Dear Eszter:
A 9-month-old child losing weight is in need of evaluation to rule out
illness, food allergy or insensitivity, parasitic infection,
appetite-decreasing micronutrient deficiencies (zinc), sunlight deficiency
(vitamin D deficiency), and diseases and other conditions (nutritional,
social, psychological, developmental) that can impact appetite and weight.
Perhaps the mother can work with her child's healthcare provider to arrange
an intense week of evaluation on an outpatient basis before considering
hospitalization (immediate appointments with a pediatrician, nutritionist,
allergist, gastrointestinal specialist, metabolic specialist, social
worker, whatever seems worth trying to rule out or in...). Reviewing
appropriate solid foods with the mother might help: avocado, for example,
is highly nutritious and has a high caloric content. Reviewing the number
of wet diapers and number and nature of bowel movements with the mother
might be helpful. Pumping or hand expressing after feedings and providing
the child with the higher-fat hind milk (via spoon, cup, supplementer at
the breast, ...; whatever works best for their situation) would be a
nutritious and healthy way of increasing caloric consumption in a child
with health and weight issues. Reviewing infancy growth patterns in other
family members might yield helpful information. If the child has recently
recovered from an acute illness (or an acutely painful bout of teething),
it may just be a matter of time and added nutrients/calories before
appetite and weight gain return to normal. However, a chronic problem of
some sort may be going on.
Best wishes,
Cynthia
Cynthia Good Mojab, MS clinical psychology, IBCLC, RLC
Ammawell
Email: [log in to unmask]
Web site: http://home.attbi.com/~ammawell
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