How to get cals into 6 month old...

[EdieMcredie]

...My DD is having 3 meals a day aswell as her usual breastfeeds.

Went to get her weighed and she hasn't gained very much in the last month. It's not significant and as she is well over average weight anyway (91st centile) im not concerned.

HV advised to try and get as many calories in as possible. Eg full fat milk etc.

Here is what she has:

Breakfast: porridge with milk and mashed banana/grated apple, toast with philadelphia and a yoghurt.

Lunch: pureed veg, potato and cheese and a yoghurt. Rice cake with philly.

Tea: pureed veg with fish or meat and a yoghurt.

How else do I add cals? The above looks like loads! Don't think she is taking less milk...

I don't understand, Edie.

Why do you want to get more calories into your healthy, thriving baby?

Surely it can't just be because the HV has said so.....

Breastfed babies' weight gain slows after about 6 mths, anyway. Your HV may not know this.

But if you really feel your dd needs the opportunity to have more calories, then offer more breastfeeds. This is a better way of doing it as your dd will be more in control of her intake that way.

agree with tiktok

a baby who is on the 91st centile ,eating well and having breastfeeds, does not need more calories!

more milk is the best way to go than food, but does not seem like she needs any more!

Edie, as long as your DD is happy and healthy, I really wouldn't worry about following the charts. IIRC the growth charts are based on formula fed babies and not breast fed babies.

Doh - it appears that I am wrong again (link).

I still wouldn't worry though. Your DD sounds perfect.

and top tip - stop getting her weighed!
If she's ill or you think something serious is wrong, go to the GP, but I can't think why a healthy 6mo would need to go to the clinic.

Ok thankyou, going to the clinic has always made me feel reassured. Guess I could stop going...

She does appear very happy and healthy!!

Just wanted to check she is getting enough.

Thanks all!!!

Beware getting bogged down in centile charts and weight. As long as she is healthy and thriving which she clearly is, I wouldn't worry. The amount shes eating sounds fine. Your dd will let you know if she's still hungry.She has no health problems so I certainly wouldn't be encouraging her to eat more unless she is indicating that she is still hungry. This comes from the mother of a slightly over weight 11 year old who wishes she had never worried about her dd eating enough and probably overfed her. I wish I had listened to her instead of becoming obsessed with charts because in doing so I have, I believe, taught her to eat when not hungry which is a very hard habit to break. I have an elder child who was a very difficult feeder because of his disability and so never gained weight well. I think that is where my obsession with centile charts came from but it certainly wasn't healthy and having to keep saying no to an overweight child is just as hard as getting an underweight child to eat.

That makes sense, thankyou.