Most toddlers slim down from the "baby fat" stage, and start to develop more picky eating habits. Because slimming down and picky eating are common in toddlers, parents should not be too concerned about a toddler's failure to gain weight, according to pediatric health website DrSpock.com. However, parents can take some extra steps to promote weight gain.
Step 1
Visit your pediatrician if you're concerned about your child's weight. He will examine your toddler and ask you questions that will help him assess whether there's a problem with your toddler's growth. If your toddler is reaching the appropriate developmental milestones and she seems healthy, you probably have nothing to worry about. However, BabyCenter.com says that if she is below the third percentile for weight on her growth chart or if she weighs under 20 percent below her ideal weight for height, the doctor may take tests and ask you to monitor your toddler's caloric intake.
Step 2
Keep a journal of your toddler's dietary habits. Note how often he eats and drinks, when he tends to eat more and less and what types of foods he tends to prefer, suggests DrSpock.com. You may be surprised to find that the foods he eats most of happen to be crunchy. You may also notice predictable patterns such as eating less at dinner when he's had multiple cups of juice after lunchtime.
Step 3
Talk to your pediatrician about your journal findings. She may, for example, recommend that you focus on adding crunchy calories--such as crunchy peanut butter--to your toddler's diet and suggest cutting back your toddler's pre-dinner juice intake.
Step 4
Cut back on distractions during mealtimes as they can keep your toddler from focusing on eating. Turn off the television, encourage mild dinner conversation among your other children and keep your toddler from kneeling or standing on his chair as he eats, suggests DrSpock.com.
Step 5
Make a high-calorie shake. While sipping juice all day can prevent your toddler from eating enough to gain weight, a caloric shake can replace a meal. Pediatric health website AskDrSears.com recommends combining whole milk, fruit, juice, egg powder, whole milk yogurt, wheat germ, honey and peanut butter in a blender for a meal in a cup.
Step 6
Let your toddler dip snacks. She will enjoy the messy action of dipping her fruits, veggies and crackers and you will be able to sneak in some calories. Some options for caloric dips are cottage cheese, cream cheese, guacamole, whole milk yogurt with pureed fruits or veggies and peanut butter, says AskDrSears.com.
Step 7
Use caloric spreads such as butter, mayonnaise, fresh avocado, guacamole, cream cheese and peanut butter, suggests Kaiser Permanente. Your toddler might even enjoy the extra flavor on her toast, muffins, pancakes, crackers and sandwiches.
Step 8
Cook warm dishes such as potatoes, casseroles, soups, rice, pasta and vegetables with vegetable oil or butter. Just one teaspoon of oil can add 40 calories to your toddler's diet, says Kaiser Permanente. If you mix in caloric extras such as shredded cheese, diced meat, sliced eggs and shreds of poultry you can add even more bulk to your toddler's food. Cheese offers about 100 calories per ounce and meat, fish, poultry and eggs add about 25 calories per tablespoon, says Kaiser Permanente.
Things You'll Need
- Blank journal
- Caloric spreads, dips and mix-ins
- Butter or vegetable oil
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