Not infrequently, your Little One gets taller faster than the increase of his/her weight gain. As a result, your Little One has a below normal weight on the growth curve. If that happens, Mommy should consult a pediatrician to find out how to handle it. Generally, your doctor will recommend an increase in calories in your Little One’s diet to make sure he/she gets enough intakes.
Is it finished there? Of course, not. The process of increasing the weight of the Little One is neither an easy nor difficult case to manage. It seems that Mommy has done all the things that have been recommended but the scales needle is still, always, leaning to the left. Stay calm and do not panic, dear Mommy... consider the following tips to increase your weight:
Adequate caloric intake
Body weight will increase if the number of incoming calories is greater than the number of output calories. This means that the amount of food intake should be tailored to the needs of calories of your Little One.
For the Little One age 1-3 years old, caloric requirement is about 100 kcal / kg ideal body weight*. As for the Little One age 4-6 years old, the need is about 90 kcal / kg ideal body weight*.
(*Ideal body weight = the supposed body weight for the Little One based on the current gender and height).
Various food menu
When you want to increase the weight of your Little One, not only that Mommy should think about the quantity but also the quality of the menu provided. The Little One should be given a balanced diet of nutrients, containing all the macronutrients and micronutrients that the Little One needs.
Examples of macronutrients are carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Meanwhile, the examples of micronutrients are vitamins and minerals. For simplicity, provide healthy foods with a variety of types to contain various nutrients.
Mommy can also give the Little One a growth milk which has been fortified with vitamins and minerals needed by the Little One, like choline, DHA, calcium and vitamin D.
Give food, the right way
Often, the caloric target is hard to be fulfilled, because the Little One has difficulties in eating. Tackle this by eating together, serving food in an interesting form, and providing a varied menu so eating session is not boring.
Create a feeding schedule for your Little One. Eat at certain times consistently, for example 3 big meals and 2 snacks. Avoid providing snacks outside of the schedule so that the Little One knows hunger and understands that eating is a necessity, not an obligation.
Enough rest
The Little One needs to take a sufficient rest because the body grows optimally when the Little One closes his/her eyes. For toddlers, the required sleep time is at least 8 hours a day.
To create a great quality human, nutrition factor is a very important element to note. Make sure that Mommy is giving the Little One, the nutritional intake he/she needs. Do not waste the golden period of growth and development of the Little One because this will determine the quality of the Little One in the future.
EN
