Easy Tips to Increase Your Little One's Weight

Is Mommy wary because the stature of the Little One looks skinnier than the friends of his/her age? Mommy should not be anxious if the doctor has checked and stated that the condition of your Little one is healthy. It could be that the stature of your Little One is following Daddy’s or Mommy’s who are also thin.

"It needs to be a record for every parent that your Little One’s weight is very easy to change, especially because they are experiencing growth," explains Stephen R. Daniels, MD, PhD, professor of pediatrics who is also a member of The American Academy of Pediatrics Committee.

If your doctor recommends that your baby's weight should be increased, you can do a few tips below to get the target met:

Make sure your child gets enough daily caloric intake

Your Little One’s weight can only increase if the number of calories is greater than the number of calories used. This means that the amount of food intake should really fit with the needs of your Little One. For the Little One age 1-3 years old, caloric requirement is about 100 kcal / kg ideal weight. As for the Little One age 4-6 years old, his/her needs range from 90 kcal / kg ideal weight.

Vary your Little One’s Food Menu

Not only the amount, the quality of food is also included as a key factor in increasing the weight of your Little One. Your Little One needs to be given a diet with balanced nutrition and contains the macronutrients and micronutrients he/she needs.

Macronutrients are carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. While micronutrients are vitamins and minerals. The daily menu of your Little One should consist of a combination of several foods that contain various nutrients. Do not forget to always check the food composition label so that Mommy can choose which is more appropriate for the needs of your Little One.

For milk, Mommy can give a product that has been fortified with calcium and vitamin D. Calcium is needed to maintain bone and teeth density while vitamin D is beneficial to help the absorption of calcium by the body so that the Little One’s growth can be optimal.

Make sure the feeding method is right

The activity of eating should be done consistently. Mommy can make a meal schedule and make sure the Little One goes through it regularly. Make a schedule for 3 big meals and 2 snacks each day. Ensure that outside the schedule, your Little One does not eat or drink. It is important to make your Little One understands hunger and that eating is a necessity, not an obligation.

Take your Little One to exercise regularly

Cardio activity such as pushups can stimulate muscle growth. Regular exercise will shape the appetite of the Little One, he/she will eat and drink more. Regular physical activity will prevent your baby from becoming obese or overweight.

Optimize your Little One’s body immunity

Healthy digestible channels are very influential on our immune system. A health journal published in the British Society for Immunology says that natural immune cells live on a healthy digestive tract and represent nearly 70% of the entire immune system. When the gastrointestinal tract is healthy, the body will get protection plus the absorption of nutrients will be maximized.

One of the way to maintain gastrointestinal health is to provide fortified milk products combined with probiotics Bifidobacterium longum BB536 and Bifidobacterium breve M-16V and lactulose prebiotics.

Enough rest

The body grows optimally when the Little One is sleeping. Therefore, Mommy must make sure that your Little One gets enough rest. For the Little One under 5 years old, he/she must get 8 hours sleep every night. It is also recommended to take a nap on the sidelines of his/her activities.

Mommy needs to observe that the process of gaining weight is not an instant process. This should be done gradually. Come on, apply the above tips for your Little One so that his/her weight can reach the expected target.