Toddler Likes His Food in Bite Size Pieces

Why is him wanting bite-sized a problem? His mouth is still small and his coordination is still under-developed.
Cut his food up for him until he's old enough to cut it up himself.

I wouldn't try to teach him something else - it's much more important that you get him interested in a wide variety of foods. He's really too young to be able to see a piece of food and decide if he needs to bite it or can put the whole thing in his mouth. That will come later - no need to push.

How good are you at infant heimlich and CPR?

Cut. Up. His. Food.

He's 18 months, there is nothing to work on. Feed him however he will eat.

This is totally normal, and there is nothing to advise!

Actually, toddlers NEED their food cut up into very small pieces or they could choke. You can confirm this w/ your pediatrician, who will tell you the same thing.

My advice would be to continue to cut up his food. Big pieces present a choking hazard. Remember how little their mouths are, too. When I gave my son sandwiches, at first I cut them into strips, easier to maneuver and put in one's mouth/bite off.

Your child is still learning how to be an eater. Be patient. This is pretty typical. Even older kids get in the habit of taking too big of a bite, so just keep noticing how he's doing with this. String cheese is also a huge choking hazard, because of the consistency of the mozzarella (soft, makes a great plug), so you may want to pull it apart and into small pieces for him.

Yes, I have some advice. You keep on cutting up his food into small pieces that are about the size of the end of your pinkie finger from the last knuckle to the tip of your finger. Anything larger right now and he could choke. He's ONLY 18 months old and NEEDS to have all of his food cut up.

Why rush him into growing up so soon? Are you already tired of cutting up his food? You may have to do that for a couple of years.

My 4 yr old will still sometimes request that I cut up a hotdog for him! at 18 months a half a sandwich is huge for your son. If you're really into training him on this, I'd try modeling as suggested below, but even then, I'd cut the sandwich into small triangles so they're less intimidating. But if it were me, I wouldn't push it. In time he will want to eat just like Mommy and Daddy do.

It seems he understands what he needs better than you do at this point. Children under 2 definitely need their food cut up -- it is difficult for them to judge how much to bite off and choking is a real possibility. For that matter, I would closely monitor and still cut up perhaps even to age three, depending on the child. And nutrition bars are typically quite chewy and not an appropriate source of nutrition for an 18 month old. I hope you'll talk to your pediatrician or check some books out of the library on nutrition for toddlers.

Your 18 month old should have bite sized pieces. Don't see a problem.

Try the "I'll take a bite, then you take a bite" game.

"I'll have a bite of this fry...now you have a bite. Mmmm! It's good, huh?!"

Modeling behavior is the easiest way to teach your child.

All toddlers like bite sized pieces. All they know is pick it up and eat!!! They do not know the difference between a whole slice of bread or a little piece. He knows what his is doing. Let him be.

I wouldn't push it too much right now. He is eating so it is a good thing. My son is almost 16 months and I cut things up so he doesn't shove the too much in his mouth at once.

I think it's nature's way of making sure babies don't choke to death.
Many 18 month olds don't have the maturity or common sense NOT to cram food down their throats so it's up to their mothers to cut it up for them.
I cut up my kids food (unless it was super soft or squishy) until they could manage it on their own.
When it came to harder foods (like meat) that didn't happen until they could manage a fork and knife on their own.
Sorry mom but you're still in charge of feeding, and making sure it's done safely!

In child care if we are caught not cutting a toddlers food into 1/2" bite size pieces we can be written up and our license can be taken away. Choking to death on food is a horrible thought but it is common in kids your child's age.

It's the most natural thing in the world for me to not even serve the food if it's not cut up before I put it on the plate. I have had to grab up a child and bang them on the back too many times when they grab the food and stuff their mouths. It is not a fun thing to have to do.

So, you need to cut this child's food up, it's your job. If he chokes you'll feel differently next time. It's pretty darn scary.

We have to cut their food up until they are at least 2 and often until they are 3. I have yet to serve hot dogs that do not have chopped wieners on the buns...seriously, this is a necessary thing for you to do.

His throat is about the size of a Sonic straw when he turns 2 and clear up to age 3 his throat will be about the size of a McDonald's straw. Visualize a bite of food that has not been chewed up the right way or too big of a bite getting stuck in that.

Sounds normal to me. This must be your first child.I get it everything the websites say he 'should' be at this certain point. Enjoy his age he is fine. Try to remember which I had to do with my first. They aren't robots. He will do what he does when he is ready. I doubt you will be cutting up his food when he is goes off to college. Relax :)

This seems really normal to me. My advice is to continue to cut his food for a while.

That's so normal!!!! He's not even 2! Cut it up! I still do and my daughter is 4. You won't be doing it forever. This way, they don't choke. He's 18 months. You're fine.

Bite size is the way to go if not it's a choking hazard.Cut up his food that's my advice I still cut all my kids food up they have smaller mouths than us & I still like my food cut up not whole.

My daughter is 6 and still prefers her sandwiches cut into triangle fourths and her hot dogs in "coins".

She was a "crammer" I had to give her one piece of food at a time.Any time I put more on her tray she'd grab it all and cram it into her mouth and then couldn't chew and would gag.

Just slowly make the pieces a touch bigger with time. He'll get used it

K. B
mom to 5 including triplets