During the first twelve months of life, there are specific instructions as to what an infant should eat, how much, and when. Parents make numerous trips to the pediatrician and ask for specific information as to what to feed the infant, and the pediatricians readily provide this necessary information. As the infants grow and develop after the first year, information about nutritional needs is not as easy to come by. It is more difficult to find detailed information as "weight gain" is not the norm for toddler's in today's society.
There are often a number of issues that lead to a toddler being underweight. Whether toddlers were born prematurely, have undergone surgery, have digestive issues, or have experienced oral-motor delays, whatever the reason, putting on the pounds can be very difficult for some children. If a toddler needs to gain weight, here is some nutritional information to help parents help their toddler gain weight the right way.
What Toddlers Need
Parents of underweight toddlers often watch every single bite their children take. It can be incredibly exhausting worrying about every calorie that goes into a child. What underweight toddlers need is to add additional calories, and the fat they consume should not be restricted before the age of two because of the increased need for growth. After the age of the two, fat consumption should be anywhere from twenty to thirty percent of a child's diet (only if they are underweight). It is important for parents to make healthy choices for these calories. The extra calories shouldn't come from cupcakes and candy, but should be more nutritious options.
Nutritious Toddler Food Choice Options
Toddlers need to have foods from all of the different food groups and should be continually offered healthy food choices including the following:
- whole grains
- vegetables
- fruits
- oils
- milk
- meat
- beans
To gain weight, toddlers can obtain additional calories from eating more of these food groups by adding extra calories to each meal for weight gain. Consider adding healthy oils such as olive oil to foods or or cheese to foods. Here are some examples of healthy ways to add extra calories:
- Add almond butter to bread (a higher fat content than peanut butter)
- Add cream cheese to mashed potatoes
- Add olive oil to vegetables
- Add carnation instant breakfast to protein shakes (toddler's love the taste!)
If Toddler is a Picky Eater?
What if an underweight toddler is a picky eater? This is a typical problem with many toddlers, but is one that can be overcome. It often takes offering a food 15 times before a picky eater will try the food. Try offering new foods to toddlers along with foods that they like and they will eventually experiment with the food. Though this can be a frustrating process for parents, it is worth the effort.
Also, make meal times a pleasant experience. Give a toddler attention during the meal and minimize any distractions.
Don't feel uncomfortable asking for help. If a toddler continues to be underweight, discuss the concerns with the pediatrician. He may suggest a consult with a speech therapist and occupational therapist or a specialist to discern if there is another problem.
Though this can be a frustrating experience for some parents, remember that the food your toddler eats is necessary for proper growth and development. Keep offering toddlers healthy choices with a high calorie content and enjoy and celebrate their growth!
 |
