Learning to Eat can be Messy
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ddlers who have been practicing with both finger feeding and holding a spoon are probably becoming pretty good self-feeders by now.
On the other hand, if you have been feeding your toddler and she is now about 18 months old, now is the time to encourage her to take over and do it herself.
You can expect an occasional mess—being a neat eater takes lots of practice!
Some toddlers will feed themselves certain foods but want a parent or caregiver to feed them others.
If this practice continues, it is possible that Toddler will build up faulty eating habits—she will see the difference between the foods she wants and the foods you want her to eat.
In this period of self-assertion such a practice can develop into a tug-of-war. In the future you may find that she may not have an appetite for your foods. So, to avoid this kind of confrontation, continue to allow your toddler to feed herself in spite of the mess she may make.
Between the first and second years, many youngsters will give up certain foods, particularly some vegetables. Accept her preferences and return to the rejected foods in a few weeks.
By pushing a temporary dislike on her, you increase the probability that the particular food may become permanently distasteful to her.
Toddler’s preferences may result in an occasional lopsided meal, but from day to day or week-to-week her choices should even out to a well-balanced diet.