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Concerned About Low Milk Intake Of A 16 Month Old. What Is The Normal Weight Required?
Hi, my daughter is 16 months and weighs 8 kg. She is active although she hardly eats and only drink around 12-14 ozs of milk a day. I m started to become concerned about her growth. Is this normal? She has been to see a dietician a few times but I m still not satisfied with her eating habits as its a recurring problem . What could I do to help her and could it be a sign of an underlying problem?
Mon, 19 Nov 2012
Hi
Usually a child triples his/her birth weight by 1 year. And usually kids weigh around 10 kg by 1 year of age and 12 kg by 2 year of age.
Yes your child`s weight is low, though not alarmingly low.
Are her developmental mile stones normal for her age?
Does she have any other symptoms like frequent illnesses/ recurrent vomiting/ loose stools etc?
Does she pass stools regularly or is she constipated?
Her diet is totally insufficient. You must give her lots of solid food at this age.
Fortify all the food she eats with ghee/ oil/ peanut butter etc.
Give her lots of dry fruits and nuts.
Give her yoghurts, cheese etc.
Milk should be restricted to 2 glasses a day. You may give her high calorie drinks instead of plain milk... but not more than twice a day.
Make her sit with other family members or other kids and eat.
Do not force feed her in any way.
Do visit your Pediatrician and have a complete physical examination done to rule out any problems. Have her throat checked. If needed have basic tests done like a complete blood count to rule out anemia, and urine microscopy too.
Ask your Pediatrician for micronutrient supplements, as with correction of such deficiencies appetite will improve.
But diet modification is a must. By 1 year of age, a child should be able to eat what ever we cook at home.
Hope my answer helps you.
Usually a child triples his/her birth weight by 1 year. And usually kids weigh around 10 kg by 1 year of age and 12 kg by 2 year of age.
Yes your child`s weight is low, though not alarmingly low.
Are her developmental mile stones normal for her age?
Does she have any other symptoms like frequent illnesses/ recurrent vomiting/ loose stools etc?
Does she pass stools regularly or is she constipated?
Her diet is totally insufficient. You must give her lots of solid food at this age.
Fortify all the food she eats with ghee/ oil/ peanut butter etc.
Give her lots of dry fruits and nuts.
Give her yoghurts, cheese etc.
Milk should be restricted to 2 glasses a day. You may give her high calorie drinks instead of plain milk... but not more than twice a day.
Make her sit with other family members or other kids and eat.
Do not force feed her in any way.
Do visit your Pediatrician and have a complete physical examination done to rule out any problems. Have her throat checked. If needed have basic tests done like a complete blood count to rule out anemia, and urine microscopy too.
Ask your Pediatrician for micronutrient supplements, as with correction of such deficiencies appetite will improve.
But diet modification is a must. By 1 year of age, a child should be able to eat what ever we cook at home.
Hope my answer helps you.
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