Should a One-year-old Be Eating 2 Snacks in Addition to 3 Meals?

I agree with all of the other comments that it will depend on the child, and that the food intake may vary from day to day.

My DD is in daycare, and they mimic what the other mom's below said. Breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner. It doen't need to be big, some cherrios or cheese. See if he wants it.

I would also check with your Pediatrician and see what they have to say about it.

Good luck.

My son, 19 months, still eats 2 snacks and 3 meals per day. He eats breakfast at 7:30, snack at 10, lunch at 1:30, snack at 4, and dinner at 6. From what I know all of my mom friends do the same. However, if he doesn't need it, ask for it, or get cranky he may not need it. Also if you find it time consuming you can get a snack cup and put snacks in there and he can still be on the go while snacking!!

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C.,

My son is at a daycare center and the schedule is pretty much:

8:00 breakfast
10:00 snack
12:00 lunch then nap
3:00 snack

He gets home about about 5:00 and is asking for a cracker while I make dinner. We eat at 5:45ish.

So, I think a snack is common. I would offer him some fruit or something and see how he does with it.

T.

Hi. I think each child does what works for them. Your son will let you know what he wants. I would say offer a snack inbetween but if he isn't interested, don't stress out about it. He won't let himself starve. My daughter is 13 months old and all she does is snack. She doesn't seem to eat any large meals. It was like this when she was breast-feeding as well. She seems to be eating constantly but eats at least 6 times a day.

Good Luck,
D.

Does he drink a lot of milk? Even my son's second-grade class has a morning snack break, so yes, I'd say snacks are pretty typical. I'd be surprised if your son's snack intake doesn't go up as his milk consumption goes down over the next few months/year.

Hi!
I have a one year old and he does eat 2 snacks in between his meals. He has his breakfast & milk..then after his morning nap he'll have a snack like applesauce or cheerios or cheese. Lunch & milk around noon, then a snack again at 3PM (yogurt, toast or some sort of fruit). At 6PM he has dinner and milk. Every child is different but offer your son a snack and see what he does. Also, my son will eat a ton one day, and a little the next. But b/c their tummy's are so little and they are still growing, they need plenty of nutrion in little bits. Thats why snacking is important. Good luck!

You should offer a snack and see what happens. He may be eating a lot at his meals, or maybe the meals are pretty closely spaced? All three of my kids ate snacks between meals at a pretty young age, and still do. They would "starve to death" if I didn't give them one! My 10 month old though is the one who needs two substantial snack the most. His belly can't hold enough to keep him going all the way through to the next meal. You have to experiment though, because sometimes as they get older, snacks cause them to eat less at meals. It's always a balancing act!