https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 11 Apr 2026 03:41:50 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-does-your-toddler-have-to-eat-for-you-to-be-ok-with-it#post-2501761 Mon, 21 Mar 2016 12:12:10 +0000 nana87 2501761@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't count bites at all. And I let her snack as much as she wants throughout the day. As long as I'm offering a balanced diet and healthy options, and she eats some of it, I'm happy. There are days she eats a ton and days she barely eats anything, and it all evens out. Her weight gain/growth is all on track.</p> <p>(And I say that as someone who used to REALLY worry about her weight--we had supply issues when lo was 2 months old. But our pediatrician has been really relaxed about how much lo eats since her growth has been great ever since.) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-does-your-toddler-have-to-eat-for-you-to-be-ok-with-it#post-2501751 Mon, 21 Mar 2016 11:55:03 +0000 Pumpkin Pie 2501751@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used to stress out soooo much because I was afraid it would disrupt her sleep. In the last month or so, I've been so much better, and I don't care as much. Some days she'll eat really well, and other days, she doesn't want to eat anything. I give her snacks though, so she's eating something, just not always what I want her to eat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-does-your-toddler-have-to-eat-for-you-to-be-ok-with-it#post-2501729 Mon, 21 Mar 2016 11:47:47 +0000 looch 2501729@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our situation is a bit different because my son had/has oral motor issues, so I try to make sure he's eaten during the day. He'll literally cry, gag, or throw up if he's forced, so it's important that there is something that he will eat. </p> <p>I think we all have our comfort levels with this kind of thing. If I didn't stress about it, the situation would be worse, I feel. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-does-your-toddler-have-to-eat-for-you-to-be-ok-with-it#post-2501723 Mon, 21 Mar 2016 11:45:36 +0000 snowjewelz 2501723@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: Also my mom always tells me that I never ate when I was young but I turned out ok, haha! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-does-your-toddler-have-to-eat-for-you-to-be-ok-with-it#post-2501713 Mon, 21 Mar 2016 11:40:38 +0000 kodybear 2501713@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LBee: wow!! okay, M is probably playing me and trying to down faster. haha i'll try it next time! we were just talking about this too right?? these kids. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-does-your-toddler-have-to-eat-for-you-to-be-ok-with-it#post-2501693 Mon, 21 Mar 2016 11:29:37 +0000 Adira 2501693@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BabyTsMom: My husband used to worry about the same thing! And my oldest has always been a low percentile for weight, so it used to stress my husband out a lot if he wouldn't eat much. But it never disrupted his sleep, so I don't fret it, and now my husband doesn't either. :D</p> <p>@snowjewelz: I've heard that after 12 months, it's more how they eat during the week that matters, instead of day-to-day, so looking at it for the week is definitely a good way to do it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-does-your-toddler-have-to-eat-for-you-to-be-ok-with-it#post-2501692 Mon, 21 Mar 2016 11:29:14 +0000 LBee 2501692@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@kodybear: I thought that too, but yesterday we told T that if he finished all his chicken he could have a special treat and he sat back in his chair (he had been standing in it screaming "all done") and finished every last piece of chicken on his plate then said "treat?" I was shocked that he could understand the concept. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-does-your-toddler-have-to-eat-for-you-to-be-ok-with-it#post-2501691 Mon, 21 Mar 2016 11:27:22 +0000 kodybear 2501691@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>about the same, 3-5 bites. For my oldest, I make her eat 2 more bites after she says she's done. I read somewhere that asking for 2 more sometimes will lead them to eat more. I also make her sit at the table until everyone is done. Usually she'll pick at her food a bit more. For my youngest, I think he's still a bit young to understand so as long as he eats a couple bites of something I'm okay. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-does-your-toddler-have-to-eat-for-you-to-be-ok-with-it#post-2501686 Mon, 21 Mar 2016 11:25:17 +0000 snowjewelz 2501686@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: I agree! I feel like they can sense if we're stressed out even if we don't appear to be! </p> <p>I literally just repeat to myself all the time that I have my picky days too, and that I don't eat the same amount from day to day. I'd only be concerned if she was not eating for many meals during the week (which hasn't happened). I usually review at the end of a week and find that overall she is still a great eater, minus a few meals of her being picky. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-does-your-toddler-have-to-eat-for-you-to-be-ok-with-it#post-2501685 Mon, 21 Mar 2016 11:23:56 +0000 BabyTsMom 2501685@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: that's a much healthier attitude than mine! I just worry he'll wake up early bc he's hungry! He's 22 months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-does-your-toddler-have-to-eat-for-you-to-be-ok-with-it#post-2501680 Mon, 21 Mar 2016 11:20:59 +0000 MoonMoon 2501680@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>By now, at almost 3, we do ask that he take at least one bite of something instead of refusing it outright. And he can't have seconds of one thing unless he's made a good dent in all his food (ie no more pasta until you try the veggies and salad too). But when he was younger, I had to keep reminding myself that they go through growth spurts and in the end I want him to know and respect his own feelings of hunger vs fullness as he grows up. I asked myself, haven't you ever sat down to eat and just weren't feeling it? It is hard for me, but I have to remember that he'll make up for it some other way. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-does-your-toddler-have-to-eat-for-you-to-be-ok-with-it#post-2501679 Mon, 21 Mar 2016 11:20:46 +0000 travellingbee 2501679@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We require that he takes one bite to taste each thing. That's it. He is generally a good eater, so I don't worry about it when he's picky. He will always eat fruit so I know I always have that as a back up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-does-your-toddler-have-to-eat-for-you-to-be-ok-with-it#post-2501677 Mon, 21 Mar 2016 11:19:36 +0000 LBee 2501677@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Honestly, very little. He's a big guy and if he's not hungry or doesn't want to eat, that's his call. We were getting in power struggles over meals / I was becoming a short order cook and I just decided that it's a big picture type of thing (what he ate for the week vs. just one day) and that it all evens itself out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-does-your-toddler-have-to-eat-for-you-to-be-ok-with-it#post-2501676 Mon, 21 Mar 2016 11:18:49 +0000 Adira 2501676@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>0!</p> <p>This is one area that I've refused to turn into a fight and have decided to just not care about it. If he doesn't want to eat, he doesn't eat. I don't care! And I think my nonchalant attitude about it has actually helped him be a pretty good eater. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-does-your-toddler-have-to-eat-for-you-to-be-ok-with-it#post-2501668 Mon, 21 Mar 2016 11:14:40 +0000 gingerbebe 2501668@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a lot of angst about this until DS started daycare - apparently he eats like a champ around other children. So if he picks at his meals at home I don't worry too much about it, but I really focus on calorie density of his foods so every bite counts somehow. So at breakfast I give him eggs and milk first, tempt him by putting some ketchup on the eggs, then after a few bites, he'll start asking for something else and I offer a mini waffle with butter, then his favorite, fruit. So his food comes in waves or courses. </p> <p>I definitely stress less about it as he gets older but it was major stress on me the first 15-16 months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-does-your-toddler-have-to-eat-for-you-to-be-ok-with-it#post-2501656 Mon, 21 Mar 2016 11:08:03 +0000 BabyTsMom 2501656@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So lo goes through phases of great eating and crappy eating. During his picky phases, I try not to let it bother me but I do have a certain minimum amount (certain number of bites or what not) that i'd like him to eat. If he doesn't, I get stressed out! it's something I'm working on, but it makes me more anxious than I care to admit.<br /> For me, I guess I would want him to eat around 3-5 bites of food so he at least has something in his tummy before the next meal! (I don't give him snacks in between meals often, and if I do, they're low cal and not filling- so he'll be hungry for the next meal! In theory, at least). </p>