How do I increase my baby’s weight..?
The mom in this Q&A is worried that her 10-month-old baby is too skinny. But how do we know if a baby’s weight really is too high or low? And what should be done, in such a case? Let’s discuss these questions here.
Mom’s Question:
I have a baby girl who is 11 months to go in May. She eats and drinks almost everything along with my milk but still, she weighs 6.5 to 7kg.
Please tell me some easy and convenient ways to increase my baby’s weight.
On the other hand, help me to decrease my own weight which’s 70 kg that was earlier only 47. Please help me I’ll always be thankful to you.
Thanks, n bye.
Shabnam Khan
(Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)
Increase A Baby’s Weight Or Not
Your baby is a bit under the average weight for her age, but these are just guidelines. There are lots of variables, genetic factors, her birth weight, whether she has had any illnesses, etc. If your weight was 47 kg before having her, then I would suspect she has a small build.
Normally, you would expect a child to have tripled birth weight by about 12 months. But if she is eating and drinking everything happily and is happy and comfortable, then she is thriving. Then I wouldn’t get too worried about it. If she is unhappy, not eating, listless, etc, then get her checked out.
At her age, milk is still the most important part of her diet, so solid foods are really just introducing tastes, textures, and different experiences. It only provides a small percentage of her calories.
Don’t make a big issue out of it, just offer her food frequently if she seems hungry. Many babies prefer to feed themselves rather than have a spoon pushed into their mouths. Lots of finger foods like pieces of cooked vegetables and fruit. Let her try to feed herself – it is messy, but she will learn lots more than by you doing it.
Let her explore and play with her food. Peas were a favorite of my babies; trying to pick them up one by one. You can be sneaky and pop a spoonful in between while she is concentrating, but if she gets annoyed then stop as you will just set up a battle. Here are ideas on other finger foods as well.
Food is something to enjoy; it is a big part of our social interactions, so making it fun and exploratory at this age is the best thing.
In regard to your weight, your body does change after having children, and many women never get back to their pre-birth weight.
The thing to watch is that you are eating properly – many Mothers, particularly if they are back at work, get so busy, that they start skipping breakfast, then eat junk food mid-morning or for lunch, etc. Just make sure you are eating sensibly, getting some exercise, and celebrating your womanly curves! You can read a bit more about losing weight while breastfeeding here.
Enjoy your lovely little girl,
Paula
More Babies That Don’t Weigh Very Much
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Paula Dennholt founded Easy Baby Life in 2006 and has been a passionate parenting and pregnancy writer since then. Her parenting approach and writing are based on studies in cognitive-behavioral models and therapy for children and her experience as a mother and stepmother. Life as a parent has convinced her of how crucial it is to put relationships before rules. She strongly believes in positive parenting and a science-based approach.
Paula cooperates with a team of pediatricians who assist in reviewing and writing articles.
Hi,
I am not an expert on kids’ growth, but I do know some things about toddler eating habits. It is awesome to hear that your girls is so active and following her milestones (except for the weight).
Most toddler are active and not at all interested in sitting still to eat. Lots of parents find this worrying and start to try to force their child to sit and eat. Forcing a 2-year-old will most likely lead to power struggles and even less eating! What to do instead is to feed the toddler on the go as much as possible as well as trying to make the feeding fun. Play games! hide food among the toys and have your girl find it. Make a pic nic with her dolls or soft animlas on the floor…
Make sure to feed her lots of healthy fats – that’s good both for her brain development and weight. You can add virgin olice oil or virgin coconut oil to her foods. Butter works great too.
Both you are your husband are quite short and your daughter is likely to not become very tall either. She might catch up in length or weight during puberty or not. But she is alive, healthy, happy and hitting her milestones in other ways. :-)
Are you in contact with a Dr who is specialized on preemie growth? If not, I’d suggest you get a 2nd opinion from an expert both on her weight development, what you can do and what a continued low weight might carry in terms of risks. In general, being overweight is far more concerning than underweight, but of course I can’t say anything about your daughter’s specific situation.
In any case, you and your child had a rough start and in many ways, she seems to be doing great. Celebrate that! smile with her, play and feed her frequntly healthy foods (on the go and while playing if needed).
Here are some feeding tips for toddlers:
https://www.easybabylife.com/my-21-month-old-daughter-barely-eats-anything.html
https://www.easybabylife.com/finger-foods.html
I really wish you all the best,
Paula
Hi, desperately seeking help.
my baby girl celebrated her 2nd birthday today. She was a prematured baby weighing only 1.5kg at birth. Today at 2, she weighs only at 7.2kg. She does not eat much. But is a very active girl. In terms of development I think she’s fine. She can walk and run and say few simple word. But her weight has been a major concern, still way below the percentile.
There’s this one doctor who told us she will suffer in her later stage of life if this continues. Doctor looked at her growth chart and told us it is nearly impossible that she can ever catch up, and tell us she will be very vulnerable to all sickness when she’s grown up.
We are devastated. We tried everything we can, letting her eat all the high caloried food but still it didn’t help much. But then again she doesn’t eat much since she was a baby, due to her reflux problem being a premature baby. I’m 165cm and my husband is 174cm.
hi… my baby born with 2.5 kg and now she is 40 days old . but she weight only 3kg .. i want to now her weight is in permissible limit or she is under weight.
mohit bhojak
Hi Mohit,
The rule of thumb is for a baby to double their birth weigh by about the age of 5 months. She has already gained 0.5 kg or probably a bit more – most babies lose a little bit of their weight during their first days of living. Your daughter has around 4 months more until she is 5-months-old and only 2 kg “left” to reach that milestone. It sounds as if she is doing quite well! Unless she seems weak and not thriving, I would not worry. (If does seem very weak or doesn’t wet her diapers as expected, definitely bring it up with her health care provider.
The doubling is a rule of thumb and not an exact science. Make sure to offer your baby breast milk/formula on demand – no waiting for any certain time to have passed. If she is hungry, let her eat. Other than that, simply enjoy your daughter and keep her close as much as possible. A baby feeling secure and loved is likely to feed better too. Good luck and let me know how it goes!
Hi.. m khushboo.. My baby girl is 9months old when she born she was 2.94kgs, length was 50 n head circumstance was 33cm now she is just gain a weight 6.97kgs,length 67cm n head 41cm… She is active reaching her milestones but she is not gaining her length weight n head from last 2 month or it just little bit up n down n she not taking any food jst depending on breastfeed… I tried each n evry thing in my cooking style for her i cook for her new thing from net but she is not take a bit … Doctor said she is below from growth chart.. M very much worried about her when i see other children from her age she just look 4 months old but she is 9months old… Plz help me n give me ur advice… Thank u