Is My Baby Eating Enough
Real talk for parents who stare at the high chair and silently panic
If your once food-loving baby suddenly turns one and starts eating way less, it can be really confusing. You might find yourself thinking things like:
• “They used to eat so well — what happened?”
• “Is something wrong?”
• “Are they becoming a picky eater already?”
Take a deep breath, friend. This shift is totally normal. Here’s what’s going on, and how you can keep mealtimes calm and pressure-free — for both of you.
1. Growth Slows Down After Age One
Between 6–12 months, babies grow fast — like, really fast. Their calorie needs are high, and it often shows in their interest in food. But after their first birthday, growth naturally slows down, and so does their appetite.
Think of it this way: your baby just tripled their birth weight in the first year. Now, their body doesn’t need the same energy input to keep growing.
So eating less doesn’t mean something’s wrong. It just means they’re not growing at lightning speed anymore.
2. Toddlers Are Busy (and Distracted)
Once babies become toddlers, food isn’t the only exciting thing anymore. Suddenly, everything is fascinating — toys, pets, crumbs on the floor, their own toes.
We noticed our little one went from fully focused mealtimes to dancing to the “Jellyfish Song” or or trying to climb out of the high chair mid-lunch to pick a bottle cap in the floor.
If this sounds familiar, try using a high chair with a footrest and secure straps [this one is our favorite because it is easy to adjust and clean] to keep them safely seated and more grounded. And keep meals short and sweet — 15–20 minutes max is often plenty at this stage.
3. They’re Learning to Listen to Their Bodies
One of the beautiful things about baby-led weaning is how it encourages babies to self-regulate. That means when they’re full — they stop eating. Simple as that.
After one year, many toddlers start to follow their internal cues more clearly, even if that means eating a big breakfast, barely touching lunch, and then asking for a snack before dinner. It’s unpredictable, but it’s not bad behavior.
Trust their appetite, not the clock.
4. You Might Be Offering More Food Than They Need
I was totally guilty of this. After our baby turned one, I kept filling up his plate like he was still eating like a 10-month-old. When he didn’t finish, I’d worry.
The fix? Offer small portions to start. A divided suction plate [our favorite here] is super helpful for this — just a bit of protein, veg, and fruit or carb. You can always offer more if they want it.
Bonus: smaller portions mean less food wasted when the “I’m done!” moment hits after three bites.
5. Teething, Illness, or New Milestones Can Affect Appetite Too
Sometimes the change in appetite isn’t about age — it’s about what’s happening that week. Cutting molars, recovering from a cold, or even hitting a big developmental milestone (leaps, leaps and leaps) can temporarily affect how much they eat.
During these phases, we keep things low-pressure:
• Soft, soothing foods like yogurt, oatmeal, or ripe avocado
• Plenty of fluids
• No bribing, coaxing, or forcing bites
We also love using a reusable snack pouch [like this one] for smoothies or puréed fruits on-the-go when solids aren’t appealing.
6. Focus on the Big Picture — Not One Meal
One of the best pieces of advice I got was:
“Look at what they’ve eaten over a week, not just one day.”
Toddlers eat in weird patterns. Some days they snack all day. Others, they barely eat anything and then devour dinner. It averages out. If they’re growing, active, and happy — they’re probably getting what they need.
Tracking meals in a simple baby food journal or app [we like to use Huckleberry] helped me stay calm and see the patterns over time.
Final Thoughts
It’s normal for your baby to eat less after turning one. They’re growing more slowly, moving more, and tuning into their natural hunger signals. It’s not regression — it’s development.
Keep offering healthy meals, stay calm when they skip them, and remember: you’re doing your job by providing, they’re doing theirs by deciding.
If you’re looking for tools to support you during this “less eating, more chaos” stage, here are some of our go-tos:
• [Divided suction plate for toddler-sized portions]
• [High chair with footrest for better focus]
• [Reusable snack pouches for smoothies & soft foods]
• [Toddler meal journal to track the bigger picture like Huckleberry]
(These are affiliate links — no extra cost to you. We only share things that helped us in real life.)
You’re doing amazing. One mini bite at a time.