I probably asked this already, but I forget and am too lazy to search, haha.
At 12 months+, how many meals and/or snacks were your LOs having? Xander's on three very solid meals, but rarely has snacks (or will just have milk between meals). Is that okay? Or is that promoting unhealthy eating habits since, as adults, they suggest eating 5-6 smaller meals a day instead of 3 large meals? What do you do?
pear / 1609 posts
We were doing the same but then the ped said to give him 2 snacks as well. I don't know why it really matters. But now at 16 months he wants snacks constanty
squash / 13208 posts
I think the milk is acting as his snack - its very filling.
We do water and a snack 2 times per day in addition to 3 solid meals
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
My son wasn't and isn't a snacker. He eats his meals and an occasional snack, but not regularly. I think you have to look at the whole picture and your individual child to make a decision.
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
@MamaJ: Did you find that when you started incorporating snacks, he started eating less at his meals?
@Mamaof2: That's probably true! But he won't drink much milk during meals, so between is the only time I can get him to drink it. But maybe I should be feeding him less at meals in general so that he's hungrier for snacks?
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
@looch: I think I'm concerned because there's a lot of obesity in my family, so I'm worried that by giving him large meals and no snacks, I'm leading him down that path from an early age...
cantaloupe / 6687 posts
At 12 months she ate 3 meals and nursed 2x a day (morning and bedtime). She had one snack at that time - usually a banana or other fruit
squash / 13208 posts
@Adira: I wouldn't ever force food on my kid (not saying that is what you are doing) but if you offer some goldfish at snack time and he doesn't want them - then so be it!
Does he eat HUGE meals? I have found that my kids (unless its growth spurt time) just don't eat that much at one sitting hence why I think the snacks are important! (for MY kids)
grapefruit / 4085 posts
We do three meals and two snacks. But today she didn't finish her lunch so the rest will be her afternoon "snack"
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
@Mamaof2: Well, I don't know what's NORMAL for his age, but definitely at dinner, it seems like he eats a LOT. He's not on table foods yet because he has issues with textures, but he usually eats a good 12-14 oz, which seems like a lot to me???
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
@Adira: You can try to break it up. I think the best approach is to let it be child driven, letting them listen to their hunger cues, as opposed to eating because it is meal or snack time.
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
@looch: Umm... is it bad that here I am at 12 months and I have no idea when Xander's hungry or not??? I feed him whenever I feel like I ought to, sometimes its earlier or later than normal and it never seems to affect him....
I can only REALLY tell when he's hungry when we've gotten him up in his high chair to eat and I've got the food out and ready - then he'll act excited for it. But most of the time, he doesn't exhibit any indication he's hungry, but then will still eat a lot!
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
And one day, I tried to give him a snack of yogurt just for kicks, and he gobbles the whole thing up (3 oz), but usually I don't do that and he never seems hungry and he ate the same amount at dinner, so I didn't really get it.
squash / 13208 posts
@Adira: That may have a lot to do with it. I think when eating solid foods it takes longer and you have time to digest some of the food whereas with purees its just goes down quickly!
Or maybe not 
Just trying to think out loud here !
I wouldn't worry about it right now - just offer and he will take what he needs 
pear / 1609 posts
@Adira: some days. But not really. He has always been a big breakfast eater and never ate much at dinner. Even without snacks.
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
@Adira: That was my son at that age as well, so I get it. I tried really hard to make sure he had food offered to him at meal times and I spent a great deal of time getting frustrated that he wouldn't eat. I realized in retrospect that he ate his big meals at breakfast and lunch and less so at dinner, which he still does to this day. I am also big on not just snacking to snack, the last thing I wanted was him downing a containter of puffs just so I could finish errands. So I was careful in our scheduling and still am today.
Also, what are you feeding him? Maybe he would benefit from more calorie dense foods.
Not everyone benefits from the rigidity, but I've learned my lessons, lol.
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
@Mamaof2: Oh my gosh, probably! It doesn't help that he'll freak out if you don't feed him fast enough, so that's probably why he eats so much because he downs it so quickly! But now he's at the age where he'll thrown tantrums if we don't feed him at his pace (which is as fast as possible)!
@looch: The foods we feed him is probably an issue, but it's hard because he still only eats purees and is pretty picky. He mostly get cereal, fruit (banana, apple, strawberry, pears, berries, etc), veggies (carrots, peas, green beans, squash, sweet potato, etc), meat (pureed chicken, beef, turkey), and almond milk yogurt. There seems to be really limited options for different foods I can try with him without making my own purees (and ain't nobody got time for that), especially since I have to avoid everything with dairy!
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
@Adira: Do you serve him any oils? Would it be an option to put some light tasting olive oil into his savory food? Avocados?
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
@looch: Hmm... no, no oils. But I could try adding it to some of his food... not sure how it'll go over, haha! And the one time I tried avocado, he had a fit, but it's probably time to try it again!
pomelo / 5524 posts
LO is 18 months. Right now we're on the following schedule:
Breakfast
Mid-morning snack
Lunch
Mid-afternoon snack
Dinner
Before-bed snack
Snacks are lighter...he's always been one to house a whole banana for a snack in less than 2 minutes, so I started tentatively offering snacks in between meals. Now he will grab my thumb and lead me to the pantry when he's hungry for a snack!
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
@Adira: Do a teeny tiny drop at first, and increase it very slowly. He'll get used to the taste.
And you can also try pasta,, Barilla makes one that's called "Pastina." It's in the shape of little stars and I used to give it to my son mixed into his veggie and meat purees. Start out with a teaspoon, and it's also a good vehicle for a cooked, mashed egg yolk (if he can have that).
pomelo / 5524 posts
Oh and I should mention that the before-bed snack is sometimes not there depending on how late he eats dinner. There are times he's hungry then and times he isn't.
pear / 1517 posts
We did 3 meals and nursing inbetween for snacks at that age. I was pregnant and nauseous and it was a lot less work to nurse him between rather than prepare and clean up after a snack lol.
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
@looch: Thank you so much for the tips! I'll have to check out the Pastina pasta! I did egg yolks once, but he hated it, haha. BUT he's been eating more textured foods lately, so I should definitely try again!!
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
@looch: Hey, just wanted to thank you again for your suggestions! I finally gave Xander some pastina yesterday and he didn't even seem to notice the difference! And I added some olive oil to his food too and he also didn't seem to notice the difference. Baby steps! 
pomegranate / 3983 posts
@Adira: we don't do snacks otherwise he won't eat during meals.
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
@Baby Boy Mom: I'm not sure how Xander would be if we gave him snacks, but he eats a pretty good amount at lunch and dinner, so I'm guessing if I gave him a snack, he'd just eat less at those meals. Which could be good?? Not sure...
nectarine / 2631 posts
Lil B eats 3 meals (although he eats the most at breakfast and it tapers throughout the day) But he is still on formula (ummm I better get cracking on the whole milk thing since he is going to be 1 on Monday!) But he has snacks a few times a day. It might just be like 4 goldfish- or 1/2 a yogurt- but I guess that is a snack!
pomegranate / 3983 posts
@Adira: I feel like snacks end up being more carb-y and at meals he is more likely to eat protein/ veg, so I tend to prefer that, KWIM?
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
@Baby Boy Mom: I hear you! With us, since Xander's not eating finger foods yet, if I were to give him a snack, it's probably just be something I'd normally give him at lunch/dinner like yogurt or a fruit/veggie pouch!
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