Low weight baby feeding

Feeding a low birth weight baby, which is when a child is born weighing less than 2.5 kg, is essential to maintain health and reduce the risk of malnutrition, and generally includes breast milk or infant formula until the age of 6 months.

In underweight babies from 6 months onwards, you should start introducing foods such as fruits and vegetables, proteins and cereals, which will complement breast milk or infant formula. See what your baby’s diet is like from 6 months onwards.

It is important to remember that in order to properly feed a low weight baby, the child must always be monitored by a pediatrician or a nutritionist. This is because in addition to food, it may also be necessary to use vitamins and minerals.

Feeding a low birth weight baby

Feeding babies with low birth weight up to 6 months should preferably be done with exclusive breastfeeding and on demand, which is when the baby wants to breastfeed. In addition, the pediatrician may also recommend the use of vitamin and mineral supplements for the baby.

In cases where the mother cannot breastfeed, donated breast milk can be used, which is a safe alternative when carried out in milk banks. In addition, the pediatrician may also recommend the use of infant formula.

Feeding an underweight baby after 6 months

When feeding low birth weight babies from 6 months onwards, you should start introducing foods that will complement breast milk or infant formula. In addition, your pediatrician may also recommend the use of vitamin and mineral supplements.

From 6 months onwards, main porridge should be offered for lunch or dinner, made with cereals or tubers, fresh vegetables, animal protein and cereals. For morning and afternoon snacks, fresh fruit porridge should be offered, which will complement breast milk or infant formula. See what a baby’s diet should be like at 6 months.

Food should be mashed with a fork, shredded or scraped to help the baby develop chewing and recognize the different flavors and textures of food.

Recipes for babies from 6 months

Some recipes to help babies from 6 months to gain weight are banana and apple baby food, potato and meat baby food and pear and strawberry baby food:

1. Banana baby food with apple

Ingredients:

• 1/3 of a fried banana;
• ¼ small apple.

Preparation mode:

Using a spoon, scrape 1/4 of the apple and transfer it to a small plate. Place ⅓ of a banana on the plate and mash it with a fork, leaving it separate from the apple. Serve the baby food separately.

2. Potato porridge with pumpkin and meat

Ingredients:

• 1 medium slice of pumpkin;
• 1 small potato;
• 1 tablespoon of cooked ground beef;
• 2 cups of filtered or boiled water.

Preparation mode:

Wash well, peel and cut the potato and pumpkin into cubes. Place the chopped potato and pumpkin in a pan, cover with water and cook over medium heat for 10 minutes or until very soft. Turn off the heat and drain the vegetables.

On a plate, place 1 tablespoon of pumpkin and 1 tablespoon of potato, so that they are separated, mashing them with a fork. Add 1 tablespoon of ground beef and mash with a fork. Wait for it to cool and serve the food separately to the baby.

3. Pear and strawberry baby food

Ingredients:

Preparation mode:

Wash the pear and strawberry well. Scrape ¼ of the pear with a spoon and place on a plate. Chop the strawberry into cubes, place it on the plate, so that it is separated from the pear, mashing it with a fork. Serve the baby food separately to the baby.