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What Should Be The Ideal Weight Of A Toddler?

Posted on Thu, 16 Oct 2014

Question: Is 8.5 Kgs a decent weight for a 15 month old toddler? She is extremely active and has good appetite. She has a combination of roti, XXXXXXX rice, barley, select fruits like watermelon, chickoo and plenty of veggies in her diet. She also drinks about 200 ml milk per day. She has also been taking calcium and vitamin supplements for a long time. Please advise any methods by which her health can be improved in terms of height and weight.

Answered by Dr. Arun (31 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
iron supplements , oil, ghee, eggs

Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for writing to us.
Can you let me know her birth weight and whether she was a term or preterm baby ? Any hospitalization in the past?
If she was a term baby around 3 kg at birth, the current weight is low normal. But don't worry.
She is active, playful and taking good food at home as you had mentioned.

It is possible that she may have worms infestation because despite taking good food her weight gain is lower than average.
Another possibility is anemia which is present in majority of babies.

Few tips I would like to suggest:
1. Deworm her with albendazole . I usually prescribe 200mg once at night.
2.Iron supplements along with other supplements after checking for anemia with your doctor or by doing a hemoglobin test
3.Add oil, ghee, cheese and other high calorie foods to each food item you give to her.
4. Protein rich foods like eggs, cakes, pulses should help her gain weight and height.

Wishing your daughter good health
Regards
Dr Arun

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Arun (1 hour later)

Her birth weight is 2.4 kg, was anaemic at 4.5 months when we adopted her. But has taken iron supplements until 13 months alongwith spinach etc. She also has been taking an egg a day & a good pprtion of lentils too. Any symptoms of worms? I don't see a problem in her stools.

Answered by Dr. Arun (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
continue iron supplements till 2 years

Detailed Answer:
For her birth weight, the current weight is in normal range.
Continue iron supplements till 2 years.
Symptoms of worms include itching in anal region, stomach ache, constipation. Sometimes it can be asymptomatic with anemia as the only presentation.
No harm in Deworming her.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj

Follow up: Dr. Arun (48 minutes later)

Sure. Kindly advise for how long should we give her albendazole. Also is it a syrup? Can you please tell me the exact name of the medicine that I could ask for at the chemist?

Answered by Dr. Arun (3 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
two doses only

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Albendazole 200mg is available as syrup eg. Bandy
Give 5ml one dose at night and the second dose same 5ml after 10 days .
Total 2 doses only.

regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T