Amount of food for a 23 month old

[herechickchickchickchick]

Evening, I put 23 months old as 2 year old is much more developed for what I want to explain/get advice for

My daughter seems to have gone backwards in her eating, she used to eat loads but lately she's only eating enough to get by in my opinion.

Today she's had 1 weetabix with honey and some raspberries, snack she has a boiled egg (just the whites) for lunch she smacked on some chicken pieces, ham, cucumber a bit of cheese, and had a couple of melty sticks for an afternoon snack, tonight she had about 4 desserts spoons of pasta and pesto and a chipolata and some peas. She had an orange for afters.

She ll have a snack of yogurt before bed.

But compared to my friends, they all eat loads and loads. She drinks plenty of water and is still bf am and pm.

I worry she's not getting enough, she won't eat bread or potatoes so I'm left with rice/pasta for carbs

Thanks

Does she have enough energy in the day for lots of active play? Is she growing properly and following her line in the red book?

If so, then she's likely fine. Those amounts don't seem that small to me. We've got really skewed ideas of what healthy portions and weight look like IMO.

That's quite a lot, esp if she's being picky. My 21 month old eats less than that most days, and then sometimes loads more. As long as she's got energy and normal nappies, I really wouldn't worry. Does she have some milk? I find giving mine milk in the morning sometimes means he won't eat breakfast or a snack.

Sorry missed the BF bit. Maybe drop the morning feed and express if possible? But otherwise I wouldn't worry!

www.swft.nhs.uk/application/files/4314/7929/4203/Recommended_intake_and_portion_sizes_for_children_-_all_appendices_2016_FINAL.pdf

This is really helpful, I thought my youngest didn’t eat enough and this from NHS reassured me

www.nhsaaa.net/media/1857/20170301portres.pdf

And this one is good

Thank you all, yes she is having some cows milk during the day as well as breast milk, we ve all just had covid so I can understand that she hasn't got an appetite at the moment.

She weights 1st 12.5lbs and is 34 inches tall.

She has more than enough energy for the day lol she gets so distracted at sometimes she doesn't eat if there's too much going on.

We have dinner at the table and she generally eats what we eat, I've just noticed a big shift lately.

Poos are fine too, every other day and good consistency

Just that someone's commented that she should be having about two Weetabix in the morning milk and fruit and then for lunch at least 200 g ready-made tray food and then in the evening a pile of mash vegetables and two normal sausages

Just that someone's commented that she should be having about two Weetabix in the morning milk and fruit and then for lunch at least 200 g ready-made tray food and then in the evening a pile of mash vegetables and two normal sausages

Tell that person to get to fuck - i wasn't eating like that til well into double digits!

Sounds good to me, my 25 month old likes to have minimal options on his plate, he will eat plenty of something but doesn't like lots of variety.

Ie, he will bomb through an adults portion of tuna pasta & sweetcorn (his fav)

But should i offer a, smaller kid sized dinner of, say, jacket potato, chicken and 2 veg he seems to get overwhelmed.

Same for lunch & breakfast. Won't touch cereal and toast but will eat both if offered separately.

But they sure know how to let you know if they are hungry so if she's happy, it's fine.

My son is about 32lbs.

She ll eat fruit and veg the day is long and absolutely loves mushrooms at the moment. She ll eat salmon and curries etc but never a big portion

If I feel she needs some extra nutrients or think she's teething I grab a Ella kitchen pouch for her to suck on but these are few and far between.

She's a terrible sleeper too always has been and just wanted to make sure she's not waking up hungry

I think its really important not to get too involved on over thinking in what they should or shouldn't/ so and so is doing this.

They really are all different. A little bit of everything will do them good.

If she's energetic happy and doesn't show signs of constant hunger then shes probably just ok.

If she's breastfed before bed the she is probably not hungry in the night i would guess that's a seperate issue! Don't panic you're not starving her & also - congratulations on breastfeeding at almost 2 years.

Some kids are just chronically awful sleepers, my first was hidious.

My daughter is 3 in April, today she has had
Breakfast 1 Slice of seeded toast with peanut butter, grapes
Lunch couple of slices of ham, couple of chunks of cheddar, 1/2 a dry oatcake
Snack 1/2 cereal bar and some popcorn
Tea - small tongs worth of spaghetti, 2 tablespoons of Bolognese - about 2/3 of her toddler bowl full, 1 Slice of garlic baguette

She has never had a big appetite but is growing like a mushroom, she is healthy, full of energy, thriving little girl. I really think your daughter is eating plenty for her age! They wont starve themselves. I used to worry too but honestly sounds like she's doing well!

Also, my daughter won't eat rice and will only eat pasta if it's spaghetti in Bolognese! She would live on bread if given the opportunity. You can't force them to eat.

@Danni91

I think its really important not to get too involved on over thinking in what they should or shouldn't/ so and so is doing this.

They really are all different. A little bit of everything will do them good.

If she's energetic happy and doesn't show signs of constant hunger then shes probably just ok.

If she's breastfed before bed the she is probably not hungry in the night i would guess that's a seperate issue! Don't panic you're not starving her & also - congratulations on breastfeeding at almost 2 years.

Some kids are just chronically awful sleepers, my first was hidious.

Thank you, I was done breastfeeding when she was a year old, then she got a nasty virus and ended up in hospital and kept going then coronavirus hit and thought I'd keep going. Definitely ready to stop as soon as I get my diamond boobies.

I do need to chill out about her food I don't want to project any issues onto her.

Thank you for the advice

@jomaIone

My daughter is 3 in April, today she has had Breakfast 1 Slice of seeded toast with peanut butter, grapes Lunch couple of slices of ham, couple of chunks of cheddar, 1/2 a dry oatcake Snack 1/2 cereal bar and some popcorn Tea - small tongs worth of spaghetti, 2 tablespoons of Bolognese - about 2/3 of her toddler bowl full, 1 Slice of garlic baguette

She has never had a big appetite but is growing like a mushroom, she is healthy, full of energy, thriving little girl. I really think your daughter is eating plenty for her age! They wont starve themselves. I used to worry too but honestly sounds like she's doing well!

Thank you, your little one sounds like she has a great diet!

Mine lived on fruit, toast and air at that age. Sounds like she's doing well to me!

Totally normal.

Research shows the amount they eat as they approach 2 really slows down but not the panic at the dramatic drop in intake

As long as she's got plenty of energy, sleeping ok and having wet and dirty nappies then she's getting enough. She's the perfect weight for her age as well so clearly isn't unsatisfied. Every child has a different appetite in the same way adults do, it's really easy to compare to others but truly she sounds absolutely fine.

However I will say that I think cows milk during the day is totally unnecessary at her age. It will be stifling her appetite and you can get calcium in her in other ways (yoghurt etc)

I’m 43 and I can’t finish 2 Weetabix!

@FelicityPike

I’m 43 and I can’t finish 2 Weetabix!

I can't eat half. I win. They're hidious

My 10 yr old has 3 (would prefer 4!) loves them. Yuck.

@theantsgomarchin

As long as she's got plenty of energy, sleeping ok and having wet and dirty nappies then she's getting enough. She's the perfect weight for her age as well so clearly isn't unsatisfied. Every child has a different appetite in the same way adults do, it's really easy to compare to others but truly she sounds absolutely fine.

However I will say that I think cows milk during the day is totally unnecessary at her age. It will be stifling her appetite and you can get calcium in her in other ways (yoghurt etc)

Thanks, she only has a tiny amount of milk once a day, she's not really into it. Now if it's a banana milkshake well that's different lol