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What Causes Poor Weight Gain In An Infant?
Question: Hi,
My daughter is 1 year 2 months old. Her present weight is 6.9 Kg and height 67 cm. Her birth weight is 3.3 Kg and her weight after 6 months is 6 Kgs. We introduced solid foods after 6 months only. Her weight gain after 6 months was too minimal. As per the doctor's suggestions we did thyroid function tests and urine protien and complete blood count tests when she is 8 months old. Doctor said all test reports are normal. She is fine in all other aspects. She started walking and speaking now. She din't get teeth yet.
What other reason could be there for not gaining weight? Also could you suggest high calories food for the baby?
Thanks,
XXXX
My daughter is 1 year 2 months old. Her present weight is 6.9 Kg and height 67 cm. Her birth weight is 3.3 Kg and her weight after 6 months is 6 Kgs. We introduced solid foods after 6 months only. Her weight gain after 6 months was too minimal. As per the doctor's suggestions we did thyroid function tests and urine protien and complete blood count tests when she is 8 months old. Doctor said all test reports are normal. She is fine in all other aspects. She started walking and speaking now. She din't get teeth yet.
What other reason could be there for not gaining weight? Also could you suggest high calories food for the baby?
Thanks,
XXXX
Brief Answer:
More details needed.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on Healthcaremagic.
I have gone very carefully through your query and understand your concerns. I would need to ask if your child cried at birth. The birth weight should usually triple by one year of age. I would need to ask:
* When did the child learn to sit?
* When did the child learn to stand?
* When did the child learn to walk?
* How many words is the child able to speak?
* Overall development and milestones.
As you have rightly pointed out, the weight gain after 6 month age has been inadequate. This indicates that the amount of feeds have been somehow inadequate unless she has been frequently vomiting or passing loose stools. Please confirm. Also mention how much feed you give to the child, what feed is given, and at what time.
The eruption of teeth usually occurs by 14 months of age. You need to visit a dentist for evaluation whether the teeth have already been formed underneath the gums.
I will wait for your response. Thereafter I would guide you about the food. I will also indicate if adding coconut oil to feeds would be the right thing to do (rich in calories, beneficial for brain development).
Regards
More details needed.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on Healthcaremagic.
I have gone very carefully through your query and understand your concerns. I would need to ask if your child cried at birth. The birth weight should usually triple by one year of age. I would need to ask:
* When did the child learn to sit?
* When did the child learn to stand?
* When did the child learn to walk?
* How many words is the child able to speak?
* Overall development and milestones.
As you have rightly pointed out, the weight gain after 6 month age has been inadequate. This indicates that the amount of feeds have been somehow inadequate unless she has been frequently vomiting or passing loose stools. Please confirm. Also mention how much feed you give to the child, what feed is given, and at what time.
The eruption of teeth usually occurs by 14 months of age. You need to visit a dentist for evaluation whether the teeth have already been formed underneath the gums.
I will wait for your response. Thereafter I would guide you about the food. I will also indicate if adding coconut oil to feeds would be the right thing to do (rich in calories, beneficial for brain development).
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Hi Doctor,
Thanks for the quick response. Following are my responses.
Yes, she cried at the birth.
She learned to sit in 8th month.
She learned to stand in 11th month.
She learned to walk in 14 th month.
She started speaking Abba in 12th month now she calls Ammi and dadi to the correct persons. In total she speaks 5 different words.
Developmental milestones are as per the child growth table in different online websites.
Her daily routine is as follows.
Wakes up at 10 am.
10 am 1 idly or half dosa or 4 spoons of ragi.
11am lactogen 30 ml.
11 to 1 pm sleep.
1pm vegetable kichidi. 15 spoons.
3 pm 1 egg or ceralac 10 spoons.
4 to 5 sleep.
5 pm 1 banana, 2 protien biscuit.
7 pm half roti.
9 pm ragi 5 spoons
11 pm mother's milk for 15 mins.
She passes stool when she is having lunch. She passes stool for 3 times a day. Passes urine 6 times a day.
Let me know if any other information is needed.
Thanks,
XXXX
Thanks for the quick response. Following are my responses.
Yes, she cried at the birth.
She learned to sit in 8th month.
She learned to stand in 11th month.
She learned to walk in 14 th month.
She started speaking Abba in 12th month now she calls Ammi and dadi to the correct persons. In total she speaks 5 different words.
Developmental milestones are as per the child growth table in different online websites.
Her daily routine is as follows.
Wakes up at 10 am.
10 am 1 idly or half dosa or 4 spoons of ragi.
11am lactogen 30 ml.
11 to 1 pm sleep.
1pm vegetable kichidi. 15 spoons.
3 pm 1 egg or ceralac 10 spoons.
4 to 5 sleep.
5 pm 1 banana, 2 protien biscuit.
7 pm half roti.
9 pm ragi 5 spoons
11 pm mother's milk for 15 mins.
She passes stool when she is having lunch. She passes stool for 3 times a day. Passes urine 6 times a day.
Let me know if any other information is needed.
Thanks,
XXXX
Brief Answer:
The diet plan needs some modification.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back.
I have gone carefully through the details provided by you. My suggestions are as follows:
* You need to give about 100g or 100ml of feed on each occasion.
* The gap between two meals should be at least 2 hours. It is meaningless to give only 30ml milk 1 hour after the previous meal.
* Meals should contain much green leafy vegetables, colourful vegetables and fruits.
* Consider making khichdi by mixing cereals, pulses and vegetables.
* Add butter, cheese and curd to the diet.
* Evening meals are cereal based one after the other. Balance is lacking.
* Consider going through:
http://indianhealthyrecipes.com/indian-baby-food-chart/
(I could have given a detailed list and could have elaborated further but the answer would have been quite long. Rather, referring to the mentioned link seems to be a better idea). I would insist you to experiment and identify the schedule that your child best accepts.
It is normal for the child to pass stool after each feed. It is due to a phenomenon called gastrocolic reflex. It is normal.
Let me know if I could help further.
Regards
The diet plan needs some modification.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back.
I have gone carefully through the details provided by you. My suggestions are as follows:
* You need to give about 100g or 100ml of feed on each occasion.
* The gap between two meals should be at least 2 hours. It is meaningless to give only 30ml milk 1 hour after the previous meal.
* Meals should contain much green leafy vegetables, colourful vegetables and fruits.
* Consider making khichdi by mixing cereals, pulses and vegetables.
* Add butter, cheese and curd to the diet.
* Evening meals are cereal based one after the other. Balance is lacking.
* Consider going through:
http://indianhealthyrecipes.com/indian-baby-food-chart/
(I could have given a detailed list and could have elaborated further but the answer would have been quite long. Rather, referring to the mentioned link seems to be a better idea). I would insist you to experiment and identify the schedule that your child best accepts.
It is normal for the child to pass stool after each feed. It is due to a phenomenon called gastrocolic reflex. It is normal.
Let me know if I could help further.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hi Doctor,
Do you see any major issues like Tuberculosis or kidney related issues for not gaining weight? Is it only diet related? She refuses to drink lactogen or cow milk and with great difficulty by forcefully making her to drink it by laying her down on her mother's legs she drinks 30 ml of milk. Is this way of feeding cow milk/ lactogen recommended as she won't get any additional milk apart from her mother's milk for 15 mins?
Thanks,
XXXX
Do you see any major issues like Tuberculosis or kidney related issues for not gaining weight? Is it only diet related? She refuses to drink lactogen or cow milk and with great difficulty by forcefully making her to drink it by laying her down on her mother's legs she drinks 30 ml of milk. Is this way of feeding cow milk/ lactogen recommended as she won't get any additional milk apart from her mother's milk for 15 mins?
Thanks,
XXXX
Brief Answer:
Not suspecting tuberculosis. However, symptoms need correlation.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks again for writing back.
Although tuberculosis needs to be excluded, I assume that the child would not be without symptoms if the child has it. Low grade fever and night sweats and continuous cough are characteristic.
You need not force your child to drink milk. At this age, milk (cow or formula) is an accessory component of feeds provided that the nutrients are procured from other sources. Curd is better than milk and you should include it in the diet. Giving merely mother's milk should suffice.
Regards
Not suspecting tuberculosis. However, symptoms need correlation.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks again for writing back.
Although tuberculosis needs to be excluded, I assume that the child would not be without symptoms if the child has it. Low grade fever and night sweats and continuous cough are characteristic.
You need not force your child to drink milk. At this age, milk (cow or formula) is an accessory component of feeds provided that the nutrients are procured from other sources. Curd is better than milk and you should include it in the diet. Giving merely mother's milk should suffice.
Regards
Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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