Expert: ruth kraft - 9/8/2009

Question
Hi, when my baby was born, she was 2.69 kg and 51 cm.  She is now 20 months old with 8.5 kg and appox. 75 to 80 cm.  Her weight gained was according to the development curve at least until 6 months old.  I'm not sure when she started to become underweight when I took her for a booster at her 19 months old and realized that she is so much under weight.  
I have been breast feeding her all these while and she is reluctant to take in any formula milk except breast milk.  She is a picky eater.  I breast feed her at morning (Before i go to work), noon, evening and night time whenever she needs.  Apart from her weight, she is just like a normal child - she can utter single words and sometimes two words, able to walk steadily, she uses potty and could manage and feel bored on the form fitter game already.  The doctor has given a few samples of Complete Formula Milk but my baby refused to take it.  For myself i have been unintentionally gaining weight about 3 kg ever since my baby slow in weight gaining.  Kindly advice what can or should I do ?


Answer
Many people think that a baby is under weight when it isnt. When a baby is around 8-10 months , it starts focusing more on moving, crawling, talking, walking etc... Babies will gain lots of weight until around then so they have extra baby fat to burn while they are going through this stage as they no longer tend to have interest in food. What you need to watch for is developmentally ( which sounds like she is doing fine in ) and if she starts losing weight. If she is just a slow gainer and her percentiles on the chart dropped that is often no big deal. they plateu and just grow at a different rate. Doesnt mean something is wrong. If she starts losing weight, becoming malourished , refuses to eat or drink AT ALL , or  breastfeed for more than a day or so, then she could be sick and you have to take her to the doctor. That happens usually when a baby is sick, and she would still likely only want to nurse as they find comfort in that also.

SO, it sounds like there is nothing for you to do. leave out healthy snacks for her, she will eat when she is ready :) Nurse when she wants and then stop worrying :) your doing fine!