The Toddler Stage: From 1-3 Years Old

The toddler stage is a stage between 1years and two years (sometimes 3 years). In this stage, a child is moving from infancy to preschool age or preschool years. In this stage, a child’s physical growth and the development of motor skills slow. However, the children report tremendous development in their social, intellectual and emotional capacity. The physical achievement of the children at this cycle include the ability to walk alone, the ability to pull toys when they walk, the ability to stand on the tips of their toes, they can kick a ball, and they show the ability to start running. The social skills demonstrated by the toddlers include the acknowledgment of self as separate from others, copying behaviors, and they show enthusiasm in staying in the company of other children. The children also develop cognitive thinking demonstrated by their ability to find hidden objects, sort object by shape and color and play make-believe games. The toddlers show greater autonomy, and they can identify themselves in mirrors and pictures. They can recognize names and failure people. They also recognize familiar objects, phases, directions, and simple instructions. 

Toddlers have nutritional needs that are unique to their developmental stage. Since their growth rate slows down, their appetite reduces and thus, mealtime becomes very difficult. Toddlers need about 1,000-1400 calories daily. Based on the calorific need, the parent can work out the volume of food they need to feed their children. They also require a lot of vitamins D and calcium, which can be provided by including milk in their meals. The toddlers need around 600 IU (International Units) of Vitamins D and 700 mailgrams of calcium a day. Vitamin D is essential in the absorption of calcium. Although adequate calcium can be drawn from two servings of dairy foods daily, the serving does not provide adequate vitamin D. Therefore, toddlers require vitamin D supplementation. Toddlers also need fats for brain development. They can get fats from drinking whole milk. The fat intake can be regulated if the kid is overweight or obese, or the family has a history of obesity. For kids that cannot take milk, alternative sources of calcium should be pursued. Children also require iron, about 7 milligrams a day. The toddlers are usually at risk of iron deficiency because they do not take iron-fortified meals anymore. Although cow’s milk is nutritious, it lucks iron. Cow milk also makes children less hungry and thus reduces their chances of eating other iron-rich food, and this increases the chance of iron deficiency. Milk may also decrease the absorption of iron. Iron deficiency can lead to several problems including anemia. Toddlers meet their daily protein needs from daily meals. They only need 19 grams of proteins. 

A diet tailored for toddlers should ensure the toddlers get adequate micronutrients, carbs, proteins, and fats. The following diet would ensure that a toddler get proper nutrition 

The number of calories can vary based on the kid’s level of activity. Toddlers’ tummies are still small and, therefore, can only eat the food in small portions. Furthermore, the food volumes represent averages. There are days when the children will take more and others where they will take less. Grains comprise of foods made from oats, rice, wheat, corneal, and other cereal grain products. Vegetables should include colourful vegetables to encourage toddlers to eat. Fruits comprise of any fruits of fruit products that are 100% fruits. Dairy products include milk and other food that count milk. For protein, lean proteins are the best. Therefore parents should serve lean meats, poultry, fish, nuts beans and peas. Vary the sources of proteins