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Mealtimes can be difficult when you have a �����г���Ƶ who seemingly won't eat anything. It happens more commonly than you may think. As a �����г���Ƶ transitions from an infant to toddler, their calorie needs change. 

From the age of one to five, it’s normal for a �����г���Ƶ’s appetite to slow down. However, it can be nerve-wracking for parents who may worry about whether their �����г���Ƶ is eating enough.

Here’s how to get through this eating power struggle:

1. Trust Your Child

   Your �����г���Ƶ’s brain will make sure they are getting enough calories for energy and growth. If your �����г���Ƶ is hungry, they will eat.

2. Don’t Force Feed

   Doing so will make mealtime feel more like a punishment and lead to them eating less.

3. Limit Snacks

   Offering snacks all day could lead to your �����г���Ƶ never feeling hungry. Try to limit snacks to no more than two a day.

4. Limit Beverage Calories

   If your �����г���Ƶ is thirsty between meals, offer them water. Juice will only keep them from feeling hungry and wanting to eat at mealtimes.

5. Don’t Spoon Feed

   Once Your �����г���Ƶ is old enough to use a spoon, don’t spoon feed them.

“The main way to prevent feeding struggles is to teach your �����г���Ƶ to feed themselves," says Cindy Gellner, MD, a pediatrician at �����г���Ƶ of Utah �����г���Ƶ. "Let your �����г���Ƶ pace their feeding. Remember, your �����г���Ƶ will survive this picky-eating slump.”