In this episode, Jen and Hannah welcome back Jill, a child health nurse of 25 years who has spent most of her career in the Wheatbelt and the last eight years with Ngala, to talk toddlers, mealtimes and nutrition, one of the topics parents ask about most. Jill explains why twelve months marks a real pivot, from milk as the main source of nutrition to family meals and the five food groups, and why a toddler's growth slows even as their energy needs climb. Together they unpack the division of responsibility, why it helps to zoom out and look at what a toddler eats across a week rather than a single meal, and how platters, tongs and low pressure mealtimes can turn "yuck, nope" into curiosity. From early dinners and second breakfasts, to water, milk and why toddler formula isn't needed, to iron, meat free families, safe foods and why banning "bad" foods backfires, Jen, Hannah and Jill cover the whole mealtime landscape with warmth, honesty and a reminder that every parent gets desperate sometimes, and that's okay. Is this episode for you? This episode is perfect for parents with a baby aged 12 months –3 years who want to have a clearer understanding on their child's behaviour. Resources: www.ngala.com.au/resources/toddler/feeding/ 📞 Need more help? For those in Western Australia, you can call the Ngala Parenting Line on 08 9368 9368 for free expert support from our team. Follow the Podcast: Subscribe: 🔗 https://www.youtube.com/@UCctvj5LUZ1eAzSErNAmAvxA Website: 🔗 https://www.ngala.com.au/ Timecodes: (00:00) Introduction: you can't force a toddler to eat (00:45) Jill introduces herself and her work as a child health nurse (01:15) The range of toddlerhood and the shift from milk to family meals (04:15) Why growth slows and nutrition shifts to muscles, energy and brain development (06:15) The division of responsibility: parents decide what, when and where (07:45) Zooming out: looking at intake over a few days, not a single meal (09:15) Platters, tongs and low pressure mealtimes (10:45) Sitting together, modelling and why it matters after a big day (12:15) Early dinners, second breakfasts and feeding toddlers when they're hungry (16:45) What should toddlers drink? Water, milk, dairy and toddler formula (19:30) Listening to tummies and letting go of finishing the plate (20:45) No good food, bad food: why banning treats backfires (23:45) Meat free and dairy free families: protein and iron alternatives (28:15) We all get desperate: bribes, sensory preferences and every child's own pace (29:45) When to see a GP or child health nurse, oral care and mealtime rituals Follow Ngala 🌐 Instagram 🔗https://www.instagram.com/ngala.official/ Facebook 🔗https://www.facebook.com/Ngala.Official/ LinkedIn 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/company/ngala/?originalSubdomain=au Produced by Podwave Studios: https://podwavestudios.au/ 🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe. Music from #Uppbeathttps://uppbeat.io/t/sky-toes/the-summitLicense code: FTQLZK6PIYUYDCXK #parenting #parentingtips #toddlernutrition #toddlers #ngala #fussyeaters #perthparents #parents #mealtimes #podcast
