I Need Help (2 Year old Son Whos Underweight)

I Am a Young Mother I Have a 33 month old Son Who is Underweight and a Very Picky Eater...He is in the 6th Percentile for his Age in His Weight Wic is Concerned His Dr is Jerking me Around Right Now (My Son Also Recently Developed Sleep Apnea n We Are Having Trouble with His Dr Not Wanting to Give us the Results of My Sons Blood Work) So I Am Considering a New Dr. What I Need Help with is Ways to Get More Calories into his Diet and I Also Would Like to Know How Serious it is for Him to Be Underweight. He Will be 3 in April so hes 33 months old and weights 26lbs Hes Lost Weight Since July n This is What Has Wic Concerned If Any one Has Any Thoughts I Would Appreciate the Feed Back

[cabinmom]

I was/am in a similar situation as you. My son is and always has been in the 5th percentile on weight and height. At 8 years old, he weighs 41.7 pounds with his pajamas on. When he was a baby and I'd do the well baby visits, the doctors asked if I was feeding him. That freaked me out so I made him eat more than he wanted, which resulted in him throwing up (I didn't do this with #2 - I did learn).

I think there are two things to consider: genes and his growth chart. If you look at my husband, he's got a narrow frame and didn't gain any noticeable weight from the time I met him at 23 until he was past 35. And by noticeable, I mean 2-3 pounds. Yeah, I wish that were me! So when new our new pediatrician met my son at 2 1/2, I explained my husband's build. That explained a lot, especially once she saw him.

Our new pediatrician was more interested in my son's growth chart. She was more interested in trends from year to year. Since my son stayed essentially on the 5th percentile mark, everyone's worries stopped. Of course she always checks other regular things like skull growth, height, etc.

As for getting more calories into your son, don't forget his stomach is small. A rule of thumb I remember is 1 tablespoon of food for each year for one sitting. So about 3 tablespoons of food for your son at a meal. If he wants more, he'll eat more, if he eats most of what you offer, that's great. Try not to force him to eat more than he wants. He needs to obey his own "full" signals. If you're providing 3 healthy meals a day, plus healthy snacks in between, then you're doing fine. There will be days he'll eat more, other days he'll eat less. The important thing is to make most of what he eats healthy.

For the pickiness, try dressing up the food. Arrange it on the plate in a smiley face. Cover his plate with foil to make it spacey looking. Use cookie cutters on slices of cheese. Make ants on a log (raisins, cream cheese or peanut butter, celery). And so on. Also, keep foods simple. If he doesn't like sauce on his pasta (my son doesn't), then so be it. You can still add cheese or butter. Also eat the foods he eats so he sees you eating it too. Engage him in food prep. I find that my son is more likely to eat "yucky" foods if he had a hand in preparing it, just try not to expect perfection. If you make baked goods, try adding healthy items in - like banana bread, zucchini bread, etc. There are lots of web sites with healthful recipes.

If he still refuses to eat healthy stuff, tell him he can only have a treat after he eats some of x. When he's older, he might try the "I'm not going to eat my dinner" routine. I told my son that that's fine, it's his choice, but his next meal would be breakfast. He's never missed a dinner, and if he did, it's not really the end of the world. He never says that any more anyway. It may sound harsh, but to me, I think pickiness is a control and parent-manipulation issue. For me, I had to really watch and learn what my kids disliked vs. what they didn't want to eat because they wanted to move on to dessert. I don't have very many issues getting them to eat healthy foods as a result.

Another idea to get him to eat - don't allow him to eat about an hour before a meal (I'm thinking dinner really). If my kids anything after 4pm, they eat a terrible dinner and it becomes a battle. There's nothing wrong with letting kids be a little hungry for food. After dinner I let my kids pick a treat and a fruit.

As for the recent weight loss, was it due to illness? The doctor should be able to help you determine that. Is his appetite back up? Has he regained his weight? Your doctor should be able to help you with the sleep apnea - I wonder how that might affect his appetite.

Good luck to you!

[benjimom]

My son is six and small for his age, he weighs 39.5 lbs and there was a time when he was preschooler that he fell off the growth charts.  The doctor needs to look at the size of the parents.  Could he give you a referral to a dietitian perhaps to help you with food issues.  

My son will be 7 in May, he's small but he looks healthy. He is all muscle too and very little fat, but if you knew him you would know why, very active.

[Kara9989]

thank you both my son loves fruits n veggies with the more calories i have just been trying to put more calories in what hes already eating like adding a light layer of butter on a peanut butter sandwich he doesnt eat alot but when he does eat im trying to make it higher in calories to help him gain weight hes dropped his percentile in weight 2 or 3 times now i am not to small framed but his dad is i am 4'11 n 110lbs n his dad is 6'1 n 145lbs   I Really Like the Idea of Him Helping Prepare the food i would have never thought of that he Loves to be a big helper Thank you Both for the Advice <3 it is Greatly Appreciated

[RockRose]

Kara,  his weight isn't as big a concern as what you appear to be saying - are you saying he's been losing weight since July?  So,  in July when he was weighed he weighed more than he does today?

[supermomma531]

Have you thought of asking your pediatrician about Pedia-sure? That is suppose to be a supplement drink for kids who don't eat much or who are picky eaters. It comes in a variety of flavors as well. It wouldn't hurt to ask. This may also help him to sustain his weight or even help him to gain weight. I like the information all the others have given you as well. Just remember, kids go through growth spurts at different times and not all kids eat the same amounts nor do they grow at the same rate. Good luck with your children and please remember that every parent goes through these hasty times with their children. Parenting is not easy but it is well worth the work!!

[allmymarbles]

I come from a family of ectomorphs (light-boned people). My parents were always getting notes from school about my brother and me being seriously underweight. My brother is now 85 and I am 81. According to the life expectancy of someone born in 1929 (the year of my birth) I have been dead for 23 years.

So if your child is small and light-boned, don't worry. But, if he is losing weight, that is definitely a cause for concern and your doctor must find out what is wrong.