Balanced nutrition plays an important role in the process of child growth and development. Moms also would like to pay attention to food consumed by their children. Then, how do we know the food consumed is suitable for the child’s requirement? One of the way will be to monitor their weight. Use weight to length and height chart to see children’s nutritional status. However, sometimes moms are made confused by their child’s physical appearance that may look thin despite having an ideal weight. There is a lot of factor that should be noted when evaluating child’s weight. For example, whether the mother and father also have a thin stature? How is the child’s eating pattern, has it balanced their activity? Having a small stature doesn’t mean mom have to be worried. Child weight can change along with growth. In certain conditions, sometimes the enhancement of child’s height is not always accompanied by the gaining of weight, this can make a thin appearance. To know whether child’s weight is appropriate for their age or height, mom can use some of these formulations by WHO:

• For children below 12 months old: IW = (n:2) + 4 or (age(month):2) + 4
• For children 1 to 10 years old: IW = (2 x n) + 8 or (2 x age(year)) + 8

IW is for Ideal Weight, while n refers to child age. What can be the cause of underweight children? Usually, it can be caused by the lack of nutritious daily intake. Children need energy and nutrition from a varied and balanced diet. If it is not fulfilled, a child can have some of the following symptoms: concentration difficulty, excessive fatigue, and finally growth disturbance. If child weight is known to be lacking, mom can give additional food with high calorie and also nutritious. Follow this few principles:

• In every meal, try to base the menu with starch type carbohydrate, like bread, pasta, rice, or potato.
• Every day, the child has to consume a minimal of 5 portions of varied vegetables and fruits.
• Choose food which contains low fat proteins like meat, fish, egg, and nut.
• Include food that contains high protein and calcium like milk, cheese, and yogurt into the menu (given the
• child is not allergic to cow’s milk)
• Mom can also give porridge to accompany breast milk that has been especially formulated with high protein chicken like Milna Baby Porridge WGAIN to Gain Weight. This porridge is useful to boost child weight through the use of high-quality protein and easily digested ingredients, and could also be consumed to restore balance of child nutrition after a sickness.
• Reduce giving food high in fat or sugar.
• Avoid giving food that contains saturated fat like processed meat, for example chicken nugget.

In addition to paying attention on food portion and nutrition, Moms also have need to create a fun eating atmosphere so the child will be more comfortable and voraciously eating the food that has been prepared.