During infancy and early childhood, it is normal for babies to experience a significant increase in weight every month. However, some babies may experience slow weight gain, or even a decrease instead of an increase, which worries many parents. So, what should we do if a baby loses weight during their postpartum period?
There may be several factors contributing to the decrease in baby weight during confinement.
One is that the baby is suffering from illness. Generally, shortly after birth, infants lack sufficient nutrients and are susceptible to foreign bacterial infections. Moreover, during this period, infants are prone to diarrhea, which affects their weight gain. So, parents must keep their babies warm in a timely manner, increase their outdoor exercise and nutrient intake.
Secondly, improper feeding by parents. Improper feeding is actually the main reason why most infants do not gain weight. Especially after half a year old, not only is the addition of complementary foods not timely or insufficient, but the intake of breast milk or formula is also insufficient, resulting in insufficient nutrient intake in the body and slow weight gain for infants. Moreover, improper methods of adding complementary foods can also affect the weight of infants. If parents add complementary foods too early or in excessive amounts, it can cause gastrointestinal discomfort in infants, leading to indigestion and slow growth.
The third is the psychological factors of infants. Some babies sleep well, eat well, and look normal, but their weight just doesn't increase. So it is very likely that the baby lacks maternal affection, paternal care, or appropriate stimulation such as kissing, teasing, communication, etc. These are essential processes in the normal development of a baby. Moreover, environmental factors can also affect the psychological development of infants. So parents should care for their babies appropriately, encourage them more, and not overly focus on them, which can make them feel nervous and hinder their weight gain.
