Advising on toddler health

Having a toddler can be challenging and some parents and caregivers may be anxious that their toddler isn’t developing as quickly as others. Every toddler is an individual and will develop and learn skills at their own pace. Some toddlers may eat everything they are given to eat, while others might be very fussy eaters; some may start potty training at 18 months while others may be almost three years before they are ready.

Healthy eating

Toddlers can eat three healthy meals a day with the rest of the family; they just need smaller portions and food cut into smaller pieces. They may also need two healthy snacks between meals such as fruit, vegetable sticks or plain yoghurt. Certain dried fruits may be better with meals, rather than given as a snack, due to sugar content and tooth decay.

A varied diet is important to help toddlers get all the nutrients they need. It is also good to introduce new textures and flavours. A varied diet should consist of a balance of vegetables, fruit, starchy foods (e.g. potatoes, pasta and rice), protein and dairy.¹

Parents and caregivers should be advised to avoid wholegrain foods for children under two years as these can be high in fibre and cause children to feel full before they’ve taken in the calories and nutrients they need. After two years, more wholegrain foods can be gradually introduced. Salt and sugar should also not be added to toddlers’ food or cooking water; salty food isn’t good for their kidneys and sugar can cause tooth decay.¹

Up to half of parents of toddlers between 12 and 18 months of age describe them as being picky eaters. You can suggest that parents experiment with different foods until they find foods their toddler likes; rather than forcing a toddler to eat a food they don’t want, try it another day.²

Healthy teeth

Brushing teeth regularly and regular trips to the dentist are essential to keep a toddler’s teeth healthy. Teeth should be brushed twice a day for about two minutes using a fluoride toothpaste to help prevent tooth decay; a children’s fluoride toothpaste containing no less than
1000 ppm of fluoride can be used and just a smear of toothpaste is required. Parents should brush or supervise toothbrushing.⁴ Have a look at the toothpaste you stock in store and online to see which ones are suitable.

It is also important to minimise the amount of added sugar they have; added sugar can be found in fizzy drinks, juice drinks, sweets, chocolate and cakes. It is best to offer toddlers water or whole milk to drink; semi-skimmed milk can be introduced from two years.⁵

Potty training

Using a potty is another new skill for a toddler to learn. There is no perfect time to start potty training but most parents and caregivers start thinking about it when their toddler is between two and two and a half years. Parents or caregivers can be advised to start potty training when there are no expected changes or disruptions to the toddler’s routine to ensure consistency.⁶ Have a look on Boots.com and in your store to see what products are available to help support parents and caregivers who are potty training.

Sleeping

Toddlers need approximately 11 to 14 hours of sleep per day including naps.⁷ Lots of toddlers may find it difficult to settle down to sleep or wake up in the night. Having a ‘winding down’ bedtime routine and going to bed with a favourite toy can help a toddler to sleep. Toddlers can also be unsettled by starting nursery, which can affect their sleep routine.⁸

Toddler activity & safety

Physical activities such as walking, running, climbing, jumping and dancing all help a toddler’s muscles, bones and brain develop. Ideally, toddlers need at least 180 minutes of activity per day. Both indoor and outdoor activities count towards the total and it can be spread throughout the day.⁹

However, now that they are on the move, toddlers may discover all sorts of hazards at home. They may start climbing on furniture and tables, go up or down stairs and learn how to open doors and drawers.

Simple steps to help keep toddlers safer include investing in stair gates, putting child locks on cupboards and drawers and making sure hot drinks and sharp objects are kept well out of reach. When out and about, parents and caregivers can also encourage their toddler to hold their hand and start talking to them about road safety.²