I have been somewhat worried lately because it seems my Son has not been gaining weight as I would have wanted, he eats a lot but it seems he is just looking fresh but not gaining weight.
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The last time we went to the hospital for a routine check-up and immunization, the nurse who attended to me assured me that his weight was okay and nothing was wrong with him.
I couldn't however understand why he was not looking as big as the food he was eating, it seems it's only his stomach that is getting big and yes, he is getting tall too.
At some point I decided to read articles about it, just to be certain wasam not doing anything wrong, although the doctors assured me that all was well, I still needed to be sure.
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The first thing I learned through my research is that children grow differently and trying to make comparisons between one child and another may be dangerous.
The growth curve your child started with it's probably not the same curve they will remain on as they grow. The growth of a child depends on several factors;
The amount and type of food a child eats.
How well the hormones that control growth work.
If the child has any case of medical conditions.
Genes passed down to children from their parents.
Overall health of the child.
Babies who have gotten to the one-year mark can now begin to take in whole milk instead of formula. The amount of milk taken in can affect the growth of the child.
According to Dr Radhakrishnan, the weight of a child may drop in relation to their height, but there may still be a progress at normal rate to their age.
Sometimes, when a child switches from a bottle to using a cup, he or she may not be taking as much as they used to, therefore affecting the weight of the child.
Sickness may affect the weight of a child too, especially one that is coupled with diarrhea. A sick child would lose some weight which he will regain after he recovers.
When a baby begins to crawl and walk, they will burn more calories, which means weight gain will be less in the process.
Introducing the right kind of food is also very important, some meals are good for weight gain while others are not.
While looking out for weight gain for your baby, you need to be sure it is coming from the right sources, not soda but vegetables, fruits, and fortified cereals.
You do not have to force your baby to eat everything, as long as you are sure they are eating and gradually gaining weight, then take a cue from their act of satisfaction and just let them be.
The juice adds extra calories and may cause diarrhea, and tooth decay. If you must serve juice, make sure it is 100% fruit juice offered in a cup, and not too much of it as well.
It is also a good idea to encourage physical activity and allow the child to play and move around.
However, the absence of weight gain may be a result of some more serious medical condition that requires a visit to the hospital and even much more immediate medical attention.
If a child has oral or neurological issues, they may not eat well. In this situation, their ability to swallow is affected and may create conditions like cleft palate and cerebral palsy.
Some children's pancreas has a poor capacity, and they are unable to properly digest food, therefore leading to not being able to gain weight appropriately.
Gastrointestinal disorders are disorders that affect the lining of the bowel, therefore resulting in low weight gain.
A child that has a heart condition may not eat well, especially with the fact that they are usually unable to breathe well.
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Kidney failure alongside other kidney disorders will certainly affect the weight gain of a child.
A child with an overreactive thyroid gland will burn too many calories affecting their weight.
Every existing form of genetic disorder would most likely affect the weight of a child.
In my case, my boy is eating well, he enjoys his food but he is also a very active baby who enjoys moving around.
I have also paid a visit to the hospital and the doctor assured, me I have nothing to worry about as my boy is stretching, getting more tall and his weight is normal.
Conclusion.
That your baby's cheeks are not as chubby as the one you see on advertisment packs doesn't mean they are not healthy.
Children come in different shapes and sizes, even if you feel concerned, the first place to go is a hospital, to either validate your fears or reassure you that all is well.
For Further Studies
https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/growth-12mos.html
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/10-possible-reasons-why-your-child-is-not-growing
https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/grownewborn.html
https://www.healthline.com/health/skinny-baby#failure-to-thrive
https://www.whattoexpect.com/toddler/12-month-old/
https://www.healthline.com/health/baby/baby-not-gaining-weight#causes
Hi, I am Tobi, a writer, speaker, relationship blogger, and lover of good music. I love making friends and learning from people.
You hit the right spots. It's important for parents to observe their children's growth rate and also monitor development and cry out when they see anything that doesn't add up.
Parents are usually the first to notice these things and if they overlook it, the complications might be worse than when earlier detect.
You have just armed them with the tools they need to be watchful.
God bless you.
Bless you too dear friend, parenting is a lot of work and we need to be very observant about even the tiny details.
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