DO baby's weight gain slow down or in cress when you introduce solids to baby's?

Question

I was just wondering do baby's weight gain slow down a little when you introduce solids to them or does it make them gain more weight and faster. I know this sounds like a stupid question but it is  just to prove something to my mother in law, who thinks that my daughter is to big and thinks by giving her rice cereal at 5 months is going to get her even bigger faster, I have talked to my doctor and she recommend me to give her cereal now, and says she is not to big just a lot longer then most baby's her age, so anyways in general does giving solids slow down weight gain or in-cress it faster?

momtojullex · Accepted Answer

Breastmilk and formula have the highest concentration of calories...so they'll gain more weight on just formula or breastmilk.

Around the age when babies are introduced to solids (6 months), their weight gain starts to slow.  It's not because of the solids, it's just their growth pattern.


Anyway- don't worry about your daughter's weight and what your MIL thinks of it.  Giving her cereal won't make her gain more weight anyway.

? · Answer

Generally it slows it down - formula or breast milk are both much more rich and fatty than, say, a carrot. Also, solids take longer to digest, and therefore baby is full for longer. That is a good thing, but it means they get less calories in any given time. At 6 months a baby's growth rate usually decreases (for instance, on average babies put on 1-2 lbs per month for the first 6 months and 1/2-1 lb from 6-12 months), so it all balances out nicely. But its a good reason not to go overboard with solids - if a baby gets too full on them and doesn't get enough formula/breast milk, they can actually not gain enough weight (as well as not get all the nutrients they need)

Anonymous · Answer

This is very interesting. I was also told weight gain slows down. My girlfriend said solids digests faster- I thought that was odd but maybe true

Anonymous · Answer

the babies get more mobile which in a sense burns more calories quicker so even if they eat solids that dosnt mean they will gain weight quicker.  mine gained more while she was on just breastmilk and sitting like a blob before she could get around.

lashayy · Answer

yes tryin new foods will slow theyr weight gain down

DO baby's weight gain slow down or in cress when you introduce solids to baby's?

5 Answers