A child does need to gain weight sometimes, though. There are many ways to do that, but not all are good for you.
What to do if your child seems underweight
If you are worried about whether or not your child needs to gain weight, you should talk to your doctor before making them fat. There’s a good chance that your child’s weight is just fine.
Losing weight or being underweight can signify a physical or emotional problem, so talk to your doctor about your worries. They might want to see your child help them decide if they need to do any tests. If your child is less than two years old, it’s essential to talk to your doctor about your concerns about their weight and do precisely what your doctor tells you to do.
Read More: 5 Essential Tools To Aid Your Weight Loss Regime
Choosing healthy foods when a child needs to gain weight
If your child is older than two and the doctor says it’s a good idea for them to gain weight, the best way to do it is through healthy foods and healthy habits.
There are three ways to help people healthily gain weight:
- Give your child three meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) and two healthy snacks (mid-morning and mid-afternoon). You could consider a small snack before bedtime if your child eats dinner early. Avoid snacks in between or drinking anything other than some water; you want them to be hungry when you give them food.
- Offer healthy high-calorie foods. Think in terms of healthy fats and protein.
- Every time you prepare a meal or snack, think about how you might add some calories to it. For example, you could add some extra oil, butter, or cheese to pasta or nut butter on a slice of apple or toast.
Avoid these three pitfalls:
- You are giving your child more sweets or junk food. It’s tempting, as children generally want to eat sweets and junk food, and both have calories. But they aren’t healthy foods, and it’s not a good idea to build a sweets and junk food habit.
- Giving your child unlimited access to food. This, too, is tempting after all. You want them to eat! But not only does that make it hard to be sure that what they are eating is healthy, but snacking can make them less hungry when it’s time for an actual meal.
- They are letting your child fill up on milk and other drinks, including nutritional supplement drinks. This makes it less likely that they will eat at mealtime, and they are unlikely to get all the nutrients they need. Don’t give your child nutritional supplements unless your doctor advises you.
Make sure you check in with your doctor often to see how your child is doing. Your child should soon have a better weight that will help them do well as they grow.
Read More: 8 Possible Causes Of Unexplained Weight Gain
