feeding toddlers and infants: photo of a toddler and infant eating

Help! I’m Losing My Mind as a Toddler and Infant Mum

Feeding toddlers and infants can make any mum feel like she’s losing her mind

“Help! I’m losing my mind o!”

Her voice carried that special kind of tiredness. Not the tiredness that sleep can fix, but the tiredness that comes from trying to cook three different meals for one small family in a kitchen that never seems to close.

Her 7 month old had just started solids and was clearly anti-purée. If it wasn’t mashed, she wasn’t interested. Had too many spices, zero open-mouth action. Just tight lips and side-eyes.

Now, that wouldn’t have been a big deal if she could feed the same meal to her toddler.

But her 3 year old? That one is a full-time food critic. The kind that acts like he’s writing restaurant reviews in his head.

If the crayfish doesn’t hit, or the meat didn’t marinate in his spirit, he’s turning his head away like, “This food lacks care and cooking skills.”

Feeding toddlers and infants: photo of a worried mum

So now:
The baby wants soft and simple
The toddler wants seasoned and spicy
And the pot is waiting for mummy to figure it all out.

She sighed, “I know I shouldn’t complain, but how do I cook for both of them, still make something for my husband and I, and not spend five hours in the kitchen? I’m losing it o. We’ll just go back to cereals, abeg.”

I wanted to laugh, but I knew she wasn’t joking. And honestly? This is where so many mums find themselves, caught between a baby that’s still figuring out what food is, and a toddler who knows exactly what he wants and isn’t afraid to reject everything else.

Understanding Feeding Languages

feeding toddlers and infant: a photo of a toddler refusing to eat

So let’s address the real question: How do you feed two different children with different needs, tastes, and textures without losing your mind?

It starts with understanding feeding languages.

A feeding language is how a child communicates what kind of food they enjoy. They won’t say it directly, but they’ll show you through their reactions.

  • Some kids are drawn to bold, spicy flavors.
  • Others need soft textures and familiar colors
  • Some care about when the food is served
  • Some just want it to look like mummy’s plate.

At Nutrition4kidsng, we group children into 5 feeding language types:

  • Taste Definer
  • Texture Definer
  • Time Definer
  • One Size Fits All
  • Region Selector

Each type comes with its own behaviors and clues. We break it all down in the Feeding Languages Course during our upcoming PEDS Nutrition Challenge.

Because when you understand your child’s feeding language, you stop guessing. You stop making 3 different meals. You start cooking smart by meal prepping.

Feeding Toddlers and Infants With One Meal: The Yam Porridge Hack

feeding toddlers and infants: a photo of a family having one type of meal at a time

Meal prep is not just about chopping things ahead. It’s about planning meals that can stretch across preferences without stressing the cook.

Infact, studies have shown that mums who understand feeding languages and plan intentionally are 10x more likely to get meals done in under 15 minutes.

Take the same mum, for example. Let’s say she’s making yam porridge with ugba and fish. She doesn’t need to cook twice.

Here’s how it works:

  1. Start with the base: Peel and cut yam, add to pot with fish, palm oil, and water. Let it boil.
  2. As yam softens: Scoop a portion for the baby. Mash gently. That’s a baby’s meal, soft, textured, with built-in flavor from fish broth.
  3. Then continue cooking in the same pot: Add crayfish, a well-balanced pepper mix (onions, tatashe, shombo), and ugba. Let everything simmer and blend. 

That’s a rich, tasty porridge ready for the toddler, husband, and herself.

Now she has:

  • A mashed meal for the infant that prefers bland flavors.
  • A toddler- approved, well seasoned version.
  • A satisfying meal for her husband
  • A hot plate for herself
  • One extra container in the freezer.

That’s five wins from one pot. And the bonus? She didn’t just fill bellies, she served nourishment.

And She Did It With the CPF Formula

The CPF Formula

  • C for Carbohydrate & Fiber: Yam
  • P for Protein: Fish and ugba for growth, weight gain, brain development, and immunity
  • F for Fat: Palm oil, rich in Vitamin A, for strong eyesight, healthy cells, and glowing skin.

This is the Nutrition4kidsng difference.

How The PEDs Nutrition Challenge Helps With Feeding Toddlers and Infants

Now imagine learning this and more in just 14 days. This is how we build our meal plans for the PEDS Nutrition Challenge.

We create systems that remove the guesswork, so you’re not standing in the kitchen at 6 p.m. wondering, “What can I cook now?

That mum who was ready to go back to cereal? She’s now saving time and money. Confidently prepping one meal that feeds everyone while watching her children enjoy food again and saving their health.

She’s no longer losing her mind.

Join the PEDs Challenge

The PEDs Nutrition Challenge is our signature 14-day coaching experience.

During the challenge, we’ll help you:
1. Identify your child’s feeding language
2.  Know what nutrients they may be lacking
3. Use our local ingredients to build real nourishment
4. Plan meals that save time, money, and mental stress
5. Restore peace and progress in your kitchen.

We’ve helped over 6,000 families across Nigeria overcome the feeding challenge.

Slots are limited Click the link to register for PEDs Nutrition Challenge. This isn’t just another class.
It’s your chance to reset how you feed your children without losing yourself in the process.

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