Hi Jessica and welcome back to the Disney Parks Moms Panel!
It sounds like you're planning another magical vacation for your family! I do love the convenience of
Disney Dining Plans but the details can get confusing. You will not have to purchase a Dining Plan for your little one. As you mentioned, it is expected that children under the age of 3 will share a parent's meal. If you are dining at a buffet or family-style restaurant, you can fix your child their own plate of food.
If your child is like mine were and needs more food than you are able to share, you can order a meal for your child and pay out of pocket. You could use your dining credits for an additional meal but I found it a better use of our credits to pay for a child's meal separately.
Jessica, thank you for visiting us again with another great question. I hope you'll let us know if we can help you with any other questions!
Wishing you a magical vacation,
Amy H.