12 Month Eating Schedule

Hi Alison, I am a mother of 3, now 24, years, 21, years and 19 years. when they were at a year old, I had my them on breakfast, morning snack between breakfast and lunch, they had lunch and then they had a snack between lunch and dinner, then they had dinner, if they ate good they got some kind of a desert or treat, maybe an hour after dinner and that was it, you want to develope good eating habits, so you don't end up with an over weight child or any kind of eating dissorders, every bad habit and good habits start from somewhere, start early, and be consistant, J.

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By the time my babies were 12 months, I was able to have them on the same meal schedule as the rest of the family. Liquid + solids at the 3 regular mealtimes, my babies didn't seem to need snacks because meals were only about 4-5 hours apart but some babies do need them, then a liquid feeding at bedtime. I don't know if you are breastfeeding or bottle feeding, I bottle fed mine unfortunately, but either way my plan was to wean at 12 months and it went very smoothly. My first actually weaned himself 2 weeks before I planned to start, then my second was fully weaned by 12 1/2 months (that's when I stopped the bedtime feeding, and I gradually replaced the bottle with a cup at mealtimes for the preceding month or so).
I think your baby's schedule sounds pretty normal, but if you are nursing or giving a bottle at every single meal and snacktime, I can see how that would get to be a bit much! Limit the liquid feedings to mealtime and bedtime, so that is only 4 times a day (I usually gave 6-7 ounces per feeding), and be sure he always has a sippy cup with water available if he is thirsty (my boys like the water cold, just like I do). As for solids, they always say to feed them as much as they want. That's what I did and both of my boys have always been very healthy, including weight and growth, and they are incredibly active. If the snack time becomes more like a meal time, you could limit how much he has for a snack and he will probably be hungrier and eat more at the next meal. Though there is some controversy on that. I think the prevailing wisdom today is to eat several small snack/meals throughout the day rather than 3 large meals. I prefer 3 meals a day (I find that needing to snack is an irritant) so I have done the same with my kids. Whatever the reason, they eat plenty at mealtime and rarely need a snack.

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I had the same concern when my daughter (now 17 months) was 12 months. This is her schedule now which I began at 12 months and has worked out fine. And by the way, kids at this age now do need to eat something every two hours because they are more active and need more energy enriched foods from keeping them cranky.

8:00 Cheerios with/without milk, or oatmeal or scrambled egg
She always has a cut up fruit with breakfast either banana, orange, strawberry, blueberries.
2 0z apple juice mixed with 2 oz water. Brush her teeth
10:00 Snack Either yogurt, fruit, string cheese
Park time, gymboree, etc.
12:00 lunch with a little fruit for dessert
2:00 bottle of milk or milk in sippy cup then nap time
(When she wakes up from her nap I give her water to drink. I also give her water throughout the day to drink if she is thirsty. Apple juice is just after breakfast.)
5:00 dinner
Play time outside or inside
6:30 oatmeal or rice crispies or some of mommy and daddy's dinner if she is interested and asking for it.
Bath time, dancing with daddy, then reading time to wind down
8:30 Milk bottle with cereal or milk in sippy cup with cereal
(I know it is recommended not to put cereal in the bottle but if it is age appropriate you will notice babies like it and keep their tummies full and will sleep through the night. You decide. I started this after 8 months and worked great!
Brush teeth immediately after
Bedtime
As you can see, she eats something about every two-three hours. Good Luck! As your child gets older, he may want to finger food snack here and there which is normal.

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A., It's totally normal. My daughter is almost 13 months and eats breakfast then a snack then lunch then snack w/juice then dinner. After that there's bath time then nursing then to sleep. You know what your little guy needs, don't feel like there is any "normal" way to feed. There isn't and no child is the same. He will change throught his growing time and eat lots then not so much. I have a 4 year old son and an 13 month old daughter and they both were so different as eaters throught the first year. He will have lots of growth spurts and maybe need a little more during those times. Just go with what he needs from you and before you know it he will be feeding himself!

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Totally normal. :)
Amount served = to size of his fist. Try and serve a protein with a whole grain or fruit. He'll feel fuller longer and not bug you every 5 minutes for something to eat.
My first DD ate exactly the way your son eats. They grow so fast-they need to keep fueled up!

E.

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