Toddler Nutrition -HA

[Myah's Mom]

Hi folks,
I am a little worried about my 18 month old. She went for her 18 month needles yesterday, and she is still very small (20 lbs, putting her at the 5th percentile). Her height has gone up about 4 inches since her 1st birthday, but her weight has increased by less than a pound.
The nurse was kind, but expressed some concern. I felt like such an unfit mother when she asked me about her diet. We give her zero junk, and try to give her lots of healthy choices every day. She is just finicky! She will eat just about any fruit until she's full, but veggies and meats are very  very tricky. Unless they are hiding in pasta, on pizza, or in a grilled cheese sandwich, it is not happening. Even then, I need to be strategic in what I plant in there.I know I should not offer her alternatives when she doesn't eat from the choices she is given, but that is so hard to do when your baby is so small! I am also getting frustrated with running to the fridge to figure out what to try next. It's a real balancing act of giving her nutritious options without seeing her go to bed on an empty tummy, or Mommy losing her mind!
I would love to have a meal that all of us could share-am I kidding myself? Occasionally it will work, like if it's panini sandwiches or a pasta dish she likes.
I really felt like I was at the Spanish Inquisition with this nurse, although I know in my heart she was doing her job.
HELP!! Any suggestions on feeding a tiny toddler and maintaining your sanity would be greatly appreciated!!
This child needs to beef up!! :)

[robin1979]

Hello, I wouldn't worry about it too much if she is healthy, my daughter is 3 and will be 4 next month she only weighs 29 pounds. She is 3ft 1. She is healthy but she takes after me, I weigh only 112 at 25 after 2 kids, and i stand 5ft 1. So she may be taking after a petite person in your family. I'm a medical office professional. I use to get grilled about my daughter. My son is 23 months old and weighs 28 pounds, and is 2ft 11. So imagine 2 kids 2 years apart that are about even in height and weight.

[andileigh]

My son is 5 1/2 and about 40 inches tall and only weighs 35 pounds and he eats ALL the time.  So she might be little no matter what you do.

[cinnamonheart]

Just a question are you still feeding formula or breast feeding?(believe me I know some who do past 2 years of age) Or does your babe drink alot? Well maybe she is one of the lucky ones who gets to eat and not gain a pound UNLIKE myself !!
I know its hard to hold out on them  but  you got to be strong
My sisters kids are picky, but she allows them to eat a bite then leave the table, at my house you finish your plate and when I baby sat her boys I asked them what they wanted for supper so I cooked it, they wanted to go play after two bites I said hey I dont think so and u know they sat there and ate it cause they knew they wouldnt get away with it at my house (little buggers)Not that that is whats happening at your house though

[Wisegirl]

My DS was the same way with meat and veggies.  Now at 6 yrs old he is 40" tall and 37 LBS.  So he is still on the tiny side.  This kid consumes nothing but pasta constantly. If I ate that much carbs I'd be HUGE !!  If I would give him spaghetti in the morning he would be happy ... lol.  His dr's used to be concerned but after I went over what he actually will eat they decided that allthough he wasn't getting as many veggies as they'd like he was still doing good. The only fruit he eats btw is bananas and applesauce.  They found out when he was around 2 that he had dyspraxia and what causes that also causes food sensitivity.  So he is in speech for the dyspraxia but the dr told me in time he will outgrow the food part and try new foods on his own. I will say he is more willing to try new things. If you can't get her to try other things I would reccomend seeing a child nuerologist, they are the one's who were able to figure out it was food sensitivity with DS.

[Myah's Mom]

Thanks a lot for your helpful and supportive tips, everyone! Much appreciated.

[nanakay]

i agree with everyone else, don't worry about it.  
in my personal opinion if you start forcing food on her and 'making' her try to gain weight you are going to cause other problems down the road.

my nephew is really small like that he is almost 4 1/2 and only weighs like 35 pounds.  but he has a motabolism from out of this world... we went to the track to walk and took the kids to play in the sand, my nephew started chasing us around the track...so thinking we would wear him out we told him to keep going, he ran an entire mile without even so much as breaking a sweat, as he ran by us on his 4th trip around the trac without stopping we asked if he was tired and he said no (like he had not ran one step mind you). If i ran a mile you would definately be able to tell i had been running, not him.

so don't worry, my sister always tells me 1 good meal a day for toddlers and they are fine, they will not starve themselves.
~nanci

[MAX14]

I have a 4 year old who will be 5 in July.  He only weighs 35 pounds, and I have a 19 month old who only weighs 22 pounds and is only 31 1/2 inches tall, I don't think you have anything to worry about.  I was concerned about it until the doctor told me everything was fine.  I just give him whole milk instead of 2% and try to get him to eat fattening foods.

[Myah's Mom]

Thanks again ladies-I have loosened up and tried to go with the flow!
Max14-that's funny-our babies are both 19 months, almost the same weight (20.75 vs 22) and the same height! How reassuring!:0