Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Gaining Weight. Lost Weight Due To Sickness. Suggest Diet?
Question: Hi,
My cousin is 1yr 6h month and she weighs 12 kg. Her diet is distributed over 6 times a day which includes Mixed cereal with Ragi, Rice with vegetables and Ghee, Milk, Cerelac .
But from past 2 months she is not gaining weight and comparatively looks little weak , Infact she has lost around 0.5 kg also she is falling sick frequently( Cold and cough .. doctor say it is due to allergy) .
Can you please give your opinion on her diet, Should we change her diet as she is growing now (Should have start adding non veg to her diet) and reason for allergic ( Off late she keeps everything in her mouth.
My cousin is 1yr 6h month and she weighs 12 kg. Her diet is distributed over 6 times a day which includes Mixed cereal with Ragi, Rice with vegetables and Ghee, Milk, Cerelac .
But from past 2 months she is not gaining weight and comparatively looks little weak , Infact she has lost around 0.5 kg also she is falling sick frequently( Cold and cough .. doctor say it is due to allergy) .
Can you please give your opinion on her diet, Should we change her diet as she is growing now (Should have start adding non veg to her diet) and reason for allergic ( Off late she keeps everything in her mouth.
Brief Answer:
Family pot feeding. Allergic tendency
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Thank you for your query on Healthcare Magic.
Her weight of 12 Kg is in normal range as per CDC growth charts (above 75th percentile) so nothing to worry.
Usually the growth rate before the age of 1 year is more so the children gain weight fast.
After the age of 1 year, the growth rate decreases normally so the weight gain is less in comparison to the past year. Proportionate to this decreased growth rate, the appetite will decrease.
Frequent falling sick with cold and cough may be due to exposure to allergens, viruses, and people with upper respiratory tract infections.
Reason for allergy could be her allergic tendency to environmental factors and low resistance power against common pathogens.
Usually as the age increases the kids will develop resistance and immunity to the common pathogens such as viruses and bacteria and the frequency of cold and cough attacks will decrease.
Prevent her exposure to common and general allergens such as cold air, smoke, pollution, pet animals, cold water, dust, sprays and perfumes, and mosquito coils.
Coming to her diet, you can give the food whatever you are cooking for your family. This is know as family pot feeding.
She can take rice, dhal, curries, cooked vegetables, softened chapathi and these should be distributed over 6 times a day. And continue to add ghee to her diet.
You can start adding non-veg to her diet. And start with little quantity and gradually increase its quantity over days.
While introducing any new food, give one new food at a time with a small quantity and if you want to introduce another new variety you can give after some days.
Keeping fingers and hand in mouth is normally seen in children around this age.
Keep her hands clean by frequent washing of hands and toys. Don't make her conscious by shouting to remove the hands and fingers from mouth as this action will aggravate the habit.
Just ignore the behavior and this will subside gradually. And praise her whenever she is not putting hands in mouth.
Hope I have answered your query, if you have any clarification please let me know.
Regards.
Family pot feeding. Allergic tendency
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Thank you for your query on Healthcare Magic.
Her weight of 12 Kg is in normal range as per CDC growth charts (above 75th percentile) so nothing to worry.
Usually the growth rate before the age of 1 year is more so the children gain weight fast.
After the age of 1 year, the growth rate decreases normally so the weight gain is less in comparison to the past year. Proportionate to this decreased growth rate, the appetite will decrease.
Frequent falling sick with cold and cough may be due to exposure to allergens, viruses, and people with upper respiratory tract infections.
Reason for allergy could be her allergic tendency to environmental factors and low resistance power against common pathogens.
Usually as the age increases the kids will develop resistance and immunity to the common pathogens such as viruses and bacteria and the frequency of cold and cough attacks will decrease.
Prevent her exposure to common and general allergens such as cold air, smoke, pollution, pet animals, cold water, dust, sprays and perfumes, and mosquito coils.
Coming to her diet, you can give the food whatever you are cooking for your family. This is know as family pot feeding.
She can take rice, dhal, curries, cooked vegetables, softened chapathi and these should be distributed over 6 times a day. And continue to add ghee to her diet.
You can start adding non-veg to her diet. And start with little quantity and gradually increase its quantity over days.
While introducing any new food, give one new food at a time with a small quantity and if you want to introduce another new variety you can give after some days.
Keeping fingers and hand in mouth is normally seen in children around this age.
Keep her hands clean by frequent washing of hands and toys. Don't make her conscious by shouting to remove the hands and fingers from mouth as this action will aggravate the habit.
Just ignore the behavior and this will subside gradually. And praise her whenever she is not putting hands in mouth.
Hope I have answered your query, if you have any clarification please let me know.
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
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
