Sallie Warren

You can tap into many resources when it comes to planning meals for your baby or toddler. Babies younger than 2 years old have some special dietary don’ts you need to know about. For recommendations on the types of foods young children should eat, you can consult the food pyramid compiled by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Dinner can often be a bit of a challenge for children who are 18-months to 2-years-old. Kids that tend to eat an afternoon snack are often uninterested in dinner, but the delicious recipes below help alleviate that problem. Naturally, dinner is the last meal of the day, providing balanced nutrition for your child before he goes off to sleep, so it's important to work with your child to establish a pattern of healthy meals and healthy snacks.

Some certain foods tend to trigger food allergies in children. Don’t get carried away and feed your baby new foods too quickly or feed foods that are known allergens until your baby reaches age 1. A baby’s immature immune system is more likely to react to allergens. Because these foods typically cause problems with children less than 1 year of age, wait until your kid is older than 1 year old to consider trying any of these items: Cow’s milk: Many children have allergy problems with cow’s milk.

Naturally, you may get a lot of conflicting advice, such as Aunt Wanda's persistent instructions to start feeding your baby table food at 2 months old, but the age actually differs. You may wonder when you should begin introducing solid foods and what you should serve. Healthcare professionals overwhelmingly recommend that your baby's first food be rice cereal, which you can start serving around your baby's fourth month.

You can make baby food from just about any fresh vegetable or fruit by pureeing them. Homemade baby food purees from fruits and vegetables are easy to make and nutritious. Before you begin cooking, be sure to thoroughly clean the cooking area, your tools and equipment, and your hands. Prepare the fresh produce by washing, peeling, and removing seeds.

If you end up with a child who is a picky eater, you can put to work some important tactics as you continue to feed and work with your finicky child. In fact, dealing with selective eaters can be frustrating, and parents often make situations worse by letting their emotions get in the mix. Be consistent The key tactic to managing a picky eater is consistency.

Doctors have recommended the BRAT diet for years, which helps when a toddler has an upset stomach. With the BRAT diet, you increase your child’s fluid intake and offer foods that naturally help with the problem. Bananas: Bananas reduce stomach acidity and keep your child’s potassium level in check. Potassium helps regulate the body’s blood pressure.

When it comes to planning meals for your baby, all foods aren’t created equal. Be sure to steer clear of the common problem foods in the following list. They’re the ones that can cause serious allergic and intolerance reactions during the first year of your baby’s life! Citrus fruit Nuts Cow’s milk and milk p

When your child is sick, follow the advice of your doctor (of course). In addition, you can plan to feed your baby or toddler nourishing meals to promote a speedy recovery. Along with any medicine the doctor may prescribe, consider serving the following foods when your child (over age 1) isn’t feeling well: For a cold: Chicken soup (the old standby) For a fever: Oatmeal and juices For a sore throat: Flavored gelatin and fruit smoothies For a stomachache: Bananas, rice, apples, and toast (dry), also known as the B.