How much should 16 month be eating

clairehas · #1 (**permalink**) 03-10-11, 13:26

Portions - How big should they be?

My lo is 16 months his eating is very erratic and he is very fussy

he has a handful of dry cheerios, and half a weetabix and 15oml of milk for breakfast - occassionally he may finish whole weetabix

Lunch - hmmm, 1 babybel, 1 slice of malt loaf, a few bits of sweetcorn, quarter of a half of a buttered bread roll, 1 petit flouer (yoghurt), 1 pear peeled, 1 malted milk biscuit (this was a good lunch) cup of water

dinner - mash, veg and chicken or other meat usual fill a small plastic bowl and he will eat about half, sometimes more, sometimes less.

He has always from been born put just 1 pound a month on, he is still doing that, he is not classed as underweight and is very happy, active chatty, noisy LO

does this seem like a normal amount - or does it sound like im starving my child and should give him more even if he is throwing stuff on the floor or covering his mouth and shaking his head??

Opinions please

thanks

DrP · #2 (**permalink**) 03-10-11, 17:04

I'm sure he is getting plenty, if he wasn't he would let you know and look for more. You can't force a child to eat, if they have had enough they have had enough, and if they are happy and healthy then that is all that matters.

My son is not a huge eater, has three balanced meals a day with few if any snacks in between most days. He is a slight build but he is very happy and healthy and his paediatrician is more than happy with him. If he is hungry he will look for more food, if he is not he will not finish what I put in front of him some days.

cathyg · #3 (**permalink**) 08-10-11, 11:51

i was told as a rough guide, the size of their hand is the size of their stomache, so if they eat a good handful, they've had enough. from what you've described, he's eating really well & nicely varied & balanced.