Toddler health and development

During the early years of your child's life, their growth is monitored by a health professional using a WHO (World Health Organisation) growth centile chart. These can be found in your child's red book.

Add colourful natural foods to your child's diet

Did you know that adding colour to your children's meals will help them live a longer, healthier life? Colourful fruits and vegetables can paint a beautiful picture of health.

Research shows children who stay a healthy weight tend to be fitter, healthier, better able to learn, and more self-confident. They're also much less likely to have health problems in later life. Children whose parents encourage them to be active and eat well are more likely to stay a healthy weight and grow up healthy.

Top tips

Here are 4 key ways you can help your child maintain a healthy weight:

Be a good role model

Children learn by example. You can encourage your child to be active and eat well by doing so yourself. Set a good example by going for a walk or bike ride instead of watching TV or surfing the internet.

Physical activity

Encourage between 60 minutes, and up to several hours, of physical activity a day to promote good health, but it doesn't need to be all at once. Several short 10-minute or even 5-minute bursts of activity throughout the day can be just as good as an hour-long stretch. For younger children, it can take the form of active play, such as ball games, chasing games, riding a scooter, and using swings, climbing frames and see-saws at the park.

Keep to child-size portions

Try to offer your child healthy-sized portions; more than a handful is a waste. A good tip is to start meals with small servings and let your child ask for more if they're still hungry and avoid using adult-size plates for younger children. It may also help if you encourage your child to eat slowly and have set mealtimes. 

Eat healthy meals, drinks and snacks

Children, just like adults, should aim to eat 5 or more portions of fruit and vegetables every day. Getting 5 A Day shouldn't be difficult as almost all fruit and vegetables count towards your child's 5 A Day, including fresh, tinned, frozen and dried. Remember, when the fruit is blended, juiced or dried it releases sugars. This increases the risk of tooth decay, so it's best to only offer water or milk as a drink and dried and blended fruit at mealtimes. Aim for your child to get most of their calories from healthier foods like fruit and vegetables, and starchy foods like bread, potatoes, pasta and rice (preferably wholemeal).

Useful links

Early Years Foundation Stage nutrition guidance

The Growing Healthy 0-19 Service for Westmorland and Furness have developed some videos and factsheets with advice and top tips to help support healthy eating for children.

Download the Growing Healthy 0-19 app

Healthy Eating ‘Top Tips Factsheet’ [PDF, 150KB] - eating well is fundamental to good health and well-being. help you look and feel your best. A healthy, balanced diet plays an essential role in maintaining a healthy weight which is an important part of overall good health

Healthier Breakfast ‘Top Tips Factsheet’ [PDF, 145KB] – eating breakfast is the best way to start your day. and is important for children as it help support their physical health till lunchtime and help with concentration at school.

Healthy Packed Lunches ‘Top Tips Factsheet’ [PDF, 175KB] - top tips for easy, healthier lunchbox ideas including portion sizes.

Fussy Eating ‘Top Tips Factsheet’ [PDF, 150KB] – what children eat and drink during their early years can affect their health for many years to come. This short video has useful tips to help if you have fussy eater.

More factsheets can be found on the Growing Healthy 0-19 website.

The Eatwell Guide [PDF, 7.7MB]

WHO child growth standards

Speech and language

Achieving milestones

Achieving milestones involves learning and mastering skills like sitting, walking, talking, skipping, and tying shoes. Children learn these skills, called developmental milestones, within fairly predictable time scales but very much at their own pace, so it's impossible to tell exactly when a child will learn a given skill. Developmental milestones give a general idea of the changes to expect as a child gets older.

Not all children develop at the same rate so try not to compare with other children even those in your own family.

As a parent, you know your child best. If your child is not meeting the milestones for his or her age, or if you think there could be a problem with your child's development, talk with your GP or Health Visitor. If your child is already at nursery let them know about your concerns too.

Top tips

• physical activities don't have to be time-consuming or complicated, focus on opportunities for your child to explore and move around. This can be done by taking them on walks in the park or letting them play in the garden
• help your child to solve problems by providing activities that stimulate their minds, such as puzzles, games and reading
• make sure your child gets enough sleep. Sleep is crucial for a child's physical and mental health
• make sure your child has a safe and stimulating environment free from hazards with a variety of toys and books
• encourage and provide opportunities to mix with other children. This can be in groups, nursery, in the park, with siblings or at play dates
• routines are important for children because they provide a sense of order and will help your child feel secure and comfortable
• be patient and have realistic expectations for your child as sometimes development can be slow and frustrating. Take things one day at a time and eventually, you will see progress

If you think your child is not meeting the milestones for his or her age, or if you think there could be a problem with your child's development, talk with your child's doctor and share your concerns. Don't wait!

Free vitamins through the Healthy Start Scheme

Eligible families in Cumbria are being encouraged to apply for free vitamins and help with the cost of food and milk as part of the Healthy Start Scheme.

You could be entitled to FREE vitamins for your baby/child through the Healthy Start scheme - in Westmorland and Furness these vitamins are available from your Health Visitor. 

Healthy Start vitamin drops for babies and young children contain vitamins A, C and D and are suitable from birth to 4 years old
Children and babies can take vitamin drops:

• if they are less than 4 years old
• if they have less than 500ml (about one pint) of infant formula a day, as formula already has vitamins added to it

Apply for the Healthy Start Scheme

From 1st January 2026 Healthy Start Vitamins will also be available from Family Hubs for those children who are eligible.