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10 Best Nutritious Foods to Help Your Baby Gain Healthy Weight 10 Best Nutritious Foods to Help Your Baby Gain Healthy Weight

10 Best Nutritious Foods to Help Your Baby Gain Healthy Weight


Surya Hospital

Surya Hospital

Surya Hospital 9 Min Read | 25

As parents, it's natural to be concerned about your baby’s weight, especially during the early months of growth. Babies grow at different rates, but if your pediatrician suggests a little weight boost, don't worry—there are many healthy, natural foods that can support weight gain.

This blog is going to inform you how to get your baby to gain weight quickly—naturally and safely. Regardless of whether your baby is 6 months or 10 months, these foods are packed with calories, proteins, and vital nutrients to ensure healthy weight gain.

Is Your Baby Underweight?

Before any weight gain food chart is begun, it's best to see a pediatrician. A baby may be thin but very healthy. Growth charts, activity level, and development milestones are the most reliable markers.

If your baby's weight remains below average over time, or if your physician recommends making changes in diet, adding high-calorie foods with lots of nutrients can do the trick.

Read Also: Baby Weight Chart: Increasing Baby Weight During Pregnancy

General Guidelines Before You Begin

  • Always add new foods slowly—especially for babies younger than 1 year.
  • Watch for allergies with each new food.
  • Breast milk or formula can continue to be a main source of nutrition up to 12 months.

You should consult your pediatrician prior to making significant changes in diet.

Read Also: Baby Weight Chart: Increasing Baby Weight During Pregnancy

Top 10 Baby Weight Gain Foods (6 to 12 Months)

These foods are high in nutrition, baby-friendly (when fed correctly), and can be integrated into your baby's normal meal plan.

1. Breast Milk or Formula

Still the superior source of nutrition!
Breast milk and formula are the main sources of nutrition and energy up to one year of age. Even if solids have been introduced, continue normal feeds.

Calories: 70–75 kcal/100 ml
Tip: Frequent feeds (8–10 times a day) ensure constant weight gain.

2. Banana – Nature's Energy Booster

Bananas are full of natural sugars, calories, and fiber, making them one of the most suitable foods for babies to gain weight.

  • Best age to introduce: From 6 months
  • Serving suggestion: Mashed banana or with milk/cereal
  • Calories: ~90 kcal per 100g

3. Ghee (Clarified Butter)

Desi ghee is rich in healthy fats that are ideal for babies who require a bit of weight gain.

  • Best age to introduce: After 7–8 months (in small quantities)
  • Serving suggestion: Mix a few drops into khichdi, mashed vegetables, or porridge

Tip: Begin with 1/2 tsp a day and go up progressively

4. Avocado – Superfood Healthy Fat

Avocados are full of healthy monounsaturated fats, which are great for brain growth and weight gain.

  • Best age to introduce: 6–8 months
  • Serving tip: Mashed plain or with a small amount of fruit purée
  • Calories: ~160 kcal per 100g

5. Ragi (Finger Millet)

Ragi is high in calcium, iron, and fiber, and it's one of the best traditional Indian weight gain foods for infants.

  • Best age to introduce: 6–7 months
  • Serving suggestion: Porridge made with ragi and milk or fruit purée

Tip: Soak and sprout ragi for better digestibility

6. Sweet Potato – Yummy & Satiating

Sweet potatoes are sweet by nature, soft, and high in complex carbs and fiber—excellent for underweight babies.

  • Best age to introduce: 6 months
  • Serving suggestion: Boiled, mashed, or mixed with ghee
  • Calories: ~85 kcal per 100g

7. Full-Fat Curd (Yogurt)

Curd improves digestion and provides probiotics to your baby's diet—along with healthy calories.

  • Best age to introduce: 7–8 months
  • Serving suggestion: Plain, or with fruit mash (avoid sugar)

Tip: Use homemade curd for best results

8. Paneer (Homemade Cottage Cheese)

Paneer is high in protein, calcium, and fat, ideal for weight-gaining babies.

  • Best age to introduce: 8–9 months
  • Serving suggestion: Soft mashed paneer or small cubes
  • Calories: ~265 kcal per 100g

9. Eggs (Especially Yolks)

Eggs are high in protein and contribute both to weight gain and brain development.

  • Best age to introduce: 8 months (begin with yolk only)
  • Serving suggestion: Mashed and boiled egg yolk, followed by full egg

Tip: Observe for egg allergy symptoms

10. Dal Khichdi with Ghee

Dal khichdi is a traditional Indian dish that is a perfect combination of proteins and carbs.

  • Best age to introduce: From 6 months
  • Serving suggestion: Moong dal khichdi with vegetables and ghee
  • Add: A spoon of ghee and mashed potato for added calories

Read Also: A Guide to Healthy Eating During Pregnancy

Sample Baby Weight Gain Food Chart (6–12 Months)

Age Group Sample Foods
6–8 months Breast milk, banana mash, ragi porridge, sweet potato, curd
8–10 months Khichdi with ghee, paneer, avocado, full-fat yogurt, mashed egg yolk
10–12 months Soft chapati with ghee, scrambled egg, mashed fruits, dals, mashed rice with ghee

Read Also: 9 Questions to Ask Before Starting Complementary Feeding

10 kg Baby Weight Gain Diet Chart (for 1-year-old)

Time Food Item
Early Morning Breast milk or formula
Breakfast Banana or ragi porridge with ghee
Mid-Morning Snack Full-fat curd with fruit puree
Lunch Rice + dal + ghee + mashed vegetables
Evening Snack Boiled egg or paneer cubes
Dinner Khichdi or suji halwa with ghee
Before Bed Breast milk or formula

Read Also: Fun Ways for Weight Management

Tips to Make Your Baby Gain Weight Faster (Safely)

  • Provide frequent meals (every 2–3 hours)
  • Increase food energy density—add healthy fats like ghee and coconut oil
  • Don't force feed; babies feed when hungry
  • Emphasize nutrient density, not calories

Be patient—weight gain is a gradual process

Read Also: Child Growth And Development: Average Weight And Height Chart For Babies, Toddlers, And Kids

What to Avoid When Trying to Increase Baby's Weight

  • Junk food or sweet snacks
  • Too much salt, sugar, or processed foods
  • Honey (not advisable before 1 year)
  • Cow's milk prior to 1 year (may irritate baby's tummy)

Read Also: Winning the Battle Against Childhood Obesity with Effective Weight Management Strategies

Signs Your Baby is Gaining Weight Healthily

  • Consistent weight gain on the growth chart
  • Active and playful behavior
  • Good appetite and smooth bowel movements
  • Outgrowing clothes and diapers at regular intervals

Read Also: Habits that are not good for an expecting mother

When to See a Doctor?

Consult your pediatrician if:

  • Baby is not gaining weight even after proper feeding
  • Recurrent vomiting or digestion problems
  • Signs of food allergy or intolerance
  • Baby is weak, lethargic, or delayed in milestones

Conclusion

Healthy baby weight gain is not a matter of feeding your child as much food as possible—it's a matter of nutritious, balanced meals that fuel their growth, immunity, and development. Always remember that each baby is special and develops at their own rate.

With the correct combination of breast milk, solids, and affection, your baby will prosper—physically and emotionally. Roll out these top 10 baby weight gain foods gradually and monitor progress with frequent pediatric checkups.

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