This week on Two Parents & A Podcast, we’re back with pediatrician Dr. Ari Brown for the ultimate 411 on toddler nutrition and eating habits—from starting solids at 6 months to navigating picky eating without turning dinner into a power struggle.

We break down why “food before 1 is just for fun” isn’t actually true, the best first foods to introduce (it’s NOT what you think!), and the biggest choking hazards parents need to watch for—plus how to tell gagging vs. choking in the moment. Dr. Ari also walks us through allergy basics (when to intro + what reactions actually look like), when to ditch the bottle, what a normal toddler day of eating really looks like, and how to think about macros (or honestly… not think about them too much—if your child eats a variety of foods over the week, they’re probably doing just fine).

Then we get into the things parents are constantly worrying about: sugar before 2, red dye, ultra-processed “kid foods,” and why toddlers randomly reject foods they used to love. Finally, we cover picky eating red flags, “safety foods,” and the #1 mealtime mistake that actually makes picky eating worse.

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Welcome back to Two Parents & A Podcast! (feat. Dr. Ari Brown)

00:04:09 Myth BUSTED: “Food before 1 is just for fun”

00:06:34 Best first foods at 6 months (what to start with)

00:15:15 Toddler travel hack: diaper bag food scissors

00:16:05 Biggest early feeding “NO” foods (choking hazards)

00:18:51 Choking 101: what parents actually need to know

00:19:47 Choking stats: how common is it, really?

00:22:51 Gagging vs. choking (how to tell instantly)

00:24:36 Introducing allergens without freaking out

00:29:31 3 feeding myths parents need to unlearn

00:31:22 Ditching the bottle + what if they won’t drink milk?

00:34:03 What a toddler’s day of eating should look like

00:36:38 Toddler macros (and why fat matters)

00:40:25 Foods to limit (processed, fried, “kid food” defaults)

00:42:20 Building a foundation for lifelong eating habits

00:50:32 Should you limit sugar before 2?

00:53:38 Red dye: what’s the actual concern?

00:56:07 “They loved it yesterday…” why toddlers suddenly reject foods

00:58:23 Picky eating: what’s normal vs. a red flag

01:02:51 “Safety foods” (how to use them the right way)

01:03:55 The #1 mealtime mistake that worsens picky eating

01:05:15 Do kids actually need a multivitamin?

01:06:05 Picky eater vs. feeding aversion (the line)

01:09:20 Top 3 fixes for picky eating (from Dr. Ari)

01:10:20 Utensils: when should kids start using forks & spoons?

01:13:31 Thanks for listening!

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