Hi All....
PLease suggest me to help my 7 months old baby gain weight. I have exclusively breast fed my baby for 6 months and since last month i have been giving her solids.

I have already introduced her with Rice, Ragi, Oat and semolina cereal. and in vegies i give her lauki, cabbage, potato, carrot and in fruits apple, banana, pears, peaches, chickoo.

I have given her these cereal as single grain and mixed grain both...

I am happy that she has achieved many of her milestones like she sits up straight, crawls all around, and trying hard to stand up independently holding table, chairs etc. she is even teething i believe but none have appeared as yet...:)

At present i have been giving her cereal once a day and one feed of veggies and fruits each..

Yesterdayt I went for a routine checkup... She was found underweight. Her birth weight was 2.75 kg and now at seven month she is 6.78 kg. She is 65 cm in height...

Please all of u, if u all can please help me in suggesting what all should i emphasis on to increase her weight. Any specific diet or schedule if possible ...i would be very helpfull.

Dr. has asked me to start Similac formula milk, but i am not really keen to do that as i want to keep her on BM and once she is a year old i would like to introduce cows milk directly. I dont want to get her used to bottle actually.

Pls pls pls help me...
thnx
Ruchi Hetal replied. hi,

your dr told to start formula because she is not getting enough from all that you are giving by solids and also from Bm.

i understand that none can replace BM or noone wants to give formula to her baby,,but,it has to be understood that,its not necessary that BM has all the nutrients that baby needs, esp after 6months -- the reason being it totally depends on womens body as to how far is she relaxed or under stress,and she is on healthy diet, and her body capacity to transform that diet into BM ! it also depends to what extent your baby was able to suck hind milk from you at every feed, which contains highest amt of nutrients and fat levels in BM !

also, watever diet she is eating, she is not getting enough from it.
i would not recommend you giving semolina(sooji),and cabbage. rest all looks ok to me. avoid giving semolina cereal,,its too heavy right now for your baby to digest it, he will just throw that out, instead of digesting and getting all nutrients,,give sooji/semolina items after 9mnths,best,
add ins to your baby diet-- barley or millet cereal,if not available then make your own by cooking the respective grains with water,some fruits in pressure cooker and fine puree it.

cabbage on other hand is often suggested by south beach daily diet as one of main vegetable that is included for people who are on diet -- reason it doesnt give much goodness but the calories it takes for your baby are more than wat it gives,,which means u are spending more than what you are getting out if it,,same is with celery.

babies dont need to do that,,they have to take easy foods from which they get direct calories/nutrients,rather than putting efforts in trying to digest it.

give other goodies,, give zuchini(if in US), sweet potato,green beans, cauliflower,brocolli, spinach,peass,squash,avacados(excellent source of natural fat and iron--give that),asperagus,,mango,apricots,and other fruits....banana is also is great source of fat,,give that with all fruits..add in cardamom sprinkle and you too will enjoy it without any stomach upset or constipation,,so will your baby.

you can also start to give mix dal(mix toor dal,chana dal,moong dal(more than first two), masoor dal,and to this whole mixture of dals,, add double rice...store in container, and cook as needed.
add in vegies to this, and its a whole protein full of meal with adequate fat levels. add in a dash of ghee, when you give ne food to your baby,...

a 7months-8months your baby should be able to eat the required --
http(:)//www(.)indiaparenting(.)com/boards/showmessage(.)cgi?messageid=5638&table_name=dis_feeding

at 7months,you can start adding a lite sprinkle of mild spices- starting from the way i mention, one by one, weekly basis -- salt(only if you are willing to start),curryleaves/dried or fresh, do tadka and give it with rice and vegies,tumeric,corainder leaves,parsley leaves/dry flakes,hing(tadka),cardamom & finally italian seasoning dash to ne uncooked meal and then cook the meal.
add one by one looking to your baby cues whther or not, he is comfortable with it and then only continue..

the reason being, now its safe, and the other reason is these spices are said to increase apetite and also improve digestion resulting in regular smooth bowels.its acc to ayurvedic or herbs point of view.

start one by one, i repeat.one by one,,.dont start giving everything at once..you know the time your baby takes to react when new things are started,,,,so consider that and then continue and start giving the otherr....right now just a lil namesake dash is enough for them..after 8months-9months,, you might want to put acc to his likings or a bigger dash.
afraid to start bottle??? try sippy cup, offer with direct spoon or glass,,let her try her best to graduate herself to any of these,,nothing wrong if you are one of those lucky women whose babies can hold their bottle or sippy cup and drink themselves..you will be free :) with 2 hands,,,spoon needs alot of patience from both mother and baby side. too good if it goes out well !

want to continue bm ? express and give by cup/spoon or bottle.,,as it is she is 7months, soon by 1year you will be weaning her,,why not start from now slowly as it is weaning takes a long time,,prolong the time a bit more and finish by 1year or before she gets in habit and starts understanding things,,you make your move.

at 7months, babies can start practising sippy cups,,great to wean directly to sippy cup,,go for the soft spout one with controlled flow valve,,and adjust the flow acc to your baby likings..same with bottles.

right now you cannot introduce her cows milk,its too early..atleast atleast wait until 10months,,,its not recommended by aap by age 1 but most of us, happen to wean baby to cows milk to avoid formula, by 10-11months.

want to continue bm ? eat good healthy protein rich+ high iron diet for a good quality of bm with adequate fat levels & iron levels,it will equal formula.add in an extra glass of milk, a dash of parmasan cheese to your diet.add in yogurt, sour creme, if you are in US,,great low fat but calcium rich options compared to cheese.also protein,iron, calcium rich diet -- wont make you fat,,so njoy it,,,


your dr asked you to switch you to formula because your baby is not getting nutrients from you, esp iron,calcium and protein...

if you want to give your baby all he needs at this point of time, you will either have to eat a very very good and healthy diet, or just listen to your dr.
remember after all that efforts you are making,,, it also dpends alot alot, on your body capacity to produce healthy quality milk from all your diet and nutrients that you are taking !

so a very good luck to you & you have a wonderful time with your lil one.