Ever since my baby boy turned 8 months old (now he’s one), his pediatrician has been prodding us to work on Ashton’s weight gain. The goal was to achieve a weight of 10 kilos before he turned one. Obviously, this goal was not reached, not even now when Ashton is already 1 year and 2 months. Yesterday, my boy weighed 9 kilos. Should this be a concern?
Well that is the question that has been bugging me, but because I am breastfeeding and Ashton did not rely on formula milk – I expect that he won’t be as chubby as the rest of his peers. In fact, I’ve started complementary feeding when he was six months old as suggested by the WHO and doctors.
I boiled, peeled, and mashed all sorts of veggies and fruits – combined with soft rice. Now Ashton is one, we share the same breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinner. But as all moms know, feeding your child is not a walk in the park. It could be as chaotic as a World War. After almost a year of feeding war, I’ve learnt some facts about my son that may also hold truth with other babies.
Why your child sometimes don’t like to eat:
1. He is preoccupied with playing
2. He does not find the food delicious
3. He wants spaghetti or <insert your child’s favorite food>
The pediatrician’s advice is it is better to give in to what our babies like to eat (i.e spaghetti) than let them go with a rumbling stomach. So, I have a stash of Ashton’s favorite food that are fast to prepare. They are mostly baby cereals like Promina which I reckon are Ashton’s favorite, especially the monggo flavor.
I was surprised kids would love monggo or mung beans, you should let your babies try it. They also have chicken noodles called SupMi which was especially helpful when Ashton got sick. I mix SupMi with rice for snacks so Ashton gets closer to his weight gain goals.
Mommy tip: Always bring a stash of your baby’s sure-to-eat food when traveling.
Ashton’s favorite comes in single serve packs/pouches or sachet and it has saved my child from his own hunger strikes. And again like any mom, I asked myself if my tactics are correct. And like a sign from the heavens, a saw the DOH Sangkap Pinoy Seal when taking a closer look at my best alternative to homemade baby food. It simply means it is fortified with Vitamin A and Iron, and is approved by the Department of Health as a good source of nutrition. whew.
If you are worried about your child’s weight gain, I suggest you consult your pediatrician. Though I know that in our culture, chubby children are favored but chubby or fat does not always mean healthy. If you know in your heart that you are feeding your child the best types of food and have already consulted your pediatrician, then rest assured you are doing a great mommy job! 🙂
Mommy Lace is a blogger from the Philippines. She started this blog to share information on pregnancy, breastfeeding, childcare, family, and health.