feedings & weight gain

• By JillyBeans
• Posted April 14, 2008 at 8:00 am

I have the same problem with weight gain for my son. He is 10 months from date of birth but 2 months premature, so actually 8 months. He has silent reflux and his dietitian recommended that we feed him his forumla as this provides all his nutritional requirements at the moment. Introducing solid foods is really for taste and texture to get him use to it. What the dietitian did was concentrate the formula (add extra scoops) to increase the calories. For my son, the aim is to gain weight (by the formula) and to expose him to different tastes and textures (pureed foods). I wouldn't stress too much. Maybe a dietitian can help you?

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• By DT0118
• Posted April 14, 2008 at 11:41 am

I, too, am worried about my sons weight gain. He is now 15 months old, 13 and a half months adjusted, and weighs 21 lbs. He is quite long and slim. He is very picky with what he eats. He loves fruit: bananas, peaches, grapes, and applesauce. The only vegetable he eats is a sweet potato. The doctor wanted him to be off the bottle and formula at 1 year. He is on soy formula, so he doesn't like the milk. I started making his bottle 1/4 milk and 3/4 formula. Now it is 1/2 and 1/2. I am really trying to get him to use the sippy cup. He will a little with juice, but no milk. I like that he is still getting the nutrients with the the formula. We go to the doctor next week. We'll see what she says.

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• By christy11107
• Posted April 14, 2008 at 8:40 pm

My son Dylan is 15 months old now (born 31 weeks 3lbs 4oz) and he is only 18.8lbs. So far the Dr doesn't seem worried. I wish he would break to 20lb mark. He eats everything, and he loves milk.

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• By treesa
• Posted April 14, 2008 at 8:53 pm

my son is 221/2 months old and weighs 21 lbs. he wont eat anything anymore.

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• By jodi2
• Posted April 15, 2008 at 8:38 am

I understand your frustration with the weight gain. By no means am I a doctor, but it sounds like your son is doing great. I delivered my son at 26 weeks, he weighed 1 lb 1 oz. He is now 32 months old and weighs 22lbs and 33 1/2 inches tall.

We switched to whole milk when he turned one. He loved it and drank much better after the switch. I was concerned that he would lose weight, but he did not. We slowly introduced people food because like your little one, he wanted what we had. I'm not sure if your son has any reflux issues or oral aversions, maybe that is why he threw up. It's also new to his tummy, so it's going to take time to adjust to people food. I know there are times my son will eat to fast and too much, will start to gag and then throw up. We need to remind him to slow down.

We went to a dietician, but she did not tell us anything our other doctors had told us. You may want to try adding a tsp of butter or olive oil to his bottle a couple times a day. We also gave our son Pediasure shakes. It is kind of expensive, but it has a lot of calories. If your child is allergic to milk, there is lactose free pediasure as well. There is also Ensure for Weight Gain, which we started giving our son when he was two. It was too rich for him, and it bothered his stomach so we stopped giving it to him.

Our pediatrician has not been overly concerned about our sons weight. Being so small at birth, he had a lot of "catch up" to do. He is also very active and does not sit still.

I know being a parent of a preemie, we are always concerned about their health and well being- any parent is like that. I would try not to worry about his weight until your doctor shows some concern. But I also know that is easier said than done!

Jodi

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• By babalou
• Posted April 15, 2008 at 3:54 pm

I was planning to switch our boys (29 weekers) at 1 year adjusted age. I figured this made more sense because that is their true age. Is this correct? What have other preemie moms pediatricians said?

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• By Brezy1479
• Posted April 15, 2008 at 6:55 pm

Hi my daughter Rylee was a 25 weeker who is now 14 months old. We have had weight issues for as long as I can remember. She just hit 17lbs today. Her pedi was going to switch her to milk but decided to give her Enfamil Next Step which has about the same calories but more nutrients in it. I am making it 24 calories by making the formula 22 cal and then adding .25 Safflower Oil (she was on this in NICU). She just started crawling all over the place and stopped gaining weight so we have decided to add Carnation Instant Breakfast-Vanilla and Strawberry to her bottles (A lot of CF kids use this). We do 3 tsp per 4 oz which gives her about 33 calories extra. She gained 1 1/2 pounds in the past month by doing this. One of her little boyfriends from NICU just started this also. I actually talked to the dietician from NICU today and she suggested that we could also use a thing called BeneCalorie that Walgreens has. The packets are about 300 calories and you can add them to everything. Also she suggested that if I give her any adult food such as mashed potatos and things like that to use some butter and heavy whipping cream instead of milk. You could also use cream cheese for mac and cheese. I hope that some of these ideas help you. I have been in your shoes with my little princess not wanting to gain weight so I know how you feel. If you need any more information please feel free to email me at Brezy1479@aol.com
Breanne

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• By laurakennedy77
• Posted April 15, 2008 at 8:09 pm

My daughter who was 14 weeks early (she's now 28 months actual) was on 24 calorie formula until about 23 months actual and is still only 21.0 lbs. She has always had trouble with weight gain and has thrown up during mealtimes randomly since starting solids at about 7 months corrected age. We are still "power packing" her diet by adding olive oil, heavy cream, cream cheese, butter, etc. to EVERYTHING but her weight gain is still very, very slow. I hope you can find something that works for your son but try to keep in mind that the stress you feel about feeding and weight gain can really affect their emotional attitude towards eating and food. I know it's hard and I have trouble following my own advice but try to keep a relaxed attitude about eating and hopefully things will turn around. Good Luck
Laura

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• By internetjunkietiff
• Posted April 16, 2008 at 6:11 am

So, my little one was born at 29 weeks weighing 2 lbs 15 ozs. At 1 year actual, she was 19 pounds 14 ounces. Just the other day at 1 year adjusted, 14.5 months actual, she was only 20 pounds 3 ounces! At the nutrionilist, she came in at 19 lbs 14 oz still. So, it may be because she got sick for the first time really in Feb, (bronchiliutus and ear infection) and she just got over a double ear infection. But, basically they are concerned because she was gaining weight so well, and now it has just stopped. I just switched her from formula to milk on her 1 year adjusted (actually did it about 2 weeks before) So, I think her weight gain has nothing to do with the switch personally, otherwise I would have thought she would have been getting bigger during those 2 months as well. I have been instructed to feed her more (which she eats ALL the time already) but I have to give her fatty foods. I'm supposed to use oils, butters, anything I can to increase her calories with safe foods for her age. So, I'm letting her eat all these yummy fatty foods, and she's loving it. We'll see if it works. I only have to get her to 22 pounds by the middle of July when I take her in for her 18 month well child check up (actual age).

Her pediatrician also noted the weight "plateau" but wasnt' worried about it.... so. Sometimes the nutrionilist see a problem before it becomes to big.

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