Tips for Toddler Mealtime

Aahhh toddler mealtime: fun, frustrating, messy and unpredictable. If you’re in the midst of feeding a toddler for the first time, I wish I could tell you it gets easier, but I’m on to my 3rd toddler and each time it’s totally different. I think that’s the key: knowing every toddler is different. Honestly, every day is different. With toddlers they can love a food one day and throw it on the floor the next. They are exploring new foods like they are exploring the world around them. There is so much for them to see and try. 

A few tips:

– Be Patient. I know, it’s tough. It’s so frustrating when you make a whole meal and they eat 1 bite and toss it. 

– Don’t worry. With my first, I was so stressed feeding her as a toddler because I felt like she’d go days without truly eating a meal. But they get calories from milk or other drinks and snacks too. If they are a normal weight and are happy, just let them enjoy the time at the table, they’ll catch on (note, unless your doctor gives you a reason for concern. I am not a doctor!). 

– Fun tableware. If the forks, spoons, etc look like something they want to grab and try they might just be tempted to actually use them and eat! I’ve tried a ton of different tableware and really love everything we’ve ever gotten from Boon.  

 – Spears. We did baby led weaning with Tommy. It honestly sounds way more complicated than it is. It was actually easier for me then baby food. He only ever wanted to eat what his sisters were eating. When I did baby led weaning they suggested foods in a spear shape because the little ones can easily hold them and not choke. This helped Tommy as a baby and now I realize it’s awesome for toddlers. Tommy will not eat a banana cut in little pieces, but a spear shape he loves! This is great for sweet potatoes, apples, etc. 

– Texture variety. I’ve found that some days is seems like toddlers reject all food but if you switch up the texture vs just the food you have better luck. For example, the plate pictured above has a variety of textures that they can explore and eat. 

Two favorites! 

– Our favorite toddler meal hack: Triangle sandwiches

I forget who told me this trick, but it was about 6 years ago when Maggie was starting to eat more solids. It’s been a go-to of mine since. Even the girls still eat these and think it’s a fun snack. Triangle sandwiches are an easy way to get toddlers to eat a meal. You can make any type of sandwich: peanut butter, ham and cheese, etc. Just make a sandwich and press down hard on the sandwich to really flatten it. Use a pizza cutter to cut off the crust and then start cutting off the corners, forming tiny triangles. This is takes minutes and the meal is done. It’s a great finger food and when there’s peanut butter inside, it’s fun/easy for them to use a fork with too. 

– Our favorite sippy cup: Sippy cups have been driving me nutty for 6 years. Finding the parts, cleaning the parts, losing the parts…. the list goes on. We recently discovered the Boon SNUG and it’s amazing. It over any cup. We’ve tried it on many different cups. I actually threw out all my old sippy cup lids and use this with all the old cups. They are easier to clean and also perfect for travel and on the go. I’ve put them in my pocket on the way out the door to a restaurant! This is one product I truly wish I had with the first two toddlers too. They are also a lot cheaper then buying sippy cups. 

– Clean up! Last but not least, with a toddler eating in your house you probably feel like you spend more time cleaning then they do eating. Two new products we’re using are making clean up easier. The new Boon SPAN dishwasher net is so neat. 

It holds everything in place so you don’t end up with bowls and toddler cups filled with water. Right now we have kids ages 2 months to 6, so we fill the entire top rack with bottles and kids tableware. This net is awesome. 

Another fun cleaning product is the new FORB Mini. It’s a soap dispensing silicone dish brush. Not only is it easy and effective for cleaning, but it’s so bright and fun that my girls ASK to clean with it. Here’s Alex scrubbing Tommy’s nasty high chair tray clean. 

You can find SPAN and FORB MINI at Target. Enjoy feeding those wild and fun toddlers! 

Disclosure: We were not compensated for this post however we did receive products from Boon for the purpose of review. As always, all opinions are our own.