Your little one can gain weight quickly, slow down, or even stop temporarily when he is sick. However, you still have to keep an eye on your little one's scales to be aware of the possibility of failure to thrive due to lack of nutrition.

The weight of a 7-month-old baby is influenced by gender, baby's body length, heredity, nutritional intake consumed, and the health history of the mother and fetus during pregnancy.

Normally, a 7-month-old baby girl weighs an average of 6–9.5 kg, and is approximately 63–71 cm long. Meanwhile, a 7-month-old baby boy weighs 7–10 kg, with a length of approximately 65–73 cm.

At the age of 7 months, the average baby will gain 450-550 grams of weight. However, this figure is not a benchmark. As a reference, you can use the Towards Healthy Card (KMS) to check whether your little one's weight is normal.

There are several possibilities that cause a 7-month-old baby's weight to be below normal:

Problems with breastfeeding, for example, the baby is tired and often fall asleep while feeding or the nipple sucking reflex is weak, preventing the baby from getting enough milk.

Nutrient intake that is not optimal can be caused by various things, either from the child's poor diet or not getting enough food intake.

There are also parents who are confused about choosing a menu during the transition from breast milk to solid food or stop feeding even though the child is still hungry. This puts children at risk of malnutrition because they do not get the nutrients they need.

Viruses, bacteria, and parasites that can cause infection in babies can reduce their appetite and cause problems with absorption of nutrients. This condition is often the cause of not gaining baby weight.

Babies who are born prematurely or have growth and development problems tend to experience developmental delays, so it is not uncommon to have difficulty eating. The texture or taste of food that children do not like can also make children eat less.

Food intolerances prevent children from absorbing certain nutrients, such as intolerance to cow's milk protein or gluten. This condition makes the body unable to absorb nutrients properly so it is difficult to gain weight, even though the child eats a lot.

Several health problems can make it difficult for a 7-month-old child to gain weight, for example, disorders involving digestion, such as liver disease, chronic diarrhea, and acid reflux disease.

In addition, disorders related to the breastfeeding process, such as cleft lip and tongue tie, can also make it difficult for the baby to gain weight.

At the age of 7 months, babies can eat solid food. However, Mothers are encouraged to continue to give and make breast milk as the baby's main nutrition. Breastfeed at least every 3 or 4 hours.

In addition to breast milk, the following is the frequency and portion of food for a 7-month-old baby to achieve the ideal weight

If the baby consumes formula milk, give at least 180-240 ml of formula milk 4-6 times a day to meet his nutritional needs.

Babies who are breastfed or pumped need 750 ml of breast milk per day. If a baby can breastfeed up to 6 times a day, then 125 ml of breast milk is needed each time he feeds.

Solid food can be given as much as 3 times a day. The portion depends on the baby's ability to eat and can be mixed with breast milk or formula. Feeding babies can range from 1–2 tablespoons to 8 tablespoons.

In infants aged 7 months, textured foods can be given to practice chewing skills. However, Mother is not recommended to give finger food to avoid the risk of choking.

Finger food can be started when the baby is 8 months old. Make sure the finger food given is soft, tender, and has been cut into small pieces.

A 7-month-old baby's weight, especially if it's caused by lack of nutrition, can hinder the growth and development of the little one. However, as long as he's in the average weight range, you don't have to worry. Moreover, if the motor and social development is not problematic.

Check with the doctor if the 7-month-old baby's weight has not increased for 3 consecutive months. In addition to conducting a physical examination and nutritional status, the doctor will evaluate the baby's eating habits and medical history, as well as carry out additional examinations if necessary.

If there are certain diseases or medical conditions, the doctor will provide appropriate treatment to overcome the cause and improve the nutritional status of the baby.