How much should a 13 month old eat at every meal when he has 3 meals a day??

Janelle - posted on 04/13/2010

Snacks are often what keep my son going through the day. When he is teething or just not interested in full meals he will usually still be happy to eat fresh fruit, sultanas and other dried fruit. We don't give any fruit juice as it is completely unnecessary - he gets all the nutrition he needs through eating fruits. He drinks heaps of water and between one and two bottle feeds a day.

Tracy-Lee - posted on 04/13/2010

My 13 month old starts the day with 8 oz of milk, then has a weetabix or a slice of toast with more milk and banana or raisins. Mid morning is a snack of breadsticks, 2 or 3, then portions of meat, veg and potato, rice or pasta, about the size of her fist for each portion. Fruit afterwards then rea is a slice of bread made into a sandwich, yogurt and fruit, with more milk, supper is toast, or half a bagel or slice of maltloaf, with more milk at bedtime. They need LOTS of fuel they are growing so fast, especially their brains,and are very active. Snacks are key. and stay away from junk.

Heather - posted on 04/13/2010

My daughter turned 1 on March 27, she eats 3 regular meals a day (cereal for bfast, 1/2-1 graduates meal for lunch, and 1/2-1 graduate dinner meal for dinner) she also eats 2-3 snax throughout the day, as well as at least 3 bottles (morning, nap and bedtime).

April - posted on 04/10/2010

My son used to eat a load of food and now that he's getting older he has become very picky and doesn't eat that much but he is gaining weight so I am not too worried. I wouldn't worry about your little one either as long as he is gaining good weight and not getting super fat. Of course at 13 months old most babies still have that pudge look so just ask your doctor if you are very concerned. I also like to go to babycenter.com and use their growth calculator. It's very accurate as it always gives me the same results as his doctors office and it tells you what percentile he is on and unless it says he is way over or way under then I wouldn't worry about how much he eats, focus more on what he eats instead.

Ranae - posted on 04/09/2010

My 13 month old son also eats a TON, he eats more than his 2.5 year old sister! Breakfast, usually 1/2 C oatmeal, & some fruit + cup of milk. Lunch piece of toast, some meat & a yogurt, dinner, whatever we are having, usually eats everything I put on his plate.

Kharli - posted on 04/09/2010

It is absolutely INSANE to suggest that children should not snack between meals! Please do not take that persons' advice! It is very important to snack, even for adults.
HEALTHY snacking is good snacking. It's been proven that, having smaller meals regularly through-out the day, is much better for a humans' digestive system than 3 huge meals!
Sometimes I feel my son eats all day long, but he has gotten taller and thinner (from all the activity he's been up to). His Dr. says he's a picture of health and that as long as what he is eating is healthy, fresh, food, that he can eat whenever he wants and however much he is satisfied with. I also recommend getting your child comfortable with drinking (plain) water, if they're not already. It's a very important habit for anyone to have, no matter what the age. It allows for proper brain/organ function and for processing all those handy vitamins & minerals from all the food.
Feed that babe ALL they want, just make it good, natural (preferrably homemade/low sodium) food. Also, herbs and spices are integral in creating a healthy, mature palate. Season that food, Mama! Albeit not strongly, a little pinch'll do ya!
If you are concerned with sugar intake (from all of the fruits, veggies, and carbs your child is eating) add a little bit of cinnamon to fruit, pablum, milk, veggies or even red meat dishes. Cinnamon regulates blood sugar levels, aids the digestion of glucose and lipids, and tastes yummy!

Bri - posted on 04/09/2010

It is very easy to stress out about what/how much your kids are eating. You shouldn't worry too much about what your child eats day to day or week to week as long as they are growing in a healthy manner. I would suggest doing a little research about family feeding. This is one of my favorite articles http://www.healthyandfitmagazine.com/201... it talks about the divison of responsibility, basically saying that it is your job to provide your child with heathly meals (AND SNACKS!! KIDS NEED SNACKS IN BETWEEN MEALS!) and it is your child's job (regardless of age) to decide how much and wether to eat. Check out this site http://www.familyfeedingdynamics.blogspo... (she also have a facebook page!).

Krista - posted on 04/09/2010

Just recently Ty has been eating less...I was worried but then realized she has about 5 teeth coming in so I'm guess that's why her apetite is not there.

Corlia - posted on 04/09/2010

My son eats 3 meals a day. thats it. no snacks in between. i don't see the need for that and think it only creates bad habits. my husband and I also don't snack inbetween meals so I don't see why my son must. we try to be healthy and eat correctly. a meal will be about a cup of home cooked food for lunch and supper. some meals is just 'n bowl of veggies and he loves it. just boiled. no sugar or butter or sauce. breakfast is baby cereal. he drinks water and juice during the day and milk before a nap / bedtime.

Jennifer - posted on 04/09/2010

Somedays my son will eat and eat and not seem satisfied. Other days (like yesterday), he hardly will eat a thing. He's teething, though. As long as he's healthy and happy, I'm not worried if he eats a little more or less one day or another!

CINDY - posted on 04/09/2010

Ayden turned one 01/03/10, he used to eat all day every day if he could but now has slowed down alot! he will only eat food he can feed himself and has always been like this as he has two older brothers he likes to copy! lol!
I started getting a little worried that he wasnt eating enough (esspecially when the others are at school) so when I pack my older two boys lunck , Aydens gets packed as well! so he has breakfast with his brothers then usually has fruit for morning tea, a sandwich and fruit ( and sometimes a small hanful of crisps as a treat) for lunch, most days he will have afternoon tea with his brothers (our rule is you have a peice of fruit first then you can have one peice of ' treat food '!) and then will have dinner (9 times out of ten it is meat and veg, maybe rice or pasta) with the rest of the family, if he is still hungry he has fuit and yoghurt or jelly ( or some thing of that effect) for desert! In saying this, all of this is served to him but how much is eaten (esspecially when we r out and about) can some times be a mystery! I have decided as long as I am feeding him healthy meals and snacks and he is not complaining he is hungrt he must be eating enough!!!!

Jessica - posted on 04/07/2010

My daughter is the same way. well i take that back she's about 50/50. when she is teething its pretty hard to get her to eat a full meal, and sometimes she just doesn't wanna be in the high chair. She goes through fazes. so I'll give her some fruit, veggies, or crackers as a snack in between meals:) that will usually hold her to the next meal:)

Beck - posted on 04/06/2010

Corey, now 13mths, wakes usually around 7am (sometimes he sleeps in however I wake him by 7.30 to keep the day on track) he has a bfeed then breakfast (cereal and fruit - at the moment a big bowl of porriage / puree apple / peach etc)
9.30 milk (bfeed or a cup of milk) and fruit for morning tea (12 or so grapes and a few dates or a pear and some sultanas
11.20 lunch - home made meat, vegies, carb (rice / pasta / potato) he has 200grams (7oz) then desert (yoghurt) about 1/2 cup
12noon bed time (usually sleeps 2-2.5hrs)
2.30 milk (bfeed or cup of milk) and arvo tea (cheese on toast / avacardo and ham on crackers, piklets etc) finger food
5.20 tea (vegies and carb) again 200grams or 7oz
6.35 milk (bfeed)

My son may also have some dried fruit (home made) if we are out shopping or he has to wait somewhere (say at an appointment).

He would be happy to eat all day if I let him, its only now that he occasionally says no more before the whole bowl is finished.

Sarah - posted on 04/06/2010

I have the opposite problem! My daughter will only eat half a jar sized meal so about 3 or 4 heaped table spoons, then a small yogurt, but crisps and chocolate, she never seems to get bored of! Hmm! Do you give milk at all during the day? I used to give milk twice in the day at nap times, apart from bedtime but she wouldn't eat so, maybe he needs some milk to help fill him up a bit?