Gaining and maintaining a proper amount of weight is an important part of your toddler's overall health and well-being. Most toddlers eat less as they reach their first birthday, but if you toddler is underweight, it is important to work with his doctor to get him back on track. Failure to thrive is the official diagnosis for a toddler who struggles to gain and maintain weight, but certain foods can increase your little one's caloric intake. Your toddler may also be a picky eater, which can lead to poor weight gain as well. More calories throughout your toddler's day may be just what he needs to put on pounds.
Nut Butters
Not only are nut butters full of protein, vitamins and minerals, they are also high in calories. Nut butters, such as almond or peanut, are recommended for toddlers diagnosed with failure to thrive because your little one gets a significant number of calories from just a small amount of food. Peanut butter in particular is a well-liked food by many children, increasing the likelihood that he will eat it. If your toddler is not allergic to nuts, spread peanut or almond butter on a slice of toast or stir it into a bowl of oatmeal. Add peanut or almond butter to yogurt as another way to increase your toddler's daily intake of calories.
Full-Fat Dairy Foods
If your toddler is under the age of 2, he needs the fat and cholesterol from full-fat dairy foods to support the proper development of his brain. These foods are higher in calories than skim or reduced-fat versions, so they may also help him put on pounds. Add a glass of whole milk to one or two of your toddler's meals or sprinkle full-fat cheese on a bowl of soup. Yogurt made with whole milk contains a good amount of calories and makes a healthy snack or side dish that most toddlers are willing to eat. Cottage cheese is an additional food that many toddlers enjoy and can add calories to your little one's diet.
Butter and Sour Cream
While your toddler should not eat large amounts of butter or cream, small amounts will help increase his daily caloric intake, the "American Family Physician" journal notes. Stir a bit of butter into pureed vegetables or cooked noodles or add a spoon of sour cream to soup or pasta. These are simple changes that your toddler likely will not even notice. Add butter to bowl of oatmeal or a slice of toast if your toddler seems to like the taste of butter. Serve sour cream as a dip with a quesadilla or baked potato.
High-Calorie Supplement Drinks
Your toddler's doctor may recommend a high-calorie supplement drink that increases his caloric intake, but also supplies many of the nutrients your little one needs for proper growth. These supplement drinks have more calories than whole milk, which is useful for toddlers with dairy sensitivities or aversions to the taste of milk. They are often flavored with vanilla or chocolate as well, making it more likely that your toddler will drink them. Ask your doctor before offering these to your toddler to make sure they will benefit his weight gain goal.
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