Some children are naturally smaller than their peers. However, children who are under the fifth percentile for body mass index, or BMI, may have an underlying health, emotional or dietary problem, according to the Virginia Cooperative Extension. If you think your child may be at a weight that is unhealthy, talk to your pediatrician. He can help you determine what, if any, lifestyle changes and treatments are needed to help your child gain weight.
Calories
Your pediatrician should be the only one to decide whether you should help your child gain weight. If she recommends weight gain, she will likely recommend a gradual gain of 1 to 2 lbs. a week, or 500 to 1,000 extra calories a day. This small goal is typically the safest and healthiest, says the Center for Young Women's Health at Children's Hospital Boston. Your child may not gain exactly 1 to 2 lbs. each week, but the doctor should be happy as long as your child is making noticeable gains.
Healthy High-Calorie Options
You may be able to offer your child a sufficient dose of extra calories just by feeding her extra heart-healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, which can be found in foods such as nuts, avocados and fish, according to BabyCenter.com. Other calorie-rich foods are whole milk dairy products, eggs, peanut butter, macaroni and cheese, and mashed potatoes, says BabyCenter.com. Children's Hospital Boston recommends adding on caloric "extras" such as instant breakfast powder in milk, butter on toast, nuts on salads and granola in yogurt.
Frequent Meals
Your child may not have enough room in his stomach for the amount of calories his pediatrician recommends. Rather than forcing your child to eat more than he is comfortable eating, feed him six little meals throughout the day, says the Virginia Cooperative Extension. You may not be around to help your child eat when he's at school, but toss some high-calorie snacks, such as trail mix and celery sticks with peanut butter, into his backpack and encourage him to eat them when he has a break.
What to Avoid
Although junk foods and fast food can be full of calories, they are empty calories that don't offer your child the nutrition she needs to grow properly, says the Virginia Cooperative Extension. Be especially prudent about limiting how many junk foods she snacks on before meal time, as they may limit her appetite for more nutritious options. Finally, limit your child's intake of beverages other than water. Since even milk and fruit juice can reduce your child's appetite for meals, your child should drink no more than 1 cup of juice and 2 cups of milk per day, says BabyCenter.com. Giving your child too much juice can also cause her to have diarrhea, which will stifle her weight loss, warns Parenting.com.
Healthy Habits
Create a relaxing mealtime environment for your child to encourage healthy eating habits. Eating with your child whenever possible and asking him to help you shop and prepare meals may pique his interest in eating, recommends BabyCenter.com. Keeping close tabs on your child's eating will also help you be sure that he never gets so caught up in playing that he forgets to eat a meal.
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