Your 3 Years Old Toddler

3 Years Old

Your 3 years old toddler is inquisitive and often pleasant. They keep growing up fast – pushing boundaries, making new friends and keeping you busy as always. Read on to find out what your toddler should be able to do by the end of 36 months.

Your 3 Years Old Toddler’s Nutrition

Ensuring your toddler is getting the right nutrition is critical for their growth and development. Professor Joe Millward, Emeritus Professor of Human Nutrition, University of Surrey, attributes good growth to a healthy balanced diet, physical activity and sufficient sleep. Prof. Millward shared that some nutrients are more important than others in terms of the linear growth of the bones, and we can separate individual nutrients into two types:

Type 1 Nutrients
Deficiencies of these nutrients lead to reduction in bodily function.¹

These are nutrients like, iron, folic acid, calcium, selenium, vitamin C, vitamin D, the B vitamins, and several others.
Dairy foods and leafy vegetables like spinach and legumes are also the best sources of calcium.
Vitamin A deficiency leads to poor immunity, and hence indirectly affects growth in the case of infections.

Type 2 Nutrients
Deficiencies of these nutrients lead to reduced growth.¹

These include protein, zinc, potassium, magnesium and they are crucial for the formation of new tissue during growth.
Protein (amino acids) and zinc have direct roles in stimulating bone length growth.
Type 2 nutrients are important for children recovering from illnesses to allow for catch-up on growth, so dairy foods, eggs and legumes are particularly important for their provision of protein and zinc.

What Can Your Little One Eat Now?

Did you know your child’s diet can shape their emotional well-being? Give your child the brain-building nutrients they need for learning, mood and more. But, what does optimal nutrition for kids look like? Here are some best practices to consider when crafting a nutritious diet for your child, so they stand to benefit from all the cognitive and energy benefits that come with eating right.

Childhood is a period of many firsts, yes, but it’s also prime time for tremendous brain growth. So much so, that without the right brain foods on their plate, your child may fall behind in their development. In the first two to three years of life, brain growth is fast and furious, making nutrition critical for cognitive development. In fact, research shows that 2-year-olds with stunted growth may have learning difficulties that can linger into their teen years.

If you’re concerned that your child hasn’t been getting the nutrition that they need for growth and brain development, research shows that it’s possible to catch up. When a child will only eat certain foods or is refusing meals, there can be a lot of stress that affects the whole family dynamic in negative ways. Be sure to talk to a paediatrician about any eating or growth concerns you have.

With the following tips, the solution to poor eating habits could be as close as small efforts made across the kitchen table:

At meals, offer a mix of your child’s favourites as well as some new foods.
Gently encourage your child to try new foods, but do not force feed.
Keep in mind that everyone has foods that they do and don’t like.
If your child refuses what’s on the table, do not be a short-order cook. Instead, offer a simple alternative such as a bowl of fortified cereal or a peanut butter sandwich.
Incorporate 2-3 nutrient-dense snacks, in between mealtimes, through the day. Consider the use of complete, balanced oral nutrition formula as snack or meal supplement, as part of a healthy well-balanced diet appropriate for age.

Read more about how diet can affect your child’s emotional health here.

The Nutrients Crucial for Growth and Height Development

Calcium
Protein
Iron
Vitamin D
Iodine

Warning!

Nutritional gaps in the diet that could be caused by picky eating, may affect growth and development in the long run.

Did you know lack of

Protein
Magnesium
Zinc

means that growth is affected immediately, and

Did you know lack of

Iodine
Calcium
Iron
Vitamin D

means that growth continues at a normal pace, but may be impacted later.

Did You Know?

Your eating habits and feeding styles can affect your children’s relationship with food. Abbott Nutrition interviewed expert Dr MacLean, clinical professor from Department of Paediatrics at The Ohio State University. Dr MacLean shared, “It’s not a parent’s job to control a child’s food intake. The parent’s job is to provide balanced meals, make the eating environment positive, and respond to children appropriately.”

There are 4 feeding styles, and the healthiest style is called ‘responsive feeding’. To read more about this click here.

What Can Your 3 Years Old Toddler Do Now?

Ready for everything

Climb well
Walk up and down stairs
Pedal a tricycle
Turn book pages one at a time
Build a tower of more than 6 blocks
Hold a pencil in a writing position
Recognise and know the words for most common objects
Use 4 and 5 word sentences
Complete puzzles with 3 or 4 pieces
Match objects in a room with pictures in a book
Express affection for playmates
Does not like major changes in routine
Understand positional relationships (on, under, above)
Separate easily from you
Have started with potty training

Potty Training

Between ages 2 and 3 years, most children learn to use the potty by themselves

It often takes boys longer to potty train than girls. Usually, your child will let you know when he’s ready to leave the diapers behind. Signs that your child is ready to potty train:

Knows the words for urine and stool.
Stays dry for longer periods of time than before (especially after a nap).
Physically able to pull down his pants and get on and off a toilet seat.
Upset by having on a wet or dirty diaper.
Likes to watch you or your husband use the bathroom.
Willing to sit on the toilet or potty.

If your child doesn’t seem ready, just give him more time. Potty training takes lots of patience. Having a battle-of-the-wills isn’t productive for mom or child. As always, speak to your paediatrician if you are concerned.

References:
¹ Golden MH. Specific deficiencies versus growth failure: type I and type II nutrients. SCN News. 1995;(12):10-4.

SG.2022.27488.PND.1 (v1.0)

Your 3 Years Old Toddler

Your 3 Years Old Toddler