6 Ways To Increase Your Baby’s Appetite

Moyin Kalu

A lot of mums worry when their babies seem not to be eating enough, especially if they are not gaining as much weight as they should. While you should definitely talk to a paediatrician to allay your worries or fears and rule out possible illness, here are a few things you can do to boost your poor eater’s appetite…

1. Spot cues of hunger. Usually, because of their small tummies, babies need to be fed every two hours. However, for poor eaters, instead of feeding them at set times throughout the day, the best way to really get them to eat well is to feed when they are actually hungry by constantly watching out for cues. Typical cues include sticking out his tongue, puckering his lips, crying, opening and closing his mouth or nuzzling against you.

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2. Don’t feed where there are distractions. For fussy or poor eaters, the environment where you breast or bottle feed counts. Avoid feeding them in noisy areas, rooms filled with bright lights or side attractions they might be keen to focus on instead of eating.

Similarly, ensure baby is not too hot or cold as any form of discomfort will likely cause fussiness and prevent eating as much as necessary.

3. Try feeding using a different position. Changing your usual feeding position may also help as sometimes, baby may refuse to eat because your breastfeeding position is not comfortable enough or he is not latched on properly. In this case, holding him in a more comfortable way while nursing and ensuring he is well latched on may be all the trick you need. See signs baby is well latched on here.

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4. Encourage more active play. Get your baby to safely explore his environment (tummy time is a good idea) and engage him in varieties of active, fun play regularly as well. Studies suggest an active baby has a faster metabolism and is likely to eat more.

5. Watch your own diet. If you are breastfeeding, chances are high that your high intake of foods containing strong or overpowering tastes and smells will discourage your baby from feeding at all or for as long as he really wants. Garlic is a common culprit. See if reducing or eliminating such foods from your diet boosts your baby’s appetite over time.

6. Ask baby’s paediatrician about supplements. Getting a prescription from your baby’s doctor may also help.