#AskTheExpert my daughter is 2 years 1month old she is not drinking milk from last few days.and she is not eating well .plz suggest

Question

#AskTheExpert  my daughter is 2 years 1month old she is not drinking milk from last few days.and she is not eating well .plz suggest

Accepted Answer

Sprouted grains, green leafy vegetables, pulses, ragi, soya and its products, etc. Milk products like curd, buttermilk, butter, ghee, cheese, paneer etc are good sources of calcium. So don't worry and substitute any of these daily.

Kids who have completed 1 year dont have to gain as much weight as they did in their first year. So their appetite is going to reduce. Ideally they must triple birth weight by 1 year. After 1 year kids can eat anything that the family eats adjusted for spices. Do not force feed baby and let baby decide how much he/she wants to eat. Research on BLW for babies and Traditional weaning techniques for babies on FB.

Give caloric and nutrient dense foods such as avocados, ghee, butter, paneer, cheese, dry fruits like almonds, cashews, raisins, dates, sesame seeds, anjeer, apricots. Use banana, potato, proteins like chana and other pulses in baby's recipes.

Don't feed only milk all the time as it can cause anemia in kids and that in turn causes drop in appetite. Ensure that child has a balanced diet with lots of different varieties of vegetables and fruits, multi grains etc. Avoid biscuits, chocolates, cakes, sweets, fried snacks and all processed food as they are low in fiber, high in sugar, not nutritious, and decrease hunger. Avoid preferably and if not possible give occasionally and don't make it a habit.

Foods that help with constipation are fruits and vegetables with fiber like soaked raisins, musambi, prunes, papaya, pears, figs, apricots, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, leafy greens like palak and dill leaves. Soaked garden cress (aliv/aalvi/halim) seeds also can be given in small amounts.

Make sure to feed some of these daily. Give lots of liquids like homemade juices with pulp, soups, coconut water and plain water. Physical activity also helps with getting pressure for potty. Ensure  that child has a balanced diet with lots of different varieties of vegetables and fruits, ghee, curd etc.