved (3)

And because most vitamins for kids are designed for ages 4 and up, you’ll likely need to split each pill in half for a 2 or a 3 year old, which is not always easy.

If you think your toddler’s not eating enough – don’t force her. Pushing a toddler to eat more than she wants can backfire, according to a British study in the Feb ’08 issue of Pediatrics magazine.  One-year-olds who were pressured by their moms to eat ended up weighing less at age 2 than kids who weren’t. Trust me, I was a result of force-feeding while growing up… Hence, I was an underweight, scrawny- looking, choosy-eater for a kid.

The research suggests kids may become fussier and pickier when parents try to force them to eat more. While some underweight or overweight babies may need a nudge from you to eat the right amount, most kids are better than we think at figuring out if they’re hungry or full. So, Mom, unless it’s what the doctor ordered, step away from the peaches.

For my part, I just let my son say when he is full then I try one last time to get another spoonful in. Once he’s done it and he grabs the bag of chips in the pantry, that’s when my disciplining steps right back in. He’ll learn eventually how to budget his appetite for the next healthy meal.

Many thanks for writing in, Alta. And I wish you and your family all the very best!