Introduction
As parents, everyone is responsible for ensuring their babies' optimal growth and development. One crucial aspect of their well-being is their weight gain. Adequate weight gain is essential for infants, as it indicates proper nutrition, growth, and overall health. However, some babies may struggle with gaining weight, which can be a cause for concern. If someone finds themself in this situation, rest assured that there are strategies and approaches to promote healthy weight gain in the little one. This article will explore various techniques and tips to help the baby achieve appropriate weight gain. Whether someone is breastfeeding, bottle-feeding, or introducing solid foods, these strategies are designed to support the baby's nutritional needs and foster healthy growth. From ensuring an adequate milk supply to creating a nurturing feeding environment, it will cover a range of practical steps that one can take to encourage weight gain in the baby.
Why Is Weight Gain in Children Important?
The parents are concerned about their child's health and overall being. When it comes to weight, the parents are very worried about it. But parents should be aware of a few things, such as the initial few days to a few weeks after the baby is born, the little one will start losing weight which is quite normal. Formula-fed babies are expected to lose three to four percent of their birth weight, and breastfed babies lose six to seven percent of their birth weight.
By two weeks, the baby will start regaining the lost weight. And by the end of the year, the baby will increase weight by three times the birth weight.
What Are the Normal Weight Gain Standards?
The baby's weight gain varies from age to age and child to child. Even though there are minor changes, the baby’s weight gain usually follows the following trend.
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Under One Month: The baby starts losing weight after birth. Formula-fed babies lose three to four percent of their weight in the initial days, and breastfed babies reduce six to seven percent of their birth weight. But this weight that has been lost in the initial few days is supposed to regain after two weeks after birth. Do not worry if the baby loses weight, and do not try to feed foods from outside to increase weight gain.
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One to Two Months: At the age of one to two months, the baby should constantly put on weight. The baby at this age usually grows 0.5 to one-inch cm in size and 600 to 1000 grams in weight every month. The baby should be breastfed properly at least eight to 12 times daily with a gap of two to three hours between each interval.
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Three to Four Months of Age: The baby's growth and weight gain keep on increasing steadily, and the frequency of breastfeeding may reduce. The baby does not wake as much in the night as before.
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Four to Six Months of Age: The rate of weight gain may decrease a little bit. However, the baby still gains 400 to 500 grams per month, and the baby at the age of five months old should be double the birth weight. At this age also, babies should be completely breastfed only. But some kids may get ready for the solids. If the baby can hold its neck properly, sit properly, and show interest in the foods we eat, that indicates the baby is ready for solids. Introducing solids to the baby is a very sensitive process. Take advice from the pediatrician before starting the solids. Plan a diet chart and menu and follow accordingly. Do not directly start the solids. Start with semi-solids and proceed further with the solids.
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Six to 12 Months of Age: The baby should constantly put on weight by the end of one year of age; the baby should be three times the birth weight. Slowly start introducing more solids, fruits, veggies, and breast milk into their diet.
What Are the Different Ways to Improve Weight Gain in Infants?
Weight gain cannot happen all of a sudden in a single day. Continuous and good measures have to be taken to gain weight in children. Many children may not easily get adjusted to a solid diet. So the following are the measures that help the baby gain weight.
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Do not introduce a solid diet to the baby before six months, for the first six months, and the baby should be exclusively breastfeeding. Solid food has fewer nutrients when compared to breast milk.
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If the baby sleeps continuously and cannot breastfeed eight to 12 times a day, wake up the baby at regular intervals and breastfeed them, sleep closer to the baby, and feed for longer periods.
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Make sure the baby finishes sucking the breast completely and switches to the other side.
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Pump or squeeze the milk because the first milk of each sucking may have fewer calories, and the baby should be fed with the milk that comes later.
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From six months of age, the baby should be started with supplements such as iron supplements and multivitamins.
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If the mother's milk production is increased, it may increase the baby's weight.
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Proper latching and position also make the baby while drinking milk this may also help the baby to drink more milk, which helps the baby to increase weight.
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Proper weight gain tracking also helps to maintain the weight of the bay. One should keep a recording of the weight of the baby. The gain and loss of the baby's weight have to be recorded properly.
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Proper pumping and expressing milk effectively help the breasts to make more amounts of milk, and if the production of milk is increased, the baby's intake also slowly improves, which helps in weight gain. Milk pumping or milk expressing can be done manually, or using breast pumps or electric breast pumps also helps.
Conclusion
Weight gain is one of the most important concerns that bother most parents. Proper care and measure have to be taken for steady growth of the weight. The baby's weight at the age of one year should be three times that of the birth weight. There should be a steady increase in weight. Take the doctor's advice before starting solids. First, six months after birth, the baby should be given only breast milk as breast milk contains more nutrients than solid foods.
