Question
How should we manage the rapid weight gain of a 5-month-old baby who weighs 19 pounds and exceeds the standard weight?
Answer
The standard weight for a 5-month-old boy is 15 pounds, with a height of 66 centimeters. For the dietary management of overweight infants, the principle is to control weight gain without making the child feel hungry. It’s important to ensure an adequate intake of protein, vitamins, and inorganic salts while reducing the intake of fats and carbohydrates. It is suggested to slow down the baby’s eating pace, chew thoroughly to enhance satiety. If breastfeeding, use the index and middle fingers to hold the breast to increase the difficulty of suckling. Appropriate activities such as practicing lifting the head, rolling over, and pulling up can be done between feedings.