This document provides eating tips for toddlers between 1-2 years old. It outlines safe soft foods toddlers can eat like bananas and cooked carrots. It warns against hard, sticky, or chunky foods that pose choking hazards like popcorn, nuts, or grapes. The document recommends children stop using bottles by age 14 months to prevent tooth decay and only drink milk, water or juice from cups. It also stresses the importance of making meal times distraction-free and eating as a family to promote healthy eating behaviors in toddlers.

1. EATING TIPS FOR TODDLERS
Ages1-2 years
Ellen Hashiguchi, MPH

2. OVERVIEW
 Safe Foods
 Unsafe Foods
 Bottle Feeding
 Cups
 Eating Environment

3. SAFE FOODS
Soft and smooth textures
 Bananas, rice, cooked carrots, meat loaf
Easy to Swallow
 Cut food into smaller pieces
Use small plates and bowls

4. UNSAFE FOODS
 Sticky, hard and chunky foods are choking hazards
 Children under 4 years old should avoid:
 Popcorn
 Peanuts
 Nuts and seeds
 Whole grapes, cherry tomatoes
 Whole kernel corn
 Raw fruits or vegetables
 Chunks of meat or poultry
 Peanut Butter
 Hard candy, gum drops and jelly beans

5. BOTTLE FEEDING
 American Academy of Pediatrics
 Children who use a bottle after 15 months of age have a higher risk for early
tooth decay
 Be “bottle-free” by 14 months of age
 Still using bottles?
 Fill only with formula, breast milk, cow’s milk or water

6. CUPS
 Cups should contain only milk or
water
 Sugary drinks are not essential in
the diet
 Limit to ½ cup of 100% fruit juice a
day.
 Cups should not be given to your
child at bedtime or nap time

7. EATING ENVIRONMENT
 Designate Meal Times
 Sit down at the dinner table
 Eat with family
 Avoid Distractions
 Turn off TV. or radio during meal
times
 “Monkey See Monkey Do”
 Observe and learn eating behaviors