Parenting Guide

7 best high-calorie foods for baby weight gain

7 best high-calorie foods for baby weight gain

Fact-checked by MFine | Last Updated : March 17th, 2023

Every parent wants their child to be chubby and healthy! These foods are sure to strengthen your little one, making him or her gain weight and become ...

7 best high-calorie foods for baby weight gain

Weight gain is a vital part of a baby’s development and many concerned parents want to incorporate the right types of food into their baby’s diet to enable a healthy long-lasting life. An average full-term Indian baby weighs 2.8 kg. According to the baby weight gain chart, the optimal weight for a baby ranges from 2.4 to 4 kgs. A few months after birth, a baby must consume foods that contain a high-calorie count, so that rapid weight gain can take place. Babies who are 6 months and older should ideally consume around three meals per day along with two snacks each day. Baby food recipes to gain weight must include all three dietary categories: proteins, fats or lipids and carbohydrates. These components should be given in varying amounts; a meal should contain 15 percent protein, 30 percent fat and 55 percent carbohydrate.

Also read Are Probiotics Safe for Babies? What to Know Before Feeding Them to Your Child.

Healthy weight for babies

Growth percentiles can be used to measure your baby’s weight gain through each month. Baby weight gain can be measured using the growth percentile chart which will give a range of weight readings for each month of the baby’s weight gain and development. The range can tell you if your baby is within the average weight of a baby their age. The type of food your baby will eat can affect the way they gain weight. You must pay careful attention to the food they consume. The following foods are wonderful additions to your baby’s diet as they are packed with all the nutrients your growing baby needs to put on weight. So if you want to know how to make baby gain weight fast, use these baby food recipes to gain weight!

1. Breast Milk

From 1 month to 4 months, a baby is primarily breastfed milk. The calcium component in milk increases the bone density in the baby’s limbs. It is important to breastfeed your baby as it contains nutrients that can help a baby gain weight and meet their average growth requirement. Breast milk regularly changes its composition and consistency to meet the baby’s needs. Babies who are regularly breastfed have shown a consistent growth pattern in the growth percentile chart, and are usually in the 90th percentile range. Also read our blog on How to Help Your Child Grow Taller Naturally?

2. Mashed Banana and Apple

After the 5th month, the baby will transition to semi liquid-based food, so you can start including baby food recipes to gain weight. The best food to give your baby at this age would ideally be mashed or pureed fruit. The fruit of choice would either be bananas or apples. Apple contains a significant amount of fiber which will prevent constipation. Applesauce provides Vitamin C which is required for immune sustenance and will help the baby absorb iron more efficiently. Iron is an element in the red blood cells which transports oxygen to cells. Mashed bananas contain large amounts of potassium, which can help normalise heart functions and muscle contractions. One small banana or apple contains 90 calories, making them one of the best high-calorie foods for baby weight gain. Babies can typically eat these soft fruits for breakfast or as a mid-morning snack. Following a comprehensive baby food chart can help you decide the right quantities of these fruits to feed your baby and at what time.

Download the mfine app and get your first consultation FREE*

3. Mashed Lentils

Lentils like urad dhal or khichdi along with boiled carrot and potato is one of the baby food recipes to gain weight. It is essential that your baby eat the right proportion of vegetables to maintain a fully-functioning digestive system. Lentils have a high protein content. They also include EFA (Essential Fatty Acids) which is a type of fatty acid that will improve brain development. They are known to strengthen teeth and bones as well. You can use our baby food recipes for 6 month olds to discover new ways to cook lentils for your baby. Also read our blog on How Can I Help My Baby Learn to Walk?

4. Egg Yolks

The yolk of a hard-boiled egg is an ideal way for a baby to gain weight. The yellow yolk contains high levels of cholesterol, which increases the calorie-building muscle. A higher number of calories per serving will drastically improve your baby’s weight gain. It will also make the baby stronger and healthier. Egg yolks are rich in Vitamin D, B6, and B12. These vitamins will help the baby gain weight faster in a shorter period. In the first few months after birth, the baby will need to gain 1 ounce per day. The yolk has more beneficial fat building abilities as compared to the albumen. It is also a great source of Omega-3 fatty acids as it includes multiple blood lipids and helps maintain higher cholesterol levels which will show a higher reading on the baby weight gain chart. In a nutshell, egg yolks are one of the top high-calorie foods for baby weight gain that will help boost your child’s health. Our baby food recipes for 8 month olds includes easy ways to prepare eggs and help baby gain weight faster.

5. Fish

Fish is a great food for baby weight gain and can be included in your baby food recipes for 10 month olds. It is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids which increases the neural pathways in the brain and the blood lipid content. The fats from the fish get stored in the cells which increases weight. However, recent studies have shown an increased level of mercury production in fish, so pick varieties that are wild-caught or typically have lower mercury levels. Salmon is known to contain the lowest mercury content. A small serving of fish once in a while is good for the baby’s overall health and help baby gain weight faster.

6. Cheese or Paneer

Cheese or paneer can help baby gain weight faster. 50g of cheese is equal to two whole glasses of milk, making it one of the best high-calorie foods for baby weight gain. Babies above eight months old can digest solid and finger food, so you can start feeding them these foods when they reach this age. You can give cheese or paneer to your baby as a delicious snack at any time of the day or mix it with a leafy green salad. Paneer is rich in Vitamin A, Vitamin D, and Vitamin B12 and is also one of the best calcium-rich foods for babies. In paneer, the protein, casein, is broken down, so babies with lactose intolerance are able to digest it easily.

7. Butter or Ghee

https://www.mfine.co/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/butter.jpg

Butter or ghee (clarified butter) is a central component in a high-fat diet for weight gain in babies. The butter must be unsalted because a high salt content could lead to high blood pressure. Since a baby’s taste buds are still undeveloped at this stage, introducing salt to them until they are older is not advisable. Butter is the most abundant source of fat and has all the essential fatty acids. Babies that lie in the 25th percentile range in the growth percentile chart are required to eat more food with butter to increase their weight. The consumption of butter must be limited to one teaspoon to avoid abnormal baby weight gain. You can utilize different high-calorie foods for baby weight gain in different proportions to create a balanced diet. However, don’t force your child to eat certain foods for the sole purpose of gaining weight. Weight is a variable factor and can differ from baby to baby. There are several environmental aspects that can also affect a baby’s weight. Always check with your paediatrician before introducing new foods into your baby’s diet. If you are still wondering how to make baby gain weight fast, don't hesitate to reach out to a pediatrician. Download the mfine app and book an instant consultation with your city's top pediatricians!