Do you feed your toddler snacks between meals?
Answers:
Actually the smaller but more frequent meals thing is great advice for even adults, it helps keep your metabolism up, and your blood sugar at a more manageable level (as you were asking about the low blood sugar melt down). Just ask any diabetic they are told to eat three meals and up to three snacks. 5 hours (or even 4 1/2) IS a long time to expect a toddler to wait for food, you have to remember that their stomachs are only about the size of THEIR fist, and think about it, smaller container empties faster (that's why newborns eat every two hours). I have a 5 year old and a 1 yr old, both "snack" heck my 1 yr old snacks constantly all day, if he didn't he would be a BEAR, AND he still has a VERY healthy appetite at the dinner (lunch or breakfast) table, and by the way at his one year check up he was actually in the bottom 10% for his age... which means he's NOT getting FAT from all this eating. Juice for a snack (or a blood sugar pick me up) is about the WORST thing you can give a child, it's empty calories, you might as WELL be feeding the kid sugar water, it is MUCH more healthy to give a child an apple (and let them drink water) than to give them a cup full of apple juice. Just remember WHAT you feed them is very important (but you seem to understand this) and it is less important that they eat a lot than if they eat large amounts. So you're right cleaning your plate SHOULDN'T be a requirement (in fact imposing that "rule" can lead to obesity as an adult, your mother's generation is more likely to "suffer" from this dilema because growing up they always heard clean your plate clean your plate, now we're hearing it's OKAY NOT to clean your plate, have enough will power to leave some food behind). Anyway the major point is you are having a parenting conflict with your mother, she wants to do it one way you want to do it another, the point is YOU are their mother, and your mother needs to accept and heed YOUR rules on how you want your kids to be raised, IF this were a hired babysitter you would expect them to do what YOU wanted to do and you wouldn't hesitate a MOMENT to fire a person for not following your rules about how the children should be fed, the only reason you aren't up in arms about this is because she's YOUR parent. I give you permission to tell her that these are YOUR kids to raise as YOU see fit, and back it up (lie if you have to) by telling her their pediatrician tells you the boys would do better if they had a small snack between meals (call the pediatrician and ask them, I'm sure the doctor WOULD say that so really you wouldn't be lying to your mom if you wanted to double check). So really the issue isn't to snack or not to snack it's more about parenting boundaries, and you need to set yours and decide where you are willing to compromise. (but if I were you there would be NO compromising... but then I'm a bit of a hard head about those things)
Other Answers:
I do not think your mom is right. A baby's stomach is about the size of their fist. They can not eat much at one time, therefore get hungry between meals. Also, they are so active, they burn off what they eat rather quickly.
I'm sorry I didn't read the whole question, but whoever is watching your children should follow whatever guidelines you set up. If she has a suggestion then you can discuss it if you want but you have the final say. She works for you even if it is your mother. I have a 2 year old and I give him snacks in between his meals. He really doesn't eat that much at his meals anyway. I always make sure they are healthy snacks like you - fruit, yogurt.
well you right and you mom is right to. but yourgerthas sugar is not that healthy everyday fruit is better. i have 3 year old and feet 2 lages meal and one snack day but at age if they hungry they tell you by going to refrgerator . also at age 2 they tell if they hungry and go to the refrigerator . give juice and water
my son is 5 and it has been near impossible to get him to eat anything properly up until about 6 months ago when i started to cut his 3 huge meals into 5-6 little meals a day depending on how hungry he is. most of the problem was me trying to GET him to eat it and he was just rebelling but when i said that he didnt have to eat all of his breakfast (which was a smaller portion) he ate it all!! then he was hungry again about 1 1/2 hours later and he asked for a yoghurt and an apple and he has been eating his smaller portion main meals and his healthy in betweenie snax and has been steadily putting on weight over the last few months. this helped me, maybe will help you 2. good luckyoure right they should eat several small meals,but there is no need to worry your kids will be ok.telling your mom how to take care of them would only offend her,do you feel she took good care of you as a child?then she will take good care of them to... OH LORD, I CANNOT BELIEVE WHAT I AM READING. FEEDING YOUR CHILD CRACK BETWEEN MEALS. YOU SHOULD BE IN PRISON FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. I CANNOT BELIEVE WHAT I AM READING.I HAVE TO READ THIS AGAIN, I AM SO ENRAGED.
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oh dear,..snacks, not crack. that is completely different.
As long as your children are eating and healthy, I think you are fine. my daughter (2 years) is very erratic in her eating habits. I offer the same thing everyday (3 meals and snacks in between). sometimes she will eat everything, sometimes nothing at all. As long as they have an appropiate weight gain, and she is not refusing them food if they are hungry, they should be fine. However, she should respect the schedule you have for your children; they are, after all, YOUR children!!
Source(s):
My 2 year old daughter and my 7 month old son!! (and a little advice from my pediatrician...) poor babies tell granny to kick down the snacks
I feed my 21 months son little snacks between meals... only and especially when he requests... a Little healthy baby cookie, a little healthy baby cracker .. I also give him fruit snacks and bits of dry cereal.
I make sure cool drinks are available to him all day..
Healthy snacks are important cos toddlers are growing.
Source(s):
im a mama too
kids need to have some healthy snacks in between meals because they are so active i have three little girls ages 4,5, and 7 and i agree with you.
children require more energy than adults do and their metabolism is alot faster so they require more food throughout the day.
children are quite picky and have small tummies so by only feeding them twice between wake up time and afternoon-it can cause drops in blood sugar and cause them to be more tired.
explain your concerns to your mom and tell her you would feel more comfortable feeding them smaller meals more frequently. they don't have to be complicated meals if prep time is an issue. My girls love cereal,oatmeal, or scrambled eggs for breakfast, things such as cheese sticks, ritz crackers and sliced cheese, apples slices and peanut butter, or pretzels and yogurt make awesome snacks. For lunch-they love peanut butter and Jelly sandwiches ( i use cookie cutters to make it more fun to eat), veggie soup, or cheese crisps ( i add frozen mixed veggies in w/the cheese before melting) w/ranch dressing.
even adults snack on things throughout the day so it's no wonder little ones need to eat more often : )
Children should have 6 meals a day; breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner, snack.
A snack is very small, not a meal.
Juice is not a snack. Give them snacks!!! Fruit, PBJ's, veggies. My grandson loves trisket crackers. Food is fuel and little guys expend allot of energy so they need allot of refueling.
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