What does table food look like at 12 months?
By their first birthday, the NHS says children should be able to manage mashed, lumpy, chopped and finger foods, and be having 3 meals a day, with up to 2 healthy snacks such as fruit, toast or plain yoghurt. That covers most of what a family eats, as long as it's prepared to suit them.
Don't be surprised if your toddler eats less than you expected. The AAP explains that many children's appetite drops after their first birthday because their growth slows, and that toddlers' eating is unpredictable from one day to the next. Their diet tends to balance out over several days when a range of foods is on offer.
When to get help
- If your child is choking and can't cough, cry or breathe effectively, call your local emergency number and start choking first aid for their age.
- Talk to your doctor or health visitor if your toddler often coughs, gags or has trouble breathing while eating, or has a wet or gurgly voice during or after meals.
- Ask for a feeding check if your toddler eats only certain textures, often holds food in their mouth without swallowing, or takes a very long time to eat at most meals. ASHA lists these among possible signs of a feeding problem.
- See your doctor if you're worried about your child's weight, growth or energy, or about a possible food allergy.
How to adapt common family foods
From NHS advice on preparing food for babies and young children. Think about size, shape and texture each time; this list doesn't cover every food.
| Family food | How to adapt it | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Grapes, cherry tomatoes and berries | Cut into quarters. | Small, round foods carry more choking risk. |
| Carrot, apple, celery or peppers | For young children, grate them, or steam or simmer until soft and cut into narrow batons. | Firm foods are harder to chew and swallow. |
| Roast meat, chicken or fish | Remove all bones, skin and fat, and cut meat into strips as thinly as possible. | Bones and tough chunks are hard to manage. |
| Sausages | Peel, cut in half, then lengthways into short strips. Keep processed meat to small amounts. | Removing the skin makes them easier to swallow. |
| Bread, chapatti or naan | Cut into narrow strips; lightly toast white bread. | Soft white bread can form a doughy ball if it isn't chewed well. |
| Nuts and nut butter | Serve nuts crushed or ground. Use nut butter only as a spread or in cooking. | Whole nuts aren't suitable for under-5s, and a spoonful of nut butter is a choking hazard. |
| Gravy, stock and salty sauces | Take your toddler's portion out before adding salt, stock cubes or gravy. | Salty food isn't good for young children's kidneys. |
What changes around the first birthday
- Chewing is still maturing: ASHA describes children chewing consistently on both sides of the mouth at around 18 to 24 months, and still needing an adult to cut more challenging foods into smaller pieces. The AAP notes that children don't chew with a grinding motion until about age 4.
- Shape matters as much as softness: the NHS says choking can happen with any food, but firm foods, bones and small round foods can be more risky.
- Family food is often salty: children don't need salt added to food or cooking water, and salty food isn't good for their kidneys, according to the NHS.
- Drinks change: from 12 months, first infant formula and toddler milks aren't needed, and whole or semi-skimmed cows' milk or water can be the main drink alongside any breast milk (NHS).
- Packaged snacks become tempting: NHS advice is to try not to give shop-bought biscuits, rusks or melty snacks, which can contain a lot of sugar.
How to share family meals with your toddler
Cook one meal, adapt one portion
Cook for the family and take your toddler's portion out before adding salt, stock cubes, gravy or strong spice. The AAP advises against giving food that is heavily spiced, salted, buttered or sweetened.
Cut and soften to suit their chewing
Use the table above: quarter small round foods, cut strips rather than chunks, remove bones and soften firm vegetables. Mash or chop anything your toddler still finds hard.
Eat together
Sit down together when you can. The NHS says children learn by watching you eat, and its food-safety advice includes showing them how to chew and swallow properly and not to rush.
Set a simple rhythm
Aim for 3 meals and up to 2 healthy snacks a day, as the NHS suggests. Fruit, toast or plain yoghurt make easy snacks.
Move drinks to a cup
Offer milk and water in a cup. The NHS advises discouraging feeding from a bottle once your baby is 1, and avoiding sweet drinks such as squash and fruit juice. You can keep breastfeeding for as long as you both want.
Keep them seated and supervised
Sit your toddler upright in a highchair or booster seat at the table. The AAP advises that children eat only while seated and supervised by an adult, because eating on the run increases the risk of choking.
