Welcome! Let’s Make Mealtimes Fun & Language-Rich
This page expands on the tips inside I Can Say Eat to help you and your child enjoy mealtimes while building communication skills.
Learn with a baby & toddler speech expert!
Stephanie Cohen, M.A., CCC-SLP, CLC
Hey there! I am a pediatric speech-language pathologist (SLP), author, speaker, & mentor, and most importantly, a mom!
I love supporting babies, toddlers, and their families with research-based advice and lots of fun!
Tips for Happier Mealtimes
🍽 Your child will learn by watching you:
When you eat with your child, they learn how to eat and drink. This doesn’t mean you need to prepare a four-course meal! Any time you eat together (even a quick snack), your child is learning!
🙌 Expect mess:
Babies and toddlers learn about food using all of their senses—think of them as little scientists experimenting! They often want to explore food with their hands before putting it in their mouths.
🗣 Our words matter:
Children listen to how we describe food and how we describe them. Talk about what your child is doing and learning ("That is a crunchy food." "You used your straw!"). Avoid positive or negative labels, like describing food as good, bad, or junk or your child as a good eater or picky. This can help make mealtime more positive!
🕰 Be patient:
Some children try new foods right away; others need time and repeated opportunities to learn about a food before they’re ready. Continue to offer your child pressure-free opportunities to get to know foods and let them decide when they're ready to try.
🌱 Remember that everything is new!
Don’t worry if your child doesn’t eat something the first time you offer. They’re learning about how foods look, smell, feel, taste, and they’re learning how to drink, chew, and swallow. This all takes time and practice! Let your child lead the way and show you what they’re ready for at each meal.
✋ Independence Is Important!
Try to let your child feed themselves as much as possible. Feel free to help if they seem to want or need it—but try to only do just enough so that they're doing most of the work themselves. This is how they'll learn.
🥦 How much does your child need to eat?
Your child's job is to learn to listen to their body. Only they know how hungry or full they are and which foods their body needs. Young children do not eat the same foods or the same amount at each meal—this can be stressful! You can help by offering more when they show you they are still hungry and not trying to get them to eat more when they signal they're done.
🎉 Celebrate!
Find ways to celebrate your child that have nothing to do with whether they eat. Ideas: "Thanks for passing the bread!" "You poked the carrot with your fork!" or "You gave spoons to everyone!" This will help keep mealtimes fun and engaging.