Foods like potato, pumpkin, sweet potato, dal, ghee, ragi, almonds, yogurt, eggs and milk help the baby to gain weight. Please take a pediatricians' suggestion before you start any of these foods.
A high birth weight can also be related to the amount of weight a mother gains during pregnancy. Women who gain a lot of weight during pregnancy often give birth to babies who are large for gestational age. Gene problems may also make a baby more likely to be LGA.
There are three reasons why babies do not gain weight: not taking in enough calories, not absorbing calories or burning too many calories. Full-term newborn infants should take in about 1.5 to 2 ounces of breast milk or formula about every 3 hours. Premature infants need more calories than term babies.
1 to 6 Months Weight Gain
Babies usually gain 1 1/2 to 2 pounds and grow 1 to 1 1/2 inches each month during their first four months. During this time, your baby may begin looking chubby.
At two months, your baby will look round and chubby, but as he starts using his arms and legs more actively, muscles will develop. His bones also will grow rapidly, and as his arms and legs loosen up, his body and limbs will seem to stretch out, making him appear taller and leaner.
Low birth weight means your baby was born weighing less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces (2,500 grams). It affects about 1 out of every 12 newborn babies. The main causes of low birth weight include being born premature and a condition called fetal growth restriction. Low birth weight can lead to a number of complications.
Each child is born with a genetic blueprint for their predetermined size and shape. Some babies are supposed to be chunky. Some babies are supposed to be skinny. Along with this blueprint, they have the innate ability to eat the right amount of food to support their body type.
Dieticians recommend using whole milk for the highest amount of nutrients, together with a nutritious daily diet, if you want to gain weight.
Slow weight gain could be a problem if: your newborn doesn't regain their birth weight within 10 to 14 days after their birth. your baby up to 3 months old gains less than an ounce a day. your infant between 3 and 6 months gains less than 0.67 ounces a day.
Sometimes a breastfed baby will gain weight more slowly than they should. This could be because the mother isn't making enough milk, or the baby can't get enough milk out of the breast. Or it could be that the baby may have a health problem.
Since the third trimester is crucial in preparing your baby for the outside world, it's imperative that you track your pregnancy weight. If you haven't quite put on the required amount of weight, your doctor may ask you to increase your calorie intake to help your baby grow.
A birthweight less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces, is diagnosed as low birthweight. Babies weighing less than 3 pounds, 5 ounces, at birth are considered very low birthweight. The average newborn weighs about 7.6 pounds, and about 7.6 percent of all newborns in the U.S. have low birthweight.
Perhaps one of the most obvious signs of your baby being underfed is that they are gaining weight very slowly. Having thin arms or limbs is normal for every baby, even healthy babies have them at some point too. However, you might need to be more vigilant if their limbs or legs are still skinny as they grow.
Human babies have a higher percentage of body fat at birth and early childhood compared with other mammals, says Dr. Grow. "Historically, human babies need to survive with less access to food, especially when transitioning from a human milk diet to a food diet. This extra fat helps to protect for survival."
Healthy breastfed infants typically put on weight more slowly than formula-fed infants in the first year of life. Formula-fed infants typically gain weight more quickly after about 3 months of age. Differences in weight patterns continue even after complimentary foods are introduced.
Six months – At the half year mark, it is common for most babies to be roughly double their birth weight. So expect an average weight of 7.3 to 7.5 kg for baby girls and 7.9 kg to 8.5 kg for baby boys.
In fact, there is good research to indicate that breastfed babies are less likely to be obese children or adults than babies who were formula-fed. Babies who gain quickly during infancy often start to slim down once they become more mobile; ie. rolling, crawling, pulling up, walking, running, etc.
Whole milk
Since infants should be drinking breast milk or formula for the first year of their lives, this is a no-brainer next step. Between ages 1 and 2, offer whole milk to encourage baby weight gain. Before age 1, you can introduce other full-fat dairy products.
Milk and Milk Products
Supermilk: Add 1 cup instant nonfat dry milk to 1 quart of whole milk (210 calories per 8 oz cup). Add flavored syrup for additional calories (50 calories per tablespoon). Use anywhere you would use milk (cereal, soups, pudding, macaroni and cheese, etc.).