Expert: Mary Pat, R.N. - 2/5/2005

Question
Thank you very much!  To follow up, I just want to ask how many calories a nine-month-old should be taking in a day?  Don't worry--we are not ones to put a child on a "diet."
Elaine Williams

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Followup To
Question -
My baby came on time and weighed in at 7 lbs. 15 oz. Unlike most babies, she didn't lose weight and then gain it back in her first few weeks. She just gained. At her last few checkups (she is now nine months), she was at the 25th percentile in weight, then 20th, and at eight months was at the 10th percentile in weight. Her length is average.
She is very active (crawls a little but mostly cruises upright; could pull herself to standing pretty early) and doesn't act sickly. She is breastfed, plus has solids in the form of jarred baby fruits and vegetables and rice or oatmeal cereal. We feed her until she pushes the spoon away or turns her head away. She still wears mostly 3-6 months clothing. Is the dropping percentile something to worry about, and if so, how do we get her to gain more weight?  She seems happy.  At her last checkup (eight months), she weighed 15 lbs, 7 oz, so had not even doubled her birth weight yet.  Thanks for your time.
Answer -
Dear Elaine:

Most babies drop percentile normally at this age.  She sounds as though she eats well and if her doctor is not concerned then I would not worry.  I wonder if you or your husband are petite.  She may just turn out to be the same.

If you want to increase any calories you could try a little formula by bottle once a day.  By now she should be eating yogurt daily, mashed potato or pasta daily as well as meats, veggies, fruits and cereal.  Also begin to offer finger foods such as cheerios one by one and soft mashed pieces of veggie and potato or pasta such as Pastina.  

Answer
Dear Elaine:

I cannot give you total calories per day for a baby this age but will tell you what she should be eating a day.

1/2 to 2/3 cup of cereal a day
5 to 6 tablespoons of fruit, meat and vegetables a day
mashed potato and or pasta once a day about 1/2 cup
2 to 4 ounces of yogurt a day
3 ounces of juice a day (by cup only)
some finger foods such as cheerios cereal, small soft cooked veggies and teething biscuits
and at least 600 calories of formula a day (20 calories per ounce).

Sincerely,

Mary Pat