Many infants, across the world, are found to be underweight these days. Therefore, it is necessary to increase their appetite to ensure proper growth and development. The upcoming passages aim at enlightening you in this regard.
There are several reasons for children being underweight these days. Undergoing surgeries, digestive problems, premature or early birth, and experiencing oral-motor delays are some of the prominent reasons behind they being much below the standard weight (as decided by health organizations). The fact that the infant is not fully fit and healthy can be very stressful for the parents to deal with. Given below are some weight gain tips for toddlers, which are the brainchild of reputed child specialists globally.
Ways to Gain Weight for Toddlers
☂ In order to help children gain weight, one should give them nutritious food in consultation with the pediatrician. Parents are advised to visit the child specialist to deal with eating problems, and then, bring about a change in the diet in case of need.
☂ When these underweight kids cross the age of two, their diet should ideally contain fats between twenty to thirty percent of the total diet. Eating whole grains, fruits, highly nutritious vegetables, milk, beans, and oils is also very important.
☂ Foods rich in calories, such as nuts, meat, and cheese are highly recommended for kids to gain the expected weight. Feed them with white cheese instead of the orange or yellow cheese, because white cheese will give them more fat which is highly nutritious than the other types. Grilled, cream, and macaroni cheese are also popular options amongst children.
☂ Another brilliant food item is olives, which are always fun to have. Olive oil is extremely beneficial for growing children and can be served along with their favorite food items, such as pasta along with some sauce.
☂ Giving your toddler whole milk yogurt is also important, but you should make sure that the yogurt served is not at all low in fat content, because such a variety will not give you the desired results. The Stonyfield Farm’s YoBaby yogurt is a certified yogurt brand, and it is highly recommended for growing kids. The specialty of this yogurt is that it is available in various appetizing flavors and is an organic product.
☂ Whether you are breastfeeding your child or have decided to give him/her cow’s milk, one thing you must take care of is that the quantity of milk should be enough to meet the nutritional needs.
☂ Giving powdered milk after sprinkling it on meatloaf, to provide your child with the essential proteins and calcium, is one of the many ways in which weight gain can be brought about in kids.
☂ Feeding them with sandwiches containing avocado is another effective method.
☂ The most popular drink which can boost or increase the calorie intake is chocolate milk. This kind of milk is extremely helpful in case of those kids who are moody and sometimes refuse to have plain milk.
Other Beneficial Options
- Serve natural and organic peanut butter, but make sure that your child is not having an allergy to peanuts.
- Have five or six small meals instead of two or three very large ones.
- Tofu, which is low in fiber and rich in fats and proteins, is good for infants.
- You can choose to use soya milk which is a fortified drink.
- Calorie intake from fats should be around 45%.
- Strictly avoid giving concentrated fiber.
- Cereals, dry fruits, nuts, and seeds can fulfill the essential zinc and iron needs of toddlers.
- The protein intake should be at least 25 grams per day.
- Give foods rich in vitamin B12 and D and calcium.
Health problems due to malnutrition is a matter of concern, which should be dealt with very seriously. The above-mentioned healthy food options help in strengthening the immune system, which will in turn keep kids away from various diseases and disorders.
Disclaimer: This AptParenting article is for informative purposes only and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.