Practically all newborns experience a slight drop in weight during their few days of life. After that, healthy infants gradually tick up the scale as they're nourished with breast milk, formula, and eventually solid foods.
Sometimes, however, a baby's weight will steadily fall in the percentile chart. And if it's not for medical reasons, such as digestive disorders or cardiac issues, it may be because they are simply not consuming enough fat.
Jill Castle, RD, a registered dietitian in New Canaan, Connecticut, has seen this phenomenon in her practice with parents who have mistakenly thought a low-fat, high-fiber diet was appropriate for young babies. "If you look at breast milk and infant formula, about half the calories come from fat. Babies and young children have a greater need for fats," says Castle.
Fat not only helps their brains and nervous systems develop normally, but it also helps their bodies absorb important vitamins like A, D, E, and K. Keep reading to learn how to help your baby gain weight fast through healthy food options.
Important Tip
Remember that baby weight gain varies widely. Make sure to talk to your baby's pediatrician if you have concerns about their weight. It's important to rule out any possible medical concerns before significantly changing your baby's diet to encourage weight gain.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1327252072-2000-67ac125a1bae49dbb28198928621d793.jpg "10 Foods to Healthfully Encourage Baby's Weight Gain (1)")
How to Help Your Baby Gain Weight
Once your baby starts solids, you'll want to ensure their diet includes plenty of nutritious fats. You can encourage healthy weight gain by incorporating these nutrient- and calorie-dense foods in your baby's meals.
Always speak with a health care provider (and a lactation consultant, you're nursing) for any concerns about your baby's weight. They might refer to growth charts to assess whether your baby is following proper growth patterns. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the growth charts from the World Health Organization (WHO) for kids under age 2. Sometimes an underlying problem might be the culprit for slow weight gain, and other measures must be taken besides diet change.
Olive oil
Compared to the four calories found in a gram of protein or carbohydrate, each gram of fat contains about nine calories. One good option is the plant-based olive oil; try drizzling a teaspoon on pureed vegetables for an extra boost.
Nut butters
Nuts are densely nutritious and chock-full of healthy fats. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology recommends they be introduced to babies gradually when starting solids (after they tolerate less allergenic foods) to help prevent allergies down the road. Castle suggests swirling a bit of peanut, almond, or cashew butter into your baby's morning cereal.
The 18 Best Foods for Babies and Toddlers
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, introduce whole milk to encourage baby weight gain. Before age 1, you can introduce other full-fat dairy products.
Avocado
Its creamy consistency and mild flavor make avocados an easy addition for babies in the early stages of eating solid foods. Some store-bought baby foods even feature blended avocados with other fruits, so watch out for those.
Bananas
Not all fruits are created equal when it comes to their calorie content. Bananas have far more fat than, say, watermelon, apples, or strawberries. They're also packed with potassium and fiber.
Normal Baby Weight Gain
When it comes to baby weight gain, there's a wide range of normal. But after your little one starts solids, here are some guidelines you can follow when determining whether there might be a problem:
- 4-6 Months: Weight gain of4 to 7 ounces week. Infants usually double their birth weight during this time.
- 6-18 months: Weight gain of 3 to 5 ounces per week. Infants will generally triple their birth weight by age 1.
Hummus
Rich in protein and fiber (from chickpeas) along with healthy fat (from olive oil), this Mediterranean staple has a smooth consistency that makes it a baby-friendly addition to your household.
6 Important Nutrients for Kids: An Age-by-Age Guide
Cheese
Start your child's love affair with cheese by adding grated options to purees. You can also offer mashed-up full-fat cottage cheese.
Oatmeal
A sprinkle of oatmeal cereal makes any baby food puree heartier, and it also provides necessary nutrients, such as iron and zinc.
Pear
Like bananas, pears have a higher calorie content than other fruits. If you don't want to crack open a jar of the pureed variety, steam a ripe pear to easily mash it up with a fork.
Full-fat yogurt
Although you shouldn't give your baby cow's milk before age 1, you can still offer other dairy products. Choose full-fat yogurts geared specifically for babies, and steer clear of those laden with sugar.
