Your child's growth will slow down after he or she is about 2 years old. The number of calories your child needs will decrease at about this time, and so will how much he or she wants to eat. How much your child eats may be very different from how much another child eats. Don't worry if it seems that your child doesn't eat enough at one meal.
Children often make up for a small meal or a missed meal at the next mealtime.
You'll know your child is eating enough if he or she is growing at the right rate. Talk to your doctor if you have any concerns about how your child is growing. As long as your child is choosing nutritious foods, you can let him or her choose what to eat. Sometimes your child may want to eat a particular food again and again for a while, and then not want to eat it at all. Try to let your child explore new foods on his or her own.