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The blog will provide you with all the information pertaining to easily available food groups that will help your little tot gain weight!
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A long time ago, weight gain in children and adults was always considered a sign of good health, wealth and happiness. However, as time passed on, we realised that there is good weight gain and otherwise. Whilst there is a significant shift in the way young Indian parents watch their health and fitness, they still succumb to the pressures of the traditionally popular notion that a chubby baby equals healthy/ happy baby.
Ranking high on the list of anxieties of every new mom is “Why does my baby not put on weight?” Most pediatricians seek to comfort mothers who come to them with baby weight gain issues with a simple explanation. As long as the baby is active, there is no cause for worry if he/she doesn’t meet the weight milestones precisely.
Further, weight gain in babies is governed by multiple factors including birth weight, genetic influences, term completed, dietary intake etc. A slight difference in weight can also be observed when the baby is breastfed or formula-fed during the first year.
From 0-6 months, all nutritional requirements of babies are met with breast milk or formula milk. With a feed every 2-3 hours, breast milk is easy to digest and is packed with nutrients.
At 6 months, get ready to start introducing solids to your baby. The safest option is to start with Plain Rice Porridge and gradually move onto Rice and Moong Dal Porridge and Sprouted Ragi Porridge. You can also include fruits and vegetables in puree form. Start with a tablespoon and gradually increasing the quantity depending on how your baby responds to it. Mixing any new food group with breast milk or formula milk helps make an easier transition to solids for babies.
At 8 months, your baby is ready to explore different textures and flavors. Most babies have one or two teeth by this time and are eager to try new food groups. You can now introduce cooked and mashed fruits and vegetables. Babies at this age can be fed 3 meals of solid food a day. However, the quantity of food consumed varies basis the activity and interest levels of the baby. It is best to continue breastfeeding and gradually replace it with solid meals.
At 1 year, your baby is all set to eat everyday food consumed by the rest of the family. However, it is important to ensure all food given to the baby is well-cooked. Avoid puree or mashed food as babies are capable of using their jaws and teeth to break-down, grind and swallow food. Be mindful of allergic reactions and adequately space the introduction of new food groups.
Nutrition during early childhood is known to contribute to many facets of the baby’s overall development!
The birth weight of a baby is governed by various factors including dietary habits and fitness of the mother during pregnancy. The birth weight also determines the pace of growth for the baby in the first year.
After 4 months, babies attempt to roll over and crawl.
At 6 months, babies can prop themselves up to a sitting position by pushing with their hands and over a period of time, sit unsupported.
7 months upwards, babies are more active with the ability to coordinate movements between their hands and move to music.
The last 2 months before a first birthday is generally reserved for activities including rolling, climbing, throwing, kicking and walking.
It is important for parents/caregivers to be aware of physical movement milestones to be achieved and constantly encourage babies to explore their potential. Babies who are active are more likely to look forward to meal times and be open to experimenting new flavours in food groups. However, it’s also interesting to observe that the pace of weight gain might be slow in an active baby due to higher metabolism. A good balance of nutritious, high-calorie baby weight gain food along with sufficient sleep is what can keep an active baby happy and healthy.
Making mealtimes a fun activity is an absolute essential for every mom. Allow your baby to hold pieces of food in their hands so that they can explore the texture of food and also figure out a fun way of feeding themselves. Encourage meals with the whole family as this allows babies to observe how everyone eats their food. The mess at the dining table is inevitable. So it’s better for you to know your baby looks forward to eating when he’s allowed to make a mess. A “fussy eater” phase is fairly common and generally passes over with time.
Your journey to introduce new baby weight gain food cannot produce results overnight. You might be eager to try all the food groups we mentioned, but we urge you to be patient and follow the 3-day rule before introducing new items in your baby’s diet. This helps in ensuring your baby enjoys each new flavour or texture and is able to digest them appropriately.
It’s important to keep track of your baby’s digestive health. If your baby is repeatedly refusing solid food, it could also mean their digestive system is yet to be fully prepared to process solid food. Consult with the pediatrician/ qualified medical professional before you start introducing solids and be prepared to deal with food allergies if any arise.
Once you receive a green signal to proceed with the introduction of solid food, be sure to include tons of variety in shape, size texture and color of food introduced. If the baby refuses to accept it the first time, be sure to give it a break and re-introduce it only the subsequent week. As the baby grows, be sure to check for preferences as they will enjoy the meal more knowing they had a role in choosing what to eat.
Share your own experiences of food choices made for your baby with us. Happy feeding!
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