About Her Health

What? That is a baby, not an accessory. They can be skinny and healthy, plump and healthy....

Any weight you force on a child for aesthetics is going to be fat and not healthy. Not like they have a baby workout. :(

You need to talk to your pediatrician. If your child is at the right weight for her height/weight, then you don't need her to "look" a little fat.

Also, babies can go from looking a little plump to looking thinner when they go through a growth spurt.

Please do NOT try to have her "look a little fat". If her body weight is healthy, don't worry about the look.

Did you grow up in a family where grandmas and moms always commented about how a chubby baby was a healthy baby; how baby fat was considered oh so good and nice to hug and squeeze; did the grandmas and moms always ask younger moms things like "When are you going to fatten that baby up?" or make comments like, "Your baby's so skinny--you need to give him/her some more food" and so on?

I ask this because in some older generations; or in some regions of the US; or in some regions of the world -- it is considered desirable for a baby to be plump and that plumpness is equated with healthiness. We know that this equation isn't right but it persists. I know that elderly folks of my acquaintance likely would tell young parents to "fatten up" their babies when the babies are perfectly fine.

Please consider hard whether you are coming at this with a grandmother's or mother-in-law's or mom's old-fashioned words ringing in your head. As others have posted -- you need a baby who is healthy the way SHE needs to be healthy, and she may just be smaller than other babies but normal for her. If your doctor has clearly said she needs to gain weight in order to be on track for development, that is different, and you should ask the doctor for advice and eating plans -- not seek "home remedies." But if you just think your baby would appear healthier if she were fatter, or if you have older members of your family pressuring you to fatten her up -- don't do that.

"Improving her health." Has a DOCTOR told you she needs to "look a little fat" or that she needs to gain weight for her health? IF so, I imagine the doctor also guided you on how to do this.

If not...which seems to be the case since you are asking us instead of a doctor...you don't try to put weight on a kid because you "want them to look a little fat."

Sure, chubby babies are cute...but that's generally their body type. One of my babies was a super chunk, one wasn't, but even the chunky one thinned out in her toddler years.

If your doctor suggested this, then please ask him/her for suggestions.

Talk to a doctor if you think that your baby is not at a normal weight. He/she would certainly give you some suggestions. If your baby is over ten months or so, she could probably have pedia sure to try and gain more weight.

Has the doctor expressed concerns about her not gaining weight? If so, that's who you need to turn to for advice on how to add weight. It's tricky with a baby. Sometimes switching from breastfeeding to bottlefeeding can make a huge difference if breastfeeding isn't going so well. Again, the doctor is in the best position to understand your unique situation and make recommendations.

Fat doesn't equal healthy if it's not her body type to be chubby. Some babies are and some aren't. I never was, but my daughter looked like the Michelin Man around 6 mo. old (she has since thinned out). You need to discuss your daughter's food and health and growth with her pediatrician.

First of all ask the doctor before feeding her anything extra. How old is she? If she is a toddler just give her some extra snacks. Why do you want her to be fat anyway?

Not all babies are chubby, but that does not mean they are not healthy. Check with your doctor to see if your baby is a healthy weight. IF so, then continue doing what you are doing. If not then your doctor will be able to offer some suggestions. I had one skinny baby and one chubby baby and both were healthy and followed their growth curve.

Put Mountain Dew in it's bottle! Fat babies love Mountain Dew!

Why do you want to make your kid fat??!?! we have an obesity issue and you want to make her fat...if her doctor says she is healthy leave her alone

Well, you shouldn't worry if your baby is thin or fat. The important thing is that she should be active and happy. If she is eating properly and sleeping well, then do not worry about her being thin. Give her more homemade food like rava kheer, daliya, sweet potatoes mashed, prunes etc (depends on what is your child's age.) Massage her with baby oil twice a day.
If your daughter is loosing weight or is not gaining weight at all, you must consult your pediatrician.

What's wrong with her health? Is she sick? Or do you equate "fat" with "healthy"? What percentile is your child in for height and weight?

Every child has a different type of body - rolls of fat sometimes disappear in older children, and some babies never have them to begin with. If your child is healthy and meeting all the milestones at her checkups, leave her alone.

You also don't say how old she is. What to feed a child varies based on age.

And by the way, the "Mountain Dew" suggestion was meant to be sarcastic, I'm sure. Don't do it! Don't add sugar, and don't add chemicals! And don't add "natural" remedies from the drug store - they aren't always safe.

There is an excellent supplement you can give your child that will increase immunity, and it's been tested and is used world wide. It's not going to make a child fat - it's going to add ingredients that are missing from most kids' diets and help them absorb nutrition more efficiently. If you want more info, let me know. But it's not a substitute for other foods.