Babies need to gain weight - any tips?

Both of my girls went in for their 6 month checkup yesterday and my pedi told me that they are both a little thin so to make sure I feed them plenty. They are in the 80 percentile for height, but only 10 percentile for weight. They are both on Nutramigen and she said to keep them on it until at least 9 months. They are eating baby food 3 times a day and eat 1-2 jars each. I keep trying to sneak in cereal but they really hate it; if I put too much in their food and they notice it, they won't eat it.

Does anyone know of any baby foods specifically that might help them add some weight?

thanks!

 

McDonalds. throw in a big mac and fries :laughing: works for me

how much formula are they getting. my doc said 24-32oz. do you give a bottle too when they eat solids. the formula packs on the pounds. the food is just for learning right now. different textures and tastes not for nutritional value. although i don't see how they don't get nutrition from veggies and stuff that's just what they say.

 

My sil gave her little guy lots of avocado, she said it's really good for that. Good luck!

 

Avocado is great just like a pp said. The cereal would help if you can get even a small amount in. Can you give an extra bottle or cut back on some of the solids to get an extra bottle in??

 

QUOTE(2xthelove @ May 16 2008, 10:20 AM) [snapback]776746[/snapback]
although i don't see how they don't get nutrition from veggies and stuff that's just what they say.


They do. It's just that you don't know exactly how much they are getting since they play with it a lot at the beginning.

Are you giving them their bottles before their solids? That way you know they are getting that nutrition for sure. We're not to solids yet, but I have one who isn't gaining enough weight either. It's tough. I hope you find something that works for you.

 

QUOTE(prairiemom3 @ May 16 2008, 10:31 AM) [snapback]776770[/snapback]
My sil gave her little guy lots of avocado, she said it's really good for that. Good luck!


Thanks so much for the avocado idea!

I remember trying that with my daughter (2.5 years ago) but completely forgot about trying it with the twins...my daughter didn't like it but these two might...so far they are complete opposite from her at just about everything!

 

Our Ped. had me add a little olive oil to our baby veggies for added fat He''s Greek (as is my DH), so it was a natural for us. It was a very small amount...about 1/4 tsp (even less at first) and it really didn't change the taste. My DS is 2 now and still eats all of his green veggies w/ a little olive oil and lemon (even asparagus, lima beans, you name it ;-).

I hope you see improvement, soon. This can be stressful!!!

 

I would try putting a scoop or two of cereal (rice or oatmeal) in every bottle. I think it helped us get FAT! LOL.

 

QUOTE(ivfbound078 @ May 16 2008, 03:22 PM) [snapback]777463[/snapback]
I would try putting a scoop or two of cereal (rice or oatmeal) in every bottle. I think it helped us get FAT! LOL.


I was thinking of adding a little cereal to thicken up their formula since it's so thin anyway...but the girls already have problems with constipation and I would think that would probably make it worse?

I wonder if there is any kind of cereal that wouldn't cause constipation...I guess that's another thread!!

Thanks for the idea though - I may try and little and see if they can tolerate it.

 

I would add those good fats... avocados and olive oil. But I would not stress too much about the weight. Sometimes when babies go in for Well baby apts they have just grown in length and are about to catch up in weight. Also, some babies are thin and that is okay. As long as they follow their own curve and do not drop drastically from the last apt, I think it is okay. My ds was like that for almost 2 years. He was always in the 75 for length and 10 - 25 for weight. And now he is 25the for both.

 

QUOTE(clkafka @ May 16 2008, 03:30 PM) [snapback]777481[/snapback]
As long as they follow their own curve and do not drop drastically from the last apt, I think it is okay.



I agree. Have you ever looked at those charts, there is sometimes a very small difference between the %iles aspecially for length. Our doc talks all the time about how often lengths are off because babies move so it isn't perfect. As long as they are healthy I wouldn't change anything. Ours are small (5th and 3rd/below 3rd) and our doc isn't worried at all. In fact DD (right about 3rd %ile) just won't eat a lot. I really think as long as you offer food whenever they are hungry then you are doing everything perfect. Some docs just like to see every baby be like the last one that was in the office and conform to the "standard".

 

My girls are on Nutramigen too. If you mix it up according to the directions it has 20 cals. per ounce (I think it's per ounce). When my girls were discharged from the NICU they wanted us to give them 22 cals. you mix one scoop of formula with 1 3/4 ounces of water instead of 2 ounces...but I would ask their Ped before you do this.

 

QUOTE(kimk @ May 16 2008, 02:29 PM) [snapback]777476[/snapback]
I wonder if there is any kind of cereal that wouldn't cause constipation

I read that oatmeal is the best cereal as far as being the least constipating.

 

When they hit 7 or 8 months you could stir a little full-fat plain yogurt into their baby foods. I also put a little flax oil in their baby foods a couple times a week for some extra omega-3s. Ours didn't like avocado at first so I would mix it with the baby food (usually squash or sweet potatoes). Now they love avocado and will feed themselves chunks of it.

Good Luck!

Baby food prunes really helped us with constipation issues.

 

I second feeding them avocado. If they don't like it too much try mixing it with apple sauce. Also, one of my girls is slow to gain weight we a dietitian told us to add vegetable oil to the food

 

QUOTE
But I would not stress too much about the weight. Sometimes when babies go in for Well baby apts they have just grown in length and are about to catch up in weight. Also, some babies are thin and that is okay. As long as they follow their own curve and do not drop drastically from the last apt, I think it is okay.


I totally agree! As long as they haven't plunged from like 80th percentile for weight all the way down to 10th, they're probably just fine. It's ok for babies to be slim as long as they're healthy.

To keep them gaining well, I'd try always giving a bottle before solids (or if you're already doing that, keep it up for a good while). Their formula has more calories and fat than solid foods. The fiber in solids may fill them up and decrease their appetite for their bottles. And while at your babies' age they are beginning to be able to get some nutrition from solids, the formula is complete nutrition for them.

Try not to worry too much! I bet they're just fine!