As a parent, it’s natural to worry about your baby’s health and development. One common concern is whether your baby is underweight. Understanding the symptoms, causes, and appropriate actions to take can help you ensure your baby grows healthily.
This guide will cover everything you need to know about identifying and addressing an underweight baby, focusing on the importance of protein, fats, and calories in their diet.
Symptoms of an Underweight Baby
Recognizing the signs that your baby may be underweight is crucial. Here are some symptoms to look out for:
- Slow Weight Gain: Your baby isn’t gaining weight at the expected rate according to growth charts.
- Small Appetite: Your baby appears uninterested in feeding or eats very little during feedings.
- Lethargy: Your baby seems unusually tired or lacks energy.
- Delayed Milestones: Your baby is not reaching developmental milestones (such as rolling over, sitting up, or crawling) at the typical ages.
- Visible Ribs: Your baby’s ribs are more prominent than usual.
Causes of an Underweight Baby
Several factors can contribute to a baby being underweight (1):
- Premature Birth: Preterm babies often have lower birth weights and may require more nutrients to catch up in growth.
- Feeding Issues: Problems with breastfeeding, improper latch, or insufficient milk supply can lead to inadequate nutrition.
- Health Conditions: Conditions like gastrointestinal issues, infections, or metabolic disorders can affect weight gain.
- Caloric Needs: Some babies have higher caloric needs that are not being met through regular feedings.
What to Do: Addressing Underweight Concerns with Nutrition
Ensuring your baby gets the right nutrients is key to addressing and preventing underweight issues. Here are some crucial nutrients and strategies to consider:
1. Protein:
Protein is essential for growth and tissue repair. It supports muscle development and overall growth in babies (2).
- Food Sources: Include protein-rich foods like lean meats, fish, eggs, and dairy in your baby’s diet as they start eating solids. Or if you’re breastfeeding, make sure to consume sufficient proteins from food sources.
- Recommended Supplements (3): If you’re breastfeeding, consume sufficient protein can help to produce more nutrient-dense milk. You could also add protein powder such as a modular protein supplement e.g. whey protein concentrate into the breastmilk to give it a protein boost for your newborn.
2. Fats:
Fats are crucial for brain development and overall energy (4). They provide the necessary calories for growth and help in the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins.
- Food Sources: Foods like avocados, nuts, seeds, and fatty fish are excellent sources of healthy fats. Incorporate these into your diet and your baby’s diet when they start on solids.
- Recommended Supplements: Medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) (5) oil can be effective supplement, providing easily digestible fats that offer a quick energy source for underweight babies.
3. Calories:
Adequate caloric intake is essential to meet the high energy demands of growing infants (6). Babies need enough calories to thrive on growth and development.
- Food Sources: Include calorie-dense foods like whole grains, legumes, and healthy oils in your diet. When introducing solids, ensure your baby receives a balanced mix of these foods.
- Recommended Supplements: If your baby struggles to get enough calories, glucose supplements can help to provide an additional energy source (7). These can be added into breast milk, milk formula and even solid food to increase caloric intake.
Other Tips to Look Out For
- Frequent Feeding: Feed more regularly. For breastfeeding mothers, nurse more often (especially direct latch) to stimulate milk production.
- Monitor Growth: Keep regular check-ups with your pediatrician to monitor your baby’s growth and development.
- Hydration: Ensure your baby stays hydrated with sufficient milk, as dehydration can affect appetite and growth.
- Consult a Specialist: If you have concerns about your baby’s weight, consult a healthcare provider such as a pediatrician or dietitian.
For babies, particularly those born preterm or with health issues, preventing malnutrition is crucial. Breast milk is the best source of nutrition, but in some cases, fortifiers or additional supplements may be necessary. These can provide extra calories, proteins, vitamins, and minerals to support your baby’s development (2).
Conclusion
Recognizing and addressing the signs of an underweight baby is essential for ensuring healthy growth and development. By focusing on protein, fats, and calories, and incorporating necessary supplements, you can help your baby gain weight effectively. Always seek guidance from healthcare professionals to tailor the best nutritional plan for your baby’s needs.
By prioritizing these nutrients and following these strategies, you can support your baby’s health and give them the best possible start in life.
References :
- Low Birth Weight – Health Encyclopedia – University of Rochester Medical Center. (n.d.). https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=90&contentid=p02382
- Brown JV, Lin L, Embleton ND, Harding JE, McGuire W. Multi-nutrient fortification of human milk for preterm infants. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020 Jun 3;6(6). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7268980/
- Breastfeeding nutrition: Tips for moms. (2022, April 27). Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/infant-and-toddler-health/in-depth/breastfeeding-nutrition/art-20046912#:~:text=Focus%20on%20making%20healthy%20choices,well%20as%20fruits%20and%20vegetables.\
- Fats (for Parents). (n.d.). https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/fat.html#:~:text=Young%20kids%20need%20enough%20of,the%20building%20blocks%20of%20hormones
- Rycharska, E., Kieraszewicz, Z., Czerwionka-Szaflarska, M., (2016). Medium chain triglycerides (MCT) formulas in paediatric and allergological practice. 11(4)L226-231. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5209465/
- Nutrition in Infancy, Childhood and Youth. (n.d.). https://www.utmb.edu/Pedi_Ed/CoreV2/Nutrition/Nutrition_print.html#:~:text=Healthy%20full%2Dterm%20newborns%20require,100%20kcal%2Fkg%2Fday.
- Patel, J. K., & Rouster, A. S. (2023, August 8). Infant Nutrition Requirements and Options. StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560758/
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