Every child grows at a different pace, but it is probably worrying when you see your child falling consistently at the lower end of the growth chart. As a parent, you’re right to be concerned about your child’s eating habits and inadequate weight gain. Poor weight gain may lead to inadequate growth and delayed development. To avoid such a scenario, it is important to understand why your toddler is not gaining weight.
The three main reasons why your child may not be gaining weight are
- They are not taking in enough calories
- They are not absorbing enough calories
- They are burning too many calories.
Inadequate nutrition or malabsorption of nutrients can have short- and long-term ill effects on the health and development of the child. If you’re a concerned parent and want to get your child back on track to healthy growth, read on.
Reasons Why Your Child Might Not Be Gaining Weight:
It is important to chart your child’s growth rate, including height and weight gain. If your child continuously falls at the low end of the chart, then maybe you need to look into the possible causes for the lack of growth, like your child’s diet. If your child is a picky or fussy eater, it might be challenging to ensure they get all the essential nutrients from their regular diet. Having a diet high in sugar and fat can be the reason why your child is not gaining weight adequately. Sugar may give instant energy but is deficient in micronutrients. Fat is high in energy and very satiating and hence may curb child’s hunger pangs. For example, sugar-filled drinks can be filling for the moment but are devoid of vital nutrients.
Food intolerance is another reason parents must keep in mind when it comes to toddlers not gaining proper weight. Some children may also be intolerant to lactose or sugar and hence are unable to consume certain foods. Then there are incorrect food pairings that can inhibit nutrient absorption in the gut. Nutrient absorption is key. You may be giving your child a diet rich in vitamins and minerals, but what good will it do if their body is unable to use them?
To give your child the maximum nutritional benefit from the food they are consuming, take a look below.
Keep Your Child Active
An active child is a healthy child. Being physically active leads to the development of healthy bones and muscles. It also helps to increase appetite. As parents, one can introduce moderate physical activity in their daily routine, including outdoor play.
Create A Healthy Attitude Towards Food
Kids learn from their parents. If you start eating healthy, your kids will too. Also, making mealtimes family time is a great way to ensure kids develop a happy and healthy attitude towards food. Praising them when they finish a plate and refraining from scolding them if they do not are other things you can do to promote healthy eating habits.
Offer A Balanced Diet
Experts suggest offering your child a balanced diet appropriate for their age. Milk, nuts, fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and pulses with good-quality fats and oils will help your kid gain weight. Ideally, one must offer a toddler three meals daily with two to three healthy snacks in between. Mothers of toddlers must make additional efforts to make food interesting and palatable for their kids.
Adding a nutritious supplement such as AptaGrow to your toddler’s diet helps meet their nutritional needs. It is a scientifically designed new-age milk drink for growing kids. It has 37 nutrients that support brain development, height gain, and immunity. Its Nutri-absorb formula helps in the absorption of essential nutrients, helping your child to grow and develop. AptaGrow contains 100% milk protein and calcium that supports healthy bones and muscles and helps height gain. It contains a unique blend of prebiotics that, along with vitamins A, C, D, and E, help improve gut health and immunity. DHA, Iron, Choline, Folic Acid & Iodine present in AptaGrow helps to support brain development, thus making it a complete nutritious health drink that supports your child’s healthy weight gain.
As a parent, it is important to monitor your child’s development and ensure their diet includes essential nutrients that can help them achieve healthy growth with respect to physical and psychological parameters. Along with that, encouraging your child to live an active and healthy lifestyle are other ways to ensure optimal growth. For any further queries with respect to your child’s growth and development, it is always advisable to consult your pediatrician.
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