Foods to help your baby gain weight

First, a breath. Babies come in every size, and a lower spot on the growth chart is not a grade or a failure. Many healthy babies naturally track along a lower percentile; what matters is the growth pattern over time and your pediatrician's read of it, not any single number. But if your pediatrician has flagged slow weight gain, or you just want to make the calories your baby does eat count for more, there is a lot you can do at the plate, gently.

First, is there actually something to fix?

This one matters. A single low percentile is not the same as a problem. What your doctor watches is the trend over time on the growth chart, not one number on one day. So the starting point is a conversation with your pediatrician, not a decision to fatten up a baby who is thriving. Please do not restrict feeds, and please do not force food. If your doctor has raised a concern, the ideas below are the healthy way to add calories.

Energy-dense whole foods

Some foods simply pack more energy into each spoonful, which is exactly what you want when appetite is small. Lean on avocado, full-fat yogurt and cheese, oily fish like salmon and sardines, eggs, beans and lentils, potato and sweet potato, and banana. Nut and seed butters, thinned so they are not a choking risk, are little calorie powerhouses too. These give you more nourishment per bite without needing your baby to eat a bigger volume.

Add a little healthy fat

The easiest trick is to enrich the foods your baby already eats. A drizzle of olive oil, a small pat of butter, a spoon of full-fat cream cheese, or some mashed avocado stirred into a vegetable puree or a bowl of oatmeal adds real calories without adding much volume. A little goes a long way, so start small and build up.

Fat is a feature, not a flaw

Under age 2, babies need the concentrated energy that fat provides for their fast-growing brains and bodies. This is not the age for low-fat or "diet" foods. Reach for whole-milk yogurt, not the low-fat tub. That said, healthy weight gain comes from real food, not from added sugar or salty, ultra-processed snacks. More calories, yes; empty calories, no.

Keep milk feeds in their place

In the first year, breast milk or formula is still the main event, and solids are practice and extra nutrition around it. If a baby fills up on low-calorie purees like plain water-thinned vegetables and then takes less milk, the total for the day can actually drop. So offer the energy-dense foods, keep the milk feeds coming, and let solids add to the day rather than replace the milk.

The usual safety rules still apply

No honey before the first birthday, no cow's milk as a main drink before one (small amounts in cooking or yogurt are fine), and everything served in a choke-safe shape and texture for your baby's stage. Adding calories never means bending the safety basics. See how to cut food safely if you are unsure.

When to call the pediatrician

Reach out if your baby is losing weight, has crossed downward through growth percentiles, is refusing feeds, seems unusually sleepy or low on wet diapers, or if you are simply worried. Your doctor can check the growth trend and rule out any medical cause. This is general information and not medical advice, so when in doubt, ask, and in a true emergency contact emergency services.

Sources

NHS. How to help your child gain weight.
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS. Increasing energy in your infant, toddler and young child's diet.
American Academy of Pediatrics. New guidance on faltering weight in children (2026), which specifically supports energy-dense additions like oil, avocado, and butter for infants already eating solids.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if my baby actually needs to gain weight?

You usually do not decide this on your own. Babies grow along their own curve, and a lower percentile is not a grade or a diagnosis. What matters is the trend on your pediatrician’s growth chart over time, not a single number. If your doctor has flagged slow weight gain, the food ideas here can help. If they have not, a happy, active, well-fed baby who is following their own line is very likely doing fine.

What foods help a baby gain weight in a healthy way?

Reach for naturally energy-dense whole foods: avocado, full-fat yogurt and cheese, nut and seed butters (thinned), oily fish like salmon and sardines, eggs, beans and lentils, potato and sweet potato, and banana. The goal is more calories from real food, not from sugar or junk. A small amount of a healthy fat, like olive oil or a pat of butter stirred into a puree, adds easy calories without adding volume.

Should I really give my baby high-fat foods?

Yes. Under age 2, babies need the concentrated energy that fat provides for brain growth and development, so this is not the time for low-fat or “diet” versions. Choose whole-milk yogurt over low-fat, and add healthy fats like avocado, olive oil, and nut butters. Energy from fat is the point. Just keep it to real foods, and skip added sugar and salt.

When should I talk to my pediatrician about my baby’s weight?

Call if your baby is losing weight, has crossed downward through growth percentiles, is refusing feeds, seems low on energy or wet diapers, or if you are simply worried. Do not restrict feeds or force food on your own. Your pediatrician can check whether there is anything to address and rule out any medical cause. This is general information, not medical advice.

😋 🤢

Track it in YummyYucky

Log first tries and reactions, with an automatic allergen tracker when a food needs one, all in one place you can share with your pediatrician.

Start tracking for free

Last updated September 2026. Next review December 2026. How we write these: built from current published guidance from the AAP, CDC, FDA/EPA, NIAID, WHO, and other pediatric and public-health authorities, with sources cited on the page. See our editorial and medical policy for how we research, source, and update these, and how we double-check the food advice.

This is general information, not medical advice, and is not individualized for your baby. Always talk to your pediatrician about your baby's diet, introducing allergens, and any reaction. In an emergency, contact emergency services.

Some links in our guides are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. We only suggest things we'd actually use, and it never changes our guidance.