6 Tips on How to Manage Your Baby's Weight

A baby’s weight is an essential factor that contributes to their overall growth. During their first few months of life, we must take certain guidelines into account to prevent our baby from being either overweight or underweight, according to their age.

We have to be careful with the weight a baby gains during this stage of their life. Although excess weight gain isn’t something to worry about at first, if it persists it can lead to various health problems.

The other extreme of this condition has to do with children who are below the advisable weight for their age. This is also unhealthy.

So, how can you keep your baby in a healthy weight range? Make use of the following tips on how to manage your baby’s weight.

Tips to manage your baby’s weight

1. Breastfeeding

Some mothers don’t have the possibility to carry out breastfeeding. Others can only breastfeed for a short time. However, whenever it’s possible, breastfeeding is the best way to start feeding.

Breast milk is the only food that satisfies all of a baby’s nutritional requirements. In addition, it’s almost impossible to give a baby more food than they need while breastfeeding.

Even though the baby remains latched on for a long time, they’ll only feed for the first 10 to 15 minutes.

2. Crying doesn’t mean hunger

Babies cry for many reasons. Sometimes it’s because of hunger and other times it’s because they’re tired, scared, overstimulated, uncomfortable or because they just want you to pick them up.

If you just fed them and they begin to cry, try other solutions before offering them food again.

If you respond with food whenever the baby cries, the baby will start to associate feeding as the only thing that can satisfy their needs.

This will create unhealthy emotional associations with food that are difficult to undo in the future.

3. Overfeeding isn’t healthy

It’s natural for you to want your baby to finish everything on their plate or in their bottle. However, if they stop eating you should pay attention to their signals.

You should stop feeding them when they’re satisfied. Respect the healthy limits that their body puts in place.

If the baby doesn’t speak, they’ll give you other signs that show they’re satisfied. A gesture, a sound or certain movement should let you know that they no longer need more food.

This should only be reconsidered when the baby is underweight and when they require a special diet.

In cases like that, you should follow the advice of a professional who will recommend the appropriate techniques and strategies to implement.

“A gesture, a sound or certain movement should let you know that they no longer need more food.”

4. Healthy solid foods

After 6 months you can start to offer them healthy food options.

The foods that are most recommended for managing your baby’s weight are fruits, vegetables, fish and lean meats.

Your baby won’t be afraid to try something that you offer them. Take advantage of this stage before they become selective.

Offer them the possibility to try as many foods as possible. A diverse diet that is rich in nutrients will ensure physical and cognitive development. It’s also a good starting point to create good eating habits.

5. Family meals from a young age

From the moment the baby can sit, it’s time to bring them to the table to eat with the family. Children who eat with their parents and siblings are less likely to become overweight in the future.

In addition, family dinners help to strengthen emotional relationships.

6. Frequent physical activity

One of the best tips to help manage your baby’s weight is the performance of physical activity from an early age.

There are exercises that babies can perform from the moment they’re born that can help them strengthen their muscles. A balanced diet should be complimented by a routine that includes physical movement.

As they grow up, they’ll put into practice the habits they learned during their childhood. How do you want your child’s feeding to be in the future?