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calendar_monthToddler routine guide · 19–24 months

19–24-Month-Old Feeding Schedule: Family Meals, Milk and Picky Phases

verifiedReviewed by our dietitians • AAP, CDC & WHO guidance
Toddler eating a family meal at the table, 19 to 24 months

Quick answer

A typical 19- to 24-month-old eats 3 meals and 2 snacks a day, about 2.5 to 3 hours apart. Keep serving whole milk, about 16 to 24 oz (470 to 710 mL) a day, until the second birthday; from age 2, the AAP recommends low-fat (1%) or skim milk, about 16 oz (2 cups) a day, with water as the main drink. Portions are roughly a quarter to a third of an adult portion. Most toddlers this age take 1 nap of about 1.5 to 2.5 hours.

  • 3 meals and 2 snacks, about 2.5–3 hours apart
  • Whole milk, 16–24 oz a day, until age 2; then low-fat or skim, about 16 oz
  • Water is the main drink; skip sugary drinks
Milk water_drop
16–24 oz Whole milk in a cup; low-fat from age 2
Meals restaurant
3 Meals + 2 Snacks About 2.5–3 hours apart
Naps bedtime
1 Nap About 1.5–2.5 hours
Main goal approval_delegation
Family Table Same meal, small portions
dinner_dining Golden Rule

Golden Rule • One Family Meal, No Short-Order Cooking

Serve one meal for everyone, with at least one food your toddler usually eats. Skip cooking a separate “kid meal”. Toddlers learn to eat new foods by seeing you eat them, again and again.

Family meal arrow_forward + 1 safe food arrow_forward Toddler plate
A typical 1-nap day

A sample day

A sample day for a 19- to 24-month-old on one nap: three meals, two snacks, milk with meals and water in between.

MilkMeals & snacksSleep
  1. 7:00AM

    Meal 1

    Breakfast + Milk

    Oatmeal with thin-spread peanut butter and sliced banana, plus 4 oz whole milk in a cup (low-fat after age 2).

    OatmealBanana

    Milk with the meal

  2. 9:30AM

    Snack 1

    Morning Snack

    Whole-grain crackers with cheese and apple cut into thin slices.

    Apple

    Water in an open cup

  3. 12:00PM

    Meal 2

    Lunch + Milk

    Turkey and black bean quesadilla, sweet potato wedges and kiwi, plus milk in a cup.

    TurkeySweet Potato

    Same food as the family

  4. 12:45to 2:45 PM

    Nap · 1.5–2.5 hrs

    Midday Nap

    Most toddlers this age still need one daytime nap.

    Wake window: ~5–6 hours

  5. 3:15PM

    Snack 2

    Afternoon Snack

    Yogurt with quartered strawberries.

    Yogurt

    Seated at the table

  6. 5:45PM

    Meal 3

    Family Dinner + Milk

    Salmon, quinoa and peas, plus milk in a cup.

    SalmonQuinoa

    Eat together

  7. 7:30PM

    Night sleep

    11–12 Hour Night Sleep

    Bath, teeth, story, bed. No food or milk needed after brushing.

    Total daily sleep: 11–14 hours

HOW MUCH • 19–24 MONTHS

How much should a 19- to 24-month-old eat?

Toddlers grow more slowly than babies, so they often eat less than parents expect. Look at the week, not the meal.

FoodTypical amountNotes
Whole cow’s milk16–24 oz (470–710 mL) a dayIn a cup, with meals, until the second birthday; then low-fat (1%) or skim, about 16 oz (2 cups) a day
Breast milkAs often as you both likeAlongside family meals
Meals3 a day, about ¼–⅓ of an adult portionStart small; let them ask for more
Snacks2 a dayFruit, veggies, dairy, whole grains
WaterAbout 1–4 cups a dayThe main drink between meals
JuiceNone neededIf any, max 4 oz 100% juice a day

Toddler formulas and flavored or sweetened milks aren’t recommended. Plant milks other than fortified soy are not a direct swap for cow’s milk; ask your pediatrician if your child can’t have dairy.

Toddler portion sizes calculator →

19–24 MONTHS PLATE • Family food

What a 19- to 24-month-old can eat

Your toddler can share almost every family meal, cut into bite-size pieces. Keep salt and added sugar low, and keep avoiding choking hazards like whole nuts, whole grapes, popcorn, hard candy and chunks of raw carrot until age 4.

Toddler divided plate with quinoa, black beans, sweet potato cubes and thin apple slices
Flaky Salmon Postage Stamp

Flaky Salmon

Salmon twice a week adds omega-3s and protein.

Texture: Flaky Omega-3
Beans in Everything Postage Stamp

Beans in Everything

Black beans in quesadillas, soups and dips add iron and fiber.

Texture: Soft Iron & Fiber
Thin Apple Slices Postage Stamp

Thin Apple Slices

Raw apple in thin slices, never chunks, until age 4.

Texture: Thin Slices Choking-Safe
ZERO STRESS ROUTINE RESPONSIVE FEEDING
format_quote
“Near two, the dinner table is a classroom. Your toddler is learning what family food looks, smells and tastes like, even on nights they eat three bites.”
sentiment_satisfied
RESPONSIVE FEEDING

Division of responsibility

You choose what, when and where. Your toddler chooses whether and how much.

do_not_disturb_on
ZERO PRESSURE

No bribes, no clean plates

Skip “two more bites” and dessert rewards. Pressure makes picky eating last longer.

soup_kitchen
LITTLE HELPER

Let them help

Washing veggies, stirring and choosing between two foods make toddlers more willing to taste.

The milk switch

Switching from whole milk to low-fat milk at age 2

Until the second birthday, keep whole milk, about 16 to 24 oz a day. From age 2, the AAP recommends low-fat (1%) or skim milk for most children. Your pediatrician may suggest a different plan if there are concerns about growth or a family history of high cholesterol.

  • Switch straight away, or step down through 2% for a week or two.
  • After the switch, keep milk to about 16 oz (2 cups) a day, in a cup with meals.
  • Make water the main drink between meals.
  • Skip flavored milks and toddler formulas.
Avoid these

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Cooking a separate meal every time your toddler refuses dinner
  • Pressuring, bribing or using dessert as a reward
  • Too much milk or juice, which leaves little room for food
  • Letting snacks drift into all-day grazing
  • Serving round, hard or sticky choking hazards before age 4
Get help

When to call your pediatrician

Call your pediatrician if your toddler:

  • Isn’t gaining weight or is losing weight
  • Eats fewer than about 20 foods, or refuses whole food groups
  • Seems pale, very tired or irritable (possible iron deficiency)
  • Gags, chokes or vomits often during meals
  • Has ongoing constipation, diarrhea or tummy pain
Call emergency services (911 in the US) if your child is choking and can’t breathe, cry or cough, or has trouble breathing after eating.

19–24 month feeding schedule: questions parents ask

How much should a 19- to 24-month-old eat?

Most 19- to 24-month-olds eat 3 meals and 2 snacks a day, about 2.5 to 3 hours apart, with portions about a quarter to a third of an adult portion. Appetite varies a lot, so look at the whole week.

What milk should a 19- to 24-month-old drink?

Whole cow’s milk, about 16 to 24 oz (470 to 710 mL) a day, until the second birthday. From age 2, the AAP recommends switching to low-fat (1%) or skim milk, about 16 oz (2 cups) a day. Ask your pediatrician if your child has growth concerns or can’t have dairy.

How many snacks should a 19- to 24-month-old have?

Usually 2 planned snacks a day, served at the table like a small meal. Avoid letting snacks turn into all-day grazing, which can spoil appetite for meals.

My toddler only eats a few foods. What should I do?

Picky eating is very common at this age. Serve family meals with one food your toddler usually likes, keep offering new foods without pressure, and eat together. Talk to your pediatrician if your child eats fewer than about 20 foods or is not growing well.

Can a 19- to 24-month-old have juice?

Juice isn’t needed. If you serve it, limit it to 4 oz of 100% fruit juice a day, in a cup with a meal. Water and milk are the best drinks.

What does a balanced plate look like at 19 to 24 months?

Aim for a protein (like beans, fish, meat or egg), a grain or starchy food, and a fruit or vegetable at each meal. Add a dairy food at some meals and snacks. Portions are small, roughly a quarter to a third of an adult portion.

Should my toddler eat dessert?

Sweets aren’t needed: the Dietary Guidelines advise no added sugar before age 2, and keeping it low after. If you serve dessert, offer a small portion with the meal rather than as a reward for eating, so it doesn’t become a prize.

Does a 19- to 24-month-old still need a nap?

Most toddlers this age take 1 nap of about 1.5 to 2.5 hours. Total sleep is usually about 11 to 14 hours a day.

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Sources
  1. AAP (HealthyChildren.org): Toddler nutrition
  2. AAP (HealthyChildren.org): Discontinuing the bottle
  3. AAP (HealthyChildren.org): Recommended drinks for children ages 0 to 5
  4. CDC: Foods and drinks to avoid or limit
  5. CDC: Iron for infants and toddlers
  6. WHO: Complementary feeding

This guide is written for healthy, full-term babies and doesn’t replace your pediatrician. If your baby was born early, has a medical condition, feeding or swallowing difficulties, or a known allergy, check with them first (medical disclaimer). Reviewed by our dietitians.

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Bite100 is general education for healthy, full-term babies and children, not medical advice. If your child was born early, has a medical condition, feeding or swallowing difficulties, or a known allergy, check with your pediatrician first. Medical disclaimer

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