welllll, you could argue it from various stand points. I read something somewhere (how very useful) that toddlers need little often so to make sure they gets lots of healthy snacks has they are burning energy constantly - I figure that it must be the same for babies as they are in constant motion. But as we know mealtimes are also important from the social point of view. So I do think that its ok to give them stuff throughout the day but with times when we sit down and eat. It always used to find it funny when Boomer was smaller (i.e. before weaing) that people were surprised that she needed fed every three hours (on a good day - every 1 to 2 in a growth spurt). I as an adult probably eat every three hours or so - so why it should be different for a baby? Most people have a breakfast/lunch/dinner and a few snacks in which when actually timed shows that they are eating all day!