My Baby Isn't Gaining Weight

Updated on August 22, 2009
A.D. asks from Las Vegas, NV
18 answers

My 10 month old son hasn't gained any weight in over a month. Could there be something wrong with him or is he just too active. He eats Cereal with fruit every morning,Meat for Lunch, and cereal with vegetables every night. He also snacks and breast feeds in between meals and I breast feed him first thing in the morning and right before bed at night. I don't know how I could possibly need to feed him more. He eats alot. I am worried that he might be sick, but he has no symptoms. I am really concerned. Does anyone have any advice?

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M.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

I would not worry my daughter who is almost 5 now just started really gaining weight. When you was 10 months she was little. She was 20lbs forever she would grow taller but not heavier. he just has a active metabolism. I would not worry to much at least he is eating healthy.
M.

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K.Y.

answers from Los Angeles on

As babies near their one year mark, their weight gain slows down. It's not nearly as dramatic as when they are in their first six months. They also go through these cycles of fattening and lengthening. So although he isn't gaining weight, he is probably getting taller. If you're concerned, talk to the Pedi...if the doc isn't worried, then you shouldn't worry either.

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R.L.

answers from San Diego on

add an afternoon breast feeding a put a little bit of butter or olive oil in his food (not the fruit). We forget that our kids need the fat. We start to give less and less formula and breastmilk and feed our kids plain veggies and meat without thinking about the fat. Little guys still need a decent amount of fat. The need only starts to go down after about a year. This happened to my 9 month old and this is what my doctor recommended. Worked like a charm. Given they don't gain as much at this point, they should be gaining something.

1 mom found this helpful
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R.J.

answers from San Diego on

My son does the "chub up, and shoot up" thing. Roly poly to ribs and vertebre showing. During the shoot up part of his growth cycle, he doesn't gain weight at all...just inches. <Laughing> No one in doctor-land is concerned at all...but boy have I been read the riot act by other parents...I'm either starving my son, or "allowing him to get fat". Thank god I don't have a girl.

If your son is alert, happy, & healthy...don't sweat it. But ALWAYS feel free to pop into your Dr.'s office for peace of mind.

'Luck!

1 mom found this helpful
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P.F.

answers from Las Vegas on

I wouldn't worry too much either as others have said...he's eating and seems healthy..and happy, what more could a person ask for! My oldest when she was a baby was pretty small...born a normal weight, 7 lb. 14 oz. and 19 in. long (very normal) but she didn't grow seemingly fast enough for the doctors and kinda kept her "own" growth chart (according to the pedi), well eventually they had me take her to Children's Hospital to be checked out...all for not! I kept trying to tell them she was happy, healthy, eating well, she was just SMALL...she started kindergarten at 30 lbs....she was always smaller than the other kids, but still happy, healthy, and eating well...then when my son was born...same way...8 lb. 2 1/2 oz. and 19" long (perfectly normal) and when he was about the same age as your little guy...they wanted to send him to Children's Hospital for more indepth testing! I told them "no" I wasn't going to go through that all over again as I'd already done that with my first daughter and there were no problems...my oldest daughter is now 22, been married 3 years and is still small, my son, @ 19 is 5'9" and 130 lbs. my next two (twins) are small (weight-wise) son is nearly 17 and 5'8" and 125 lbs. and his twin, she is only 5 feet tall....Alll are healthy and happy and eat well...it's just in the genes!!!! Don't worry, be happy and enjoy your little one!

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A.H.

answers from Los Angeles on

My son didn't gain any weight from his Dr.s appt in June to when we had to take him in July (also around the 9/10 month mark), but he hadn't lost any either. He was crawling and much more active than he had been in the past. As long as he's not losing weight, and he still has a healthy appetite, I don't think you have anything to worry about.

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J.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

Was your pediatrician concerned? If not, then I wouldn't worry. Sounds like he may be going through one of those active periods where he uses all the calories he takes in just to keep up with the energy expended.

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H.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

Dear A.,
First, since you seem so concerned I would talk to is doctor. It is always good to have profession reassurance.
Then secondly, remember most children as they start crawling and walking all over do not gain weight as rapidly. If they are a little overweight like my oldest was, they look like they are loosing weight because they are growing taller and are getting thinner with all the activity. If he is healthy, eating, has no other problems, I would not be concerned at this time.
H-

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M.A.

answers from Los Angeles on

I would say scale back on the solids and breastfeed more instead. Breastmilk is MUCH higher calorie than any solids and according to the AAP and WHO, breastmilk should be the primary source of nutrition for the first year. You should always feed solids AFTER breastfeeding. If he's nursing in between solids (as opposed to eating solids in between breastfeeding), he won't take in as much breastmilk. Also, for when you do feed solids, make them high fat. Things like avocado are good.

Here is a link that talks about how to combine solids and breastfeeding in a healthy way:

http://www.mother-2-mother.com/samplemenus.htm

Hope this helps.

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M.C.

answers from Honolulu on

Has he accelerated his activity level? Usually kids stop gaining when they start walking because they just burn it off. Or if he is a really spirited crawler, he might just be burning through those calories! Just feed him until he stops eating, and at the next appointment ask your pediatrician. He sounds like he has a pretty good appetite! Remember that he should still be getting a large part of his calories from either breastmilk or formula at this age, so keep up the nursing and bottles for him, too.

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L.E.

answers from Los Angeles on

Your son sounds like my two sons. As long as your son seems energetic, generally happy and pediatrician doesn't seem worried, it sounds as though all is well.

Lynne

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S.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

As long as he's not underweight to begin with, he's probably perfectly fine. My son hit 19 1/2 lbs at 6 mo. At 18 mo he weighed 21 lbs.
Once he started crawling he went from chub to muscle. He was perfectly healthy the whole time-no one would say he isn't a good weight. Some kids just do that.

As long as he's eating and "running" around active like a 10 mo old should then don't worry about him, numbers don't tell the whole story.

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M.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

Is he sitting up active responsive???? If yes don't worry. All kids are different and all gain at different rates. Has he grwon in height? Kids usually have spurts they gain they grow then they gain. He is perfectly fine. My youngest son is 6 and hasn't gained any weight in 6 months but is growing taller all the time. It sounds like he is getting plenty to eat do fuss over his weight he will gain when needed. All three of my kids have always been on the skinny side but are now fine my daughter 18 is still pettite my son 15 is growing and gaining weight finally he is 5'9'' and like 125 pounds. Take it easy on yourself he is GREAT!!

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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

Don't worry if your Doctor is not worried.
This happens sometimes...
And, your son seems to eat pretty well!
For me at that age... I was STILL nursing on demand 24/7... per my Pediatrician, breastmilk/Formula is the PRIMARY source of nutrition for a baby during the 1st year... NOT solids, and NOT other fluids.
My kids, still nursed about every 4 hours at that age, even though they were eating solids real well at that point. And during growth-spurts, more.

I think your son is fine. Again, if his Doctor is not worried, then you should not have to worry. Your son seems like a good eater. He is also probably more mobile now and more active.

All the best,
Susan

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S.Z.

answers from Reno on

All 4 of my kids were slow to gain weight. My youngest was the smallest - 17 lbs. at age one. Their doctor never worried, because they were happy and energetic. My oldest is now 22 and 5 foot 8. My youngest is now 10, and now tends to be a bit chunky. Don't worry - if your baby is happy and energetic, he's healthy.

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M.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi A.,
My daughter is 27 months, and has been the same weight (29 pounds) for the past 3 months. But, at 10 months, you would think that he would gain a little weight. As long as the ped says he's fine and he is not losing weight, then I would say he's good!
Take care!

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M.D.

answers from Los Angeles on

Talk to his pediatrician, but he's probably fine. At this age, they are not gaining weight as rapidly as they were in the first nine months...they are also SOOO much more active, so they are just burning more calories which means not as much weight gain.

When in doubt, ask the doctor, but I'm sure it's all fine.

-M

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D.W.

answers from San Diego on

my little guy fell off the growth chart (he was always in the 25%) and they had him get checked out by a specialist. After a number of awful (for me at least) tests and $$$$ later he is fine, just little. I think with technology the way it is, growth charts, annoying moms at the park or at mommy & me classes saying "oh my god he's so little..." it is hard not to worry. I regret letting myself get into panic mode. Your little one will get checked again in 2 months (at his one year visit), let the docotr make the decision at that point. Until then enjoy your time with your little and don't listen to anyone and their opinions.

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