Baby Needs More Protein

Protein is great for brain and muscle development but too much can be dangerous for the kidneys. As long as he is eating healthy, leave him alone. These drs have you worry about every single thing. The question should be. "Is my child growing?" If the answer is yes, then don't worry about thing. My girls hardly ate a thing and they are both 5-6 like me.

Ditto Gamma G. below.

And what about his Formula? Or is he breastfeeding?
Solids, is not as nutritionally dense, as breastmilk or Formula.

And, being he is a baby... if you overload a baby with protein... it can overload their kidneys etc.

Babies, rarely eat a lot of "protein" foods. He is under 1 years old.

You need to nurse or give him his Formula.... and on-demand 24/7.

And, how do you know... that he has to have "6 ounces" of meat or protein. per serving? For a 10 month old?

I think that it's great that you make your own foods! My kids never liked the store stuff, either.

Please think really hard before you accept the statement that he's "not gaining enough weight." Both my sister and I have been told that about our children, and we just happened to be moms of kids with lean bodies. My daughter is seven now and still lean. My current pediatrician (who never said she wasn't gaining enough) points out that she grows consistently, has plenty of energy, and does well in school. So, if your child is active, happy, plays and sleeps well, you might want to consider that he's just fine.

Also, if he's breastfed, the old growth charts really won't work for him. The World Health Organzation revised their charts to take into account normal breastfed babies a few years back, and not all doctors have switched. I don't know why I could only find them through a Canadian site this morning, but here's a link: http://www.dietitians.ca/Secondary-Pages/Public/Who-Growt...

Kids eat to appetite--they have no hang ups--and if they stop eating, they're full. I agree that you should feed him breastmilk or formula on demand. If he doesn't eat it, he doesn't need it!

I know how much it can worry you when the doctor says he's not gaining enough. But please check your own thoughts and feelings on it, and maybe get a second opinion!

Isn't he on formula? That should be providing him with enough of each nutrient. I am a bit confused about that. I would be adding more formula instead of foods that are for older babies like stage 3, that is for toddlers that eat and swallow chunky foods. If he is not gaining weight then put him back on more formula. It is total nutrition for children under 1 year of age. Of course we start feeding solids and add other foods as they age but if it's not working in their favor it's time to figure out what needs to be cut and what needs to be added. The baby should still be getting a lot of his nutrition from formula, the food is the supplement.

Greek yogurt. This is what I take for my son as a protein alternative at his daycare as my son refuses to eat any meat they provide for lunch. The nutritionist there told M. greek yogurt has high protein content and is good for babies. My son was little over a year old, I guess even 10 month olds can eat it everyday too.

My son loves hummus which I believe is pretty high in protein.

Also, I believe greek yogurt is also higher in protein than other kinds - in my supermarket there are kids greek yogurt. Or maybe cottage cheese.

I think at that point my son was eating over cooked pasta in some stores you can find quinoa pasta which also has protein in it.

dairy!...babies love it

Hi E.-

I have older kids...some very athletic...and they often use a protien powder (why I do not know...plenty of protein through diet)...ask pediatrician if something like that would be appropriate to mix in? And the amount?

Quinoa is high in protein...and I often throw that in with rice to make a 'pilaf'...

Beans/legumes...

Avocado...

Best luck!
Michele/cat

Garbanzo beans are high in protein. The taste is pretty bland, so you can probably mix it with anything.

Try some eggs or beans. If you are still breastfeeding maybe give a bottle of formula now and then. Also if you are breastfeeding eat some more protein too.

6 oz of protien in each meal sounds awfully excessive! 1oz of cooked chicken is about the size of a domino! A 12 oz steak is a huge restaurant portion! Make sure he didnt say 6oz a day, because I really don't see how he could eat anything more in a day after that!

Also I agree with the other moms! My baby is 13 months, 18 pounds but she is lean, healthy, active and smart! I wouldn't worry for a second that she's not gaining enough even though my first passed the 20lbs mark at 7 months. Those percentile charts are to be used as a guideline, not guides. If your child is otherwise developping fine, don't worry so much. HTH

I went to a pediatrician after my daughter was born and she told me my daughter was gaining too much weight and to stop nursing on demand and put her on a schedule. I walked out and never came back.
Is your son gaining weight at a steady rate? Does he have an appetite? Area you still nursing? Does he had bowel movements every day? If you answer yes to all those questions, you have nothing to worry about.

Quinoa is a complete protein. I would be careful with too much protein, it will mess up his kidneys. He doesn't need so much. If he's eating a balanced diet, he will get the right amount. Animal protein is hardest on the liver, kidneys and gallbladder. Produces too much toxic waste. Stick to simple proteins, tahini mixed in chick peas to make hummus is great. You can even blend it with some kale inside. Tahini (or sesame seeds) for calcium, the kale does the same, all green leafies do, chick peas for protein.

I think Rosanne C. said it best. I have had peditritians tell me my kids weren't gaining enough weight, yet they were healthy and energetic. Sometimes I think that kids are pigeon holed by what charts the doctors are given.