Nutrition for Teethers & Toddlers

As a childcare provider, you spend a lot of time planning, preparing, and cleaning up after meals and snacks. Every child in your care has special nutritional needs and at any time, you may face challenges as you encourage children to eat nutritious meals and snacks. You may care for babies beginning to eat their first solid foods or weaning from the breast or bottle, toddlers who only want to eat macaroni and cheese, or children who will not sit still long enough to eat a meal.

Another nutritional challenge includes teething babies to toddlers who are learning to eat adult food. Teething can start as early as three months, and may continue until a child's third birthday. It can be painful and many teething infants and toddlers may be reluctant to eat properly. The following tips may help you encourage these young children to eat and enjoy many different foods while reducing the discomfort of teething and meeting individual nutritional needs.

Foods During Teething

Some foods--because of their temperature or texture--may offer pain relief to the teething baby or toddler and, therefore, are more likely to be eaten during meals and snacks. Cold or chilled foods, such as refrigerated unsweetened applesauce, fruit, yogurt, or commercially prepared baby foods may temporarily relieve the physical discomfort. Fruit juice can be partially frozen and then stirred to create a "slushy" snack.

Warm foods, such as unsalted mashed vegetables, unsweetened applesauce, and unsweetened baby cereals such as oatmeal or cream of wheat also may relieve the physical pain of sore gums. When serving warmed foods, be careful of the temperature to avoid burns. Food that is warm to an adult may be too hot for a child. Also, foods warmed in a microwave may be extremely hot or have "hot spots," such as the filling in a pastry that can cause severe burns.

During teething, the gums may be swollen and tender for a day or two until the tooth erupts. During this time, foods that are soft or that will soften quickly in the mouth, such as bread and cereal products, may be easier for teething children to eat. Other children may find pain relief by eating crispy foods such as plain crackers. However, avoid giving commercial teething biscuits to relieve a teether's gum pain. They offer few nutrients and may be potential choking hazards. Remember, all foods should be part of the child's regular meals or snacks. Chewing foods throughout the day can lead to dental decay, so provide teething rings to relieve discomfort.

A word of caution: You should always watch children closely while they are eating, even if they are able to self-feed by picking up and chewing foods on their own. The front teeth are the first to erupt, so babies may be able to bite or tear off pieces of food, but do not yet have the back teeth needed for chewing, so they can easily choke on foods. Eating while walking or running also can pose a choking hazard, so have children sit in a chair or at the table while eating or drinking.

Foods to Try

An infant officially becomes a toddler on reaching her or his first birthday, and is probably ready for a wider variety of foods. Until now, the focus has been on learning how to get food to the mouth and how to chew. Now that those feats have been mastered, it is time to move onto different textures and tastes.

Try these toddler-friendly eating tips in your childcare program. Many tips are applicable to all the children in your care.

• Use the Food Guide Pyramid as a guide and use menus to encourage variety. By using menu plans, you will be able to offer parents assurance that you are serving a variety of balanced, healthy meals and will avoid getting into a "sandwich rut." A registered dietitian may be able to help you plan nutritious meals. In addition, your state may require that you adhere to specific nutrition standards for childcare providers so talk to your local licensing agency representative.
• Start out by offering small servings frequently. In toddlers, appetite can vary widely from meal to meal. At one meal a toddler may seem ravenous, but at the next meal may only pick at his or her plate. Some toddlers seem to want to eat only one kind of food for every meal, but this is not usually a cause for concern. Over time, toddlers who are offered a variety of vegetables, fruits, protein, dairy products, and whole grains will receive the nutrients they need.
• If a child refuses to eat a certain food, do not force her. Offer each food to a child at least twice during the meal, but do not force the child to taste it. A child may taste a food as many as 18 times before he decides if he likes or dislikes it!
• Always offer a variety of foods not only for nutritional value, but also so children can learn about food by touching and eating it. Allow children to handle their food. It is okay if they sniff their eggs or vegetables or mix the peas and corn together. How else will children develop food likes and dislikes?
• Offer lots of finger foods. Toddlers like these foods because they are easy to pick up and eat, and they can feel the textures first-hand.
• Be aware of choking hazards. Foods that are hard, round, slippery, tough, or sticky are potentially dangerous. Cut vegetables, fruits, meats, and other foods lengthwise into small, thin strips and then into small pieces that are not round. You should not give hard candy, dried fruit, popcorn, nuts, or other foods that cannot be cut into smaller pieces to young children. Avoid sticky foods such as peanut butter on soft bread, or clumps of raisins or marshmallows.
• Keep it simple. Do not use excessive spices and seasonings, or extra sugar or oil when preparing children's food. They do not need the salt, fat, and sugar, and often prefer unseasoned food.
  s Make mealtime a priority. Eating should be a relaxed experience so children do not feel rushed. Sit with the children as they are eating, and if possible eat your own meal at the same time. Children learn how to eat and to enjoy food by watching others.

Learning to enjoy healthy, nutritious food is an important skill for children to develop. You can play a large role in that process by making mealtimes and snacks valuable learning periods for your charges.

RESOURCES

USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine, 713-798-4712, 1100 Bates St., Houston, TX 77030; www.bcm.tmc.edu/cnrc

The Food Guide Pyramid for Young Children, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, Rm. 1034, Alexandria, VA 22302-1594, 703-305-7600; www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Care/Publications/kidspyramid.htm

American Dietetic Association, 216 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60606-6995; 312-899-0040; www.eatright.org. On this site are the nutrition standards for childcare programs.

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