What Causes Loss Of Appetite And Constipation Post Giving Enfamil To An Infant?

Posted on Mon, 4 Jul 2016

Question: hello doctor, my baby girl is 13 months old and is breastfed exclusively breastfed. She was born 2 kg at 37 weeks and is now 7.8 kg only. She looks very thin. Doc suggested that i give her Enfamil and i tried it for 2 days and she seemed to lose appetite and was also constipated. So i discontinued using enfamil. Now my friend suggested that i use Nido and I found Nido instant full cream milk powder and not nido junior. Everyone says that i can give her the usual nido milk powder instead of nido jr also but im worried. Your expert advise will be useful pl. Also suggest if I may give her anything else to gain weight. Thank you

Answered by Dr. Diptanshu Das (7 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Solids and semisolids should be the main energy source

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on Health care magic.

Let me assure you that the weight of your child is indeed increasing properly and you need not worry about the same. The birth weight of a baby should triple by 10-12 months of age and quadruple by 2 years of age. Your child is already above this first milestone that I have stated. So, even though she looks thin she is just the way things should be and weighing more would just make her obese and proone to a lot of health problems.

If apprehensive, I would insist you to google out and download a WHO growth chart - weight for age - girls - age 0-36months and to plot the weights periodically with time. Unless the weight drops percentile lines you need not worry about the weight.

So far as the feeds are concerned, try to move to pounded solid food and gradually towards a adult diet low in spices. That is what would help your child gain weight properly. Enfamil is a hydrolyzed formula and so bad to taste. So children may not take it well. It would not matter if you give Nido Instant Whole Cream or Nido Junior if you make solid or semisolid food the main source of her energy and that is the way it should be.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Diptanshu Das (54 minutes later)

Thank you very much for assuring that her weight is fine, however her weight has dropped from 8kg to 7.8 kg and her weight increased since 1 month. Iwould now try to move away from pounded food pl. Also ill give her Nido whole cream milk powder and hope she likes the taste and its kind to her tummy !!!

sorry. i meant to write that her weight has not increased in the last one month after it dropped to 7.8 pl

Answered by Dr. Diptanshu Das (14 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
A healthy energy supply will ensure proper weight gain.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back.

I would not really get bothered about that. All I would insist you to do is to give her semisolid, mashed, pounded or suitable solid foods gradually. Introduce one new food item a week and stick to it for the week. Gradually build up on the quantity and the number of times it is given. Give Nido if you feel like and that should not be a problem. Leave the weight gain on her body and care to do the plotting on the growth chart as mentioned.

Regards

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar