My 14-month-old has gained less than a pound in five months. She's not a picky eater: She'll try a little of anything, but not a lot of anything. She also gets antsy in her high chair, and after five minutes, she's bored and wants down.

I'm concerned that my mealtime rules are too lax, but I also don't want to force her to eat or to stay in her high chair. How do we set up good eating habits and make sure she gets enough calories?

If you're sincerely concerned about whether your child is getting a nutritious diet, ask your doctor to recommend a nutritionist, and set up an appointment. She can help you with dietary suggestions and vitamin supplements.

FEEDING DO'S AND DON'TS
•Rather than putting her in her high chair to eat, feed her while she's sitting on your lap. Toddlers often eat more when you engage them with positive attention by surrounding them with love and nurture during feeding. Don't do lots of coaxing, but do encourage your child with comments like, "Look, you ate all your applesauce; it's so good. Now try a bite of cheese."

• Keep in mind that little children often like eating the same boring food, meal after meal, day after day. The same food provides consistency to the toddler's life, and toddlers thrive on predictability, not only in routine, but in food as well.

• Also, most toddlers don't eat huge amounts of food. An adequate meal for a small child is half a cup of juice, one slice of cheese, half a slice of bread and a quarter-cup of sliced peaches. Usually it's best to give your child five small meals a day at the same scheduled times.

KEEP THE LONG VIEW
It's likely that at some meals your child will eat adequate proportions, while at other meals only a little. Don't fret too much--a toddler's overall health is not tied to a single meal; it's more a look at the big picture over a period of time.

Whatever you do, don't engage in a power struggle. Remember that your child alone controls what she swallows. You control the food you buy and put on the table, so you can gradually influence your child toward good eating habits. But if you engage in an emotional battle of the will to eat, you'll lose--and the negative repercussions could last for years.