To think toddlers don’t need snacks?

[Cuppasoupmonster]

I was just pondering this when washing up. I’ve never really given DD snacks, she has her 3 meals a day and that’s usually it, maybe once or twice a week she will have a digestive biscuit or yoghurt if dinner is going to be later than usual. However it seems like when we go on days out with other mums and toddlers, they come laden with snacks that are whipped out every hour or two. AIBU to think toddlers don’t really need to snack and this might be contributing to the obesity crisis?

Ooooo a tasty judgemental post. Delicious.

Isn't it mad to think all babies are different. All families are different. And all people are different. I eat once a day, rarely snack. Been like that for 10 years plus. My DH eats 2 to 3 times a day and someday snacks, somedays doesn't. Neither of us are fat. My baby sometimes snacks. Sometimes doesn't. Depends on the moon phase really.

We stopped giving DD snacks when she was about 18 months - 2 years, around the same time she was reliably sleeping through the night. She's big (tall & extremely strong) for her age, not chubby but just very solid. Always has been.

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The mid morning milk was good for the children as was tea for the adults but it’s now become a proper snack not just liquid.

We do exactly this 😂 and if I don’t I KNOW about it!

I wish I hadn't given mine all the snacks. The guidance at the time was 3 meals and 2 snacks, and if you went anywhere mid morning/afternoon, children would be given snacks at 10ish and 3ish. Once at school, they have snacks at break and when they finish school at childcare. We followed the same routine at home and now DC are 8 and 10. It works fine for DD8 who has a small appetite and stops eating when she's full. The 10yo is quite overweight, always says she's hungry, is used to snacks and still eats large meals and wants more. I wish I had weaned her off snacks when she was younger because it's so hard breaking the habit now. It won't be a few grapes, she'll want some crackers too, maybe cheese. Such regular eating and always looking to the next meal/snack is not needed and can be unheallthy at this age unless they are active (DD is not) or small eaters (again, no).

OK but your child is getting snacks, just at meal time instead of between meals. Your meals seem quite large for a toddler and it's a lot of food to get them used to consuming in one sitting. Overeating causes the stomach to expand beyond its normal size to adjust to the larger amount of food.

Someone else's day menu could be:
Breakfast: porridge with fruit
Snack: yoghurt
Lunch: sandwich, pom bears
Snack: fruit
Dinner: chilli con carne

So yes YABU

your child is getting snacks, just at meal time instead of between meals

…so a meal?

A teeny tiny thread to end the year. 🔥

Have you never considered your weird food habits and views are impacting what your child eats?

PP was right, those with food issues tend to be the ones posting tripe like you have here.

You are aware this is for adults right?

children have a different digestive set up, and smaller capacity tummies

My 3 year old has to have little food but often because of reflux so she has 4 small meals a day and some snacks in between.

So how is your way of giving them large meals better than the sample I showed you? The menu I showed actually would consume less in a day than your way! Or did you just pick out the one part of my comment you could nitpick at because you know the rest is right??

You literally said in your OP you give your kids snacks, so I'm not sure why you're digging in....

Having a snack doesn't automatically mean you're eating "far too much".

Surely it depends. DD2 always had a snack (still does at 14) but DD1 was never really fuss9. I wish my DS would snack as he barely eats anything at all.

We all know milk is actually food, right ..?

And we all know the elevenses and afternoon tea was actually eating a small snack...right?

No I didn’t. I said if we were having dinner unusually late (eg we’ve been out for the day and are running late) I may give her one then. But not as a daily routine.

Meh. Snacks are great. We love to snack and graze in our house. We're not obese. I snacked as a kid in the 80s, still snack now.

Snacks for the win!

Weird habit of feeding my daughter 3 square meals a day and both of us being a healthy weight? That one?

I've just remembered my daughter's first word was 'nack!' repeated many times a day, sometimes having retrieved something from the cupboard and toddled over clutching it proudly.

That was cute.

Weight isn’t the only factor here though, what do you not understand about a child’s metabolism being different to that of an adults.

There is a reason it’s not recommended for children that young to have 3 square meals a day, smaller and often is recommended by those with a lot more knowledge and training in this area than you have.

The fact you think this is a new thing is also a bit odd, generally misinformed is what I’m getting from your posts

All 3 of mine eat little and often.

But you’re refusing to say how having a 200 calorie lunch plus a 100 calorie snack is any different to her having a 300 calorie lunch.

3 square meals a day + snacks*

There, fixed it for you.

THAT'S A SNACK!!!!