Baby's Failure to Thrive

-Failure to thrive (FTT) is not a diagnosis in itself; rather, it is a term used to describe failure to gain weight in children younger than two years old. Children categorized as FTT weigh less than the 5th percentile for their age; more severe cases involve a slowing of linear growth and head circumference as well. The three causes of FTT are inadequate calorie intake, inadequate calorie absorption, and increased calorie requirements. Newborn infants need 110 kcal/kg/day, while children up to twelve months need 100