High calorie baby food

Question

my son needs to gain more weight on doctor's orders. He is 9 months and weighs 16lb. He is exclusively breastfed and eats finger foods and mashed up foods, but he is not a big eater. My doctor suggested to give him formula but my son threw up after drinking little bit. I suspect he will have milk intolerance as my husband has it also. My son also threw up after trying youghurt little while back but he eats cheeses. What other high calorie foods or ways of getting him to gain more weight would you suggest? thanks for any help!

Answer 1

Breast milk is higher in calorie than formula so I don't suggest you switch to formula, especially since it sounds like he is sensitive to it.  Try avocado for weight gain.  Also, make sure he is nursing off of your b*****s long enough to get the fatty hind milk.  You may have to nurse only on one side each session and sometimes maybe offer that same side for the next feeding.  This will ensure he is getting all of that fatty milk.

Answer 2

try a non milk based formula like a soy or something like Alimentum.  It's for milk and soy allergies.  It may work well.  or just try giving him more of what he likes more often.  It's tough with a little one though I know.  He may just be a small child though.  

Answer 3

He is pretty small even for a breastfed baby, but not under the 3rd percentile so I wouldn't overly panic:

http://www.who.int/childgrowth/standards...

The best way to encourage weight gain is to get baby to nurse more, breastmilk has more calories and fat than most other foods.  So offer the breast more often.

Failing that the next best thing is meat.  Firstly meat is well tolerated because the baby has the enzymes to digest animal protein and fat (which is what is in breastmilk).  Choose meat with some fat but not a tonne.  Egg yolks are an awesome source of nutrition for babies, very high in nutrients (zinc, vitamin D, etc) and healthy fats (choline which is needed for brain development).  If you can get eggs with DHA (generally free range and/or fed flax) then it is even better.  The whites are more allergenic, but more than that they are low in calories and nutrients which is not what baby needs.  

Also pick higher protein veggies (green peas, green and yellow beans, err I really need to reinstall word so I can open my files!).  And the more colourful the fruit or veg generally the more nutrient dense it is.  

Avocado is a source of good fat, as is coconut (but some people are allergic), tahini is great if you are worried about calcium (which I wouldn't be in a breastfed baby but sesame seeds are one of the top 9 allergens)

Also limit grains which have been shown to reduce growth rate, and increase the risks of anemia and zinc deficiency (yes even those fortified with iron increase the risks of anemia).

If your baby isn't into meats (real meat not that disgusting canned stuff ewwwwwwwww) then use lentils and beans.  Lentils are very easy to cook they take about 1-5 minutes depending on type.  If you cook them in meat broth then the iron is easier to digest.  Same with beans a little meat protein helps.  You can puree lentils and hide them in baked goods like muffins.  Also of course you can make crispy falafel which is often loved by toddlers.

Answer 4

avocado

cheese

whole milk yogurt

I have a preemie (he is almost 10 months now), he is a little guy but still on the charts....about 18 pounds now.  These are the things he LOVES, on our ped's recommendation.

Answer 5

Really, the highest calorie, most nutritous food he can have is breastmilk.  So rather than pushing solids, I would try breastfeeding more often.

For the solids he does get, you could try avocados, macaroni and cheese,  meat, putting butter (if he tolerates it) or margerine or olive oil on veggies for him.

But really, if he's happy and healthy, eating all he wants,  and there are no medical issues, he's probably just meant to be a small boy -- and forcing more calories into him won't solve anything and WILL make him nurse less. Babies tend to know how many calories they need at will eat accordingly.