3 TO 3½ YEARS

Being three is fun for me!

I am curious and may ask a lot of questions. I need your help to LEARN NEW THINGS.

I MAY BE a choosy eater at times. 

I might like a food one day, but not the next. It’s okay if I eat a lot sometimes, and not very much at other times. Some days I may be hungrier than other days, this is normal. I will eat when I am hungry.

I may be cautious about eating new foods. I might need to see a food 10 or more times before I learn to like it. Please keep offering it, but don’t force me to eat. 

REMEMBER:

  • Your job is to offer a variety of healthy foods and decide what time we will have our meals and snacks.
  • My job is to decide if, what, and how much I will eat from the food choices you provide.

I NEED YOU TO TEACH ME:

  • How to behave nicely at the table.
  • When I should say “yes, please” and “no, thank you”.
  • I cannot only eat my favorite foods (all the time).
  • It is not ok to whine, cry, or get upset when I see new food.

HERE’S WHAT WILL HELP:

  • Have sit-down meals and snacks at regular times so I have the chance to eat every 2 to 3 hours.
  • Only offer water in between meals and snacks.
  • Offer at least one food I like at each meal and snack.
  • Only allow eating and pleasant conversation at the table. Turn off the TV, computers, and phones. Talk with me about the day.
  • Show me how to be a good eater. Seeing you eat healthy foods makes me want to try them too.
bac_mom_daughter_kitchen

Here are some examples of what meal and snack portion sizes might look like on my plate.

Breakfast

½ cup 100% orange juice
½ cup diced bell pepper
1 slice whole grain toast
1 cooked, scrambled egg
½ cup shredded cheese

Lunch

½ cup sliced in half grapes
½ cup cooked, sliced carrots
½ medium whole grain pita bread
with 1 ounce sliced, lean deli turkey
with 1 slice cheese
½ cup water

Snacks

2 or 3 whole grain crackers
with 1 stick string cheese, quartered lengthwise
1 slice whole grain bread
with 1 tablespoon peanut butter spread thin
 ½ cup low-fat milk
water between meals and snacks

Dinner

½ cup sliced pear
½ cup cooked, diced mixed vegetables
½ cup low-fat milk
¼ cup cooked brown rice
¼ cup cooked pinto beans

Daily Suggested Food Group Amounts

FRUITS

3 servings a day
1 serving = ½ cup
(1½ cups total)

Cooked or soft, raw fruit.

Mashed, sliced, or chopped.

Offer a variety: red, yellow, orange, blue, and green.

VEGETABLES

3 servings a day
1 serving = ½ cup
(1½ cups total)

Raw or cooked, mashed, sliced, or chopped veggies.

Offer a variety: dark green, orange, red, yellow, and purple.

GRAINS

6-8 servings a day
1 serving = ½ ounce
(3-4 ounces total)

Whole grain bread, tortillas, rice, noodles.

Dry or cooked cereal.

PROTEINS

3-4 servings a day
1 serving = 1 ounce
(3-4 ounces total)

Cooked lean meat, poultry, or seafood.

Eggs.

Cooked beans, peas, or tofu.

Peanut butter.

DAIRY

5 servings a day
1 serving = ½ cup
(2½ cups total)

Low-fat milk.

Yogurt.

Cheese.

Look what I can do!

  • I can help! I feel happy when I help you make meals. I am more likely to taste what I helped create too.
  • I am learning how to fold and wrap. I can help fold dish towels.
  • I am learning how to pour. I can help pour water into plastic cups.
  • I can use a big spoon to help stir pancake or muffin batter.
  • I can shake things using two hands, like plastic bottles of salad dressing. Make sure lids are on tight!
  • I am learning to spread. I can help spread peanut butter and jelly on slices of bread using a dull, plastic knife.

Keep me safe and healthy.

Take me to the doctor for my check-up.

Help me brush my teeth 2 times a day and floss daily. 

We need to wash our hands often. Teach me how to wash my hands with warm water and soap. I need to wash them for 20 seconds, or the time it takes to sing “Row, Row, Row Your Boat.”

I need simple rules. Set limits on when, where, and how often we have screen time. Talk about what I’m learning as we watch together, and keep me safe from what I shouldn’t see. Let’s focus on each other during meals and snacks, not a screen.

Side-Lying

Side-Lying Hold

  1. For the right breast, lie on your right side with your baby facing you.
  2. Pull your baby close. Your baby’s mouth should be level with your nipple.
  3. In this position, you can cradle your baby’s back with your left arm and support yourself with your right arm and/or pillows.
  4. Keep loose clothing and bedding away from your baby.
  5. Reverse for the left breast.

This hold is useful when:

  • You had a C-section
  • You want to rest while baby feeds
  • You are breastfeeding in the middle of the night
  • You and your baby are comfortable in this position
cross-cradle

Cross-Cradle Hold

  1. For the right breast, use your left arm to hold your baby’s head at your right breast and baby’s body toward your left side. A pillow across your lap can help support your left arm.
  2. Gently place your left hand behind your baby’s ears and neck, with your thumb and index finger behind each ear and your palm between baby’s shoulder blades. Turn your baby’s body toward yours so your tummies are touching.
  3. Hold your breast as if you are squeezing a sandwich. To protect your back, avoid leaning down to your baby. Instead, bring your baby to you.
  4. As your baby’s mouth opens, push gently with your left palm on baby’s head to help them latch on. Make sure you keep your fingers out of the way.
  5. Reverse for the left breast.

This hold is useful when:

  • Your baby is premature
  • Your baby has a weak suck
  • Your baby needs help to stay latched
  • Your baby needs extra head support
  • You and your baby are comfortable in this position
Football

Clutch or “Football” Hold

  1. For the right breast, hold your baby level, facing up, at your right side.
  2. Put your baby’s head near your right nipple and support their back and legs under your right arm.
  3. Hold the base of your baby’s head with your right palm. A pillow underneath your right arm can help support your baby’s weight.
  4. To protect your back, avoid leaning down to your baby. Bring baby to you instead.
  5. Reverse for the left breast.

This hold is useful when:

  • You had a C-section
  • You have large breasts
  • You have flat or inverted nipples
  • You have a strong milk let-down
  • You are breastfeeding twins
  • Your baby likes to feed in an upright position
  • Your baby has reflux
  • You and your baby are comfortable in this position
CRADLE hold

Cradle Hold

  1. For the right breast, cradle your baby with your right arm. Your baby will be on their left side across your lap, facing you at nipple level.
  2. Your baby’s head will rest on your right forearm with your baby’s back along your inner arm and palm.
  3. Turn your baby’s tummy toward your tummy. Your left hand is free to support your breast, if needed. Pillows can help support your arm and elbow.
  4. To protect your back, avoid leaning down to your baby. Instead, bring your baby to you.
  5. Reverse for the left breast.

This hold is useful when:

  • Your baby needs help latching on
  • You and your baby are comfortable in this position
laid-back

Laid-Back Hold

  1. Lean back on a pillow with your baby’s tummy touching yours and their head at breast level. Some moms find that sitting up nearly straight works well. Others prefer to lean back and lie almost flat.
  2. You can place your baby’s cheek near your breast, or you may want to use one hand to hold your breast near your baby. It’s up to you and what you think feels best.
  3. Your baby will naturally find your nipple, latch, and begin to suckle.

This hold is useful when:

  • Your baby is placed on your chest right after birth
  • You have a strong milk let-down
  • You have large breasts
  • You and your baby are comfortable in this position