How Much Fat for a 1 Yr Old?

Updated on October 17, 2007
J.D. asks from Keller, TX
9 answers

Hey Ladies... quick question... My daughter just turned ONE and I took her in for her check up and the doc said she is not grwoing enough ,especially her head. she weighs 18.7 ounces.. but she is very very observant, alert, and smart... so i woudlnt think anything is wrong..She eats very healthy mostly all organic and lots of fruits and veggies... my husbands side of the family is just small so thats what I am thinking.. but.. we dont do ANY dairy at all.. She is on goats milk and rice but no cow milk and no yougurt, cheeses... So I know that is usually a big part of a babys diet right now for fat.. dairy.. so... do yall know how much fat they are suposed to be getting at this age and what can i use to suppliemnt if we are not doing dairy for the fat. Thanks ladies!

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L.T.

answers from Dallas on

I don't see her weight as being an issue. All babies are different. My older son can outeat me and he is in the 10% weight and 75% height--it's how he is made.
Is your daughter still nursing? breastmilk has tons of fat. Also, if you need more fat, look into avocados--loaded with healthy fat. You can also add ground flaxseed to her food (more healthy fat). Olives have lots of fat too!
If you are doing goat products, try goat butter (whole foods sells a really yummy one).
Are you doing meat? If so, try bacon--the KING of fat (and odds are she'll just love it).
Head growth is not related to food--if your ped. is concerened about head growth, you may want to talk to a specialist to make sure all is well but if her head circ is growing, odds are she is just fine!
L.

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H.B.

answers from Dallas on

My son was on goats milk and gained alot of weight when he was on it. And we switched to whole milk when he was 1 without any problems.

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M.G.

answers from Dallas on

It sounds as if you have worked very hard to set up a healthy diet for your family! That is awesome! I also refuse to give cows milk to drink. Cows milk is made for baby cows not baby humans. I add olive oil to our food and also encourage my son (almost 2) to eat all the avocados and nuts he wants. Pasta with feta cheese was one of his fav lunches when he was 1. I always added broccoli or peas to it too. If you and the Pediatrician are not seeing eye to eye it might be because he is one of the milk pushers. Also, did you breastfeed or formula feed? Breastfed babies usually have much less fat since the proteins are smaller and easier to digest.

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M.A.

answers from Dallas on

You didn't say in your post if you do soy. We don't do cow's milk, we drink soy and almond milk and eat soy yogurt. You can go to the health food store like Sprouts and purchase some fax seed oil and add it to yogurt, smoothies, and oatmeal. My girl is knd of "skinny" too but so is her father (who can eat anything he wants and not gain an ounce). But that is how we sneak in some healthy fats.
Oh, and also I use olive oil to cook her scrambled tofu in, in the morning or I will also sprinkle some olive oil on her food like over some pasta and veggies. Or I will stir in a small amount into some veggie soup.

THose are both very healthy fats to help with development without clogging up their little arteries.

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J.S.

answers from Dallas on

Ask your husband's instructors at Parker if they have any recommendations for a nutritionist you can meet with regarding your daughter's size and diet...Since your dr is concerned about her growth, you may also be eligible for services from ECI, who work with children from birth to age 3. (Services stop on the child's 3rd birthday.)

The dietician will have a list of very specific questions about your daughter's growth and eating habits. They may want to try adding *some* dairy into her diet just to give her the additional fat she needs for brain development (very critical for her age), like "hard" cheeses or cottage cheese.

My oldest son had major trouble with milk, ice cream, and pudding, but he could eat yogurt (fridged, not frozen), cheese (of any type ~ sliced, cheddar, etc.), and cottage cheese. He could also eat mac 'n cheese if I bought the kind with the cheese in the foil packets, but not if I had to mix the cheese powder with fresh milk. I'm also seeing similar traits in his little brother. We let him eat cheese, but have taken him off drinking his milk.

Vienna Sausages are also "high fat", and bacon or "breakfast" sausage (patties or link). Kielbasa is good, too.

Hope this helps!

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S.M.

answers from Dallas on

I second (or third) the olive oil and avocados. They're good fats.

You can also buy a supplement called "Berry Keen" from Sprouts, Whole Foods or online which is cod liver oil and contains Omega 3 fatty acids and also has DHA (for brain development). The good fats are what she needs. The bad fats will help her gain weight, yes, but will not help her w/ brain development.

More "good fats" are Olives, olive oil, canola oil, peanut oil, cashews, almonds, peanuts, and most other nuts, avocados,
Corn, soybean, safflower, and cottonseed oils; and fish.

You can cook w/ oils that have good fats, or even add a little olive oil to a drink in her sippy or bottle.

It sounds like she's on a good diet, but I would definately look into adding more good fats to her diet for brain development (and concentration as she gets older).

Good luck to you and congrats on your pregnancy.

--S.

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C.T.

answers from Oklahoma City on

My daughter weighed the same at 1 year. I give her avocado and i put omega 3 oil in her bottle along with FRESH juices.
Extra virgin coconut oil is great to give them also.

You know most doctors aren't required to take more than 3 hours of nutrition so i don't think their input has much validity if you ask me!

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C.S.

answers from Dallas on

My two cents: I believe babys need fat in their diet. I have seen more than one infant pick up butter and eat it and love it all by itself. I just read an article defending tots who are given flavored milk as getting their calcium requirements more regularly than kids who are given plain milk. That is not to say that a high fat diet is good for adults and I am not especially qualified to give anyone dietary advise, but I am a strong believer in instinct and trusting your own instincts. It's your choice.
C. S.

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M.G.

answers from Dallas on

There are healthy fats found in other foods, such as avacados. I have been looking at the same thing....just doing some research online. Hope this helps. Also, you know your baby is healthy....you need to be her best advocate!

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