From 12 months

By now, your toddler’s old enough to join the rest of your family at the dinner table. In fact, they might even insist on it! Eating together – whether at home, over at friends’ or in restaurants – is perfect for some extra family bonding, even if they can’t always have the same food as you.

Introducing family meals

Babies and toddlers will often eat better and will try more new foods if they are joining in with family meals. Mealtimes are a chance to get together and will help them develop social skills. Mince or chop suitable family foods - remember not to add salt - and seat them in their high chair near the table. If the family menu isn’t toddler-friendly, you can prepare some separate food or give them an appropriate baby food such as HiPP Organic from 12 months meals.

Eating for energy

Aim to give your toddler three small, nourishing meals a day (with a savoury and sweet course at the two main mealtimes), and healthy finger food snacks in between. For more advice on what to feed and how much, take a look at our toddler feeding guide.

How much milk?

Even though your little one’s now eating more grown-up food, milk still matters. Of course the amount they’re drinking will have decreased but it’s advisable they still have around 350ml of milk a day. From 12 months, you can use whole cows’ milk in place of formula if you wish, or choose HiPP Organic's specially formulated Growing Up milk designed with toddler’s specific nutritional needs in mind.

From 12 months, your little one should really be using a feeding cup or beaker. It might be hard for them to move away from using their bottle, but it is better for their teeth and development to do so. Try starting with a feeding beaker that needs to be sucked and then move over to a free-flow one.

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