19 Month Not Gaining Weight

My daughter has always been tall and thin (underweight, in dr. speak), so I learned to take in clothes so they would fit her the way they should. It's not that hard to do, and it's nice to be able to buy clothes for her "age group," so she doesn't look like she's in "baby clothes." But adjusting the clothing is the easy part!

Dealing with doctors can be hard because they are constantly looking at charts and books, and finding that my daughter isn't "typical." Well, I KNOW she isn't typical!! She wieghed less than a pound at birth, and wasn't expected to live, let alone walk and talk and learn!! So when I found a doctor (in Kansas ... sorry) who said, "Your daughter has obviously not read the textbooks," I knew we were in a good place. Her approach was to watch my daughter's health and energy levels ... if my daughter was happy and energetic, doing the things that babies should do, and if she was healthy and not catching everything that came down the pike, my doctor was okay with that, and so was I. We learned to know what was typical FOR MY DAUGHTER, and THAT was our guideline, rather than the charts and books. We tried adding calories to her food and bottles, but then she would just take less overall ... it's like her body knew what she needed.

So, based on my experience, I'd say to follow your instincts and not worry about the weight. Your son will eat what he needs and, as long as he maintains his health and his energy, he will be fine.

Good luck with school and enjoy that little boy!!

Try milkshakes! You can slip in a lot of good fattening things (like peanut or almond butter or Sunbutter) once you find a milkshake combo he likes. Two tablespoons of nut butters have like 25% of the fat for a baby or adults recommended daily allowance. Try to make sure he fills up on things with fat in them, not just crackers. I have had great results adding a little honey to some avacado chunks or slipping pureed veggies into applesauce. Kids at this age love to dip things too so try offering some dips.

If your Pedi continues to worry about the weight, I would see if you could see a GI doctor. It could just be that he is small (my 4 year old is only 28 pounds, and my 6 year old 34 pounds), but it also could be an absorption issue. He could be having reactions (GI only and maybe behavioral) that would only show with a scope and biopsies. That is what we are looking at with my children, but they have known food allergies already. I understand the refusing to put him in as small of clothes as they should be wearing. The condition is called Eosinophilic Esophagitis. It could be something completely unrelated, but it is one of the first things they rule out when they are looking at "Failure to Thrive" or gain weight. Personally, I haven't worried about the weight much as my kids are very healthy, just tiny.

My poor son had this problem. Our issue is that both my husband and I are tall and on the lean side. My husband was a 29 inch waist and a 34 inch inseam when he was about 21. He has filled in now but our kids are dealing with both parents having high metabolisms. Our Dr. told us that our son was "failure to thrive" when he was 1. We started giving him pediasure instead of milk and no juices, as these are empty calories. He loved the different flavors and started gaining weight. He is still on the skinny side and can still wear 2T shorts at 3. Try to find the shorts and pants with the elastic adjusters in them. They are not in the geranimals but you can find them at Wal-mart or the higher priced stores.

I wouldn't worry about it too much. It sounds like for a premie he is doing great. My son has always been on the small side when it comes to his weight. He is 21 months old, and maybe weighs over 20lbs now, and is also very active. At his 18 month appointment he was 20lbs, and 31 inches tall. I have the same problem with the clothes. He is just now getting into 12 month clothes, but it is because of his height. I have to get the pants that have the adjusting bands for the waist or take them up myself. As my doctor reminded me, you have to remember that the growth charts are based on the average American child, and these days most of them are over weight. I would just be thankful that you have a child that likes to be active like ours. This is a very good thing.

S. B.

I read some of the other posts, but pediasure is what our nutritionist suggested.

Our dd was 14 lbs at 14 mo. (adopted)................we were also told to add olive, safflower,etc oil to the food we give her. We also allow her to eat some of our foods at times...........she's really picky though and loves veggies rather than much of the heavier foods (though she does like french fries)..........she LOVES avacados and could probably eat them all day, they're about the "fattest" veggie around.......I think.
She's done really good with a minimum of 3-4 pediasures a day (the generic works just as well). She turned 2 in July and is just almost 21 lbs (so 7 lbs in about 6 months which is a lot!)................she has months where she gains little and other months where she seems to gain a lot. It depends on how active WE are that month and how much attention we are paying to making sure she gets the 3-4 a day. The nutritionist said that she's SUPPOSED to gain no less than .4 lbs a month.
She wore 0-3 mo and 3-6 mo. clothes when we got her at 14 mo. She's now in 18 mo. clothes though, so she's catching up all around in that area..............her bottoms are still at 12 mo., but that's only because she has no butt -- her height necessitates larger clothes as well............

I was stressed at first, but I'm now to the point that I know her better than the dr.'s and know that her bio. mom was only 5'3", so she may be just small (though her feet are getting bigger! lol).

She's still well underweight, but I also know that she is going to be petite. The rest of her body is fine, it's just her weight that we're working on now......

I would consider what the other mom said about his energy and stuff as well as the things your dr. says............don't let the dr. stress you out as long as he/she's tested for anything they think could be the cause..........

Best wishes!

Have no fear! Your son is probably fine. I have 2 beautiful boys. My oldest is almost 3, while the 12 month pants are too short, he can wear 12 month shorts. Last winter at just over 2 he had to wear 18 month pants for the length, but hehad to wear a belt that needs another notch put in it. His 18 month shorts often sag to the point that he trips over them. He has pulled out one of his brother's 6-9 month shirts (although it's big for 6-9) and he can wear it, it's just a smidge short. He has always been my small one. He is even a little short, but my husband and I are also. While my husband is overweight, it is something I have not had trouble with, so my son has probably inherited that from me. My youngest is 13 months. He started out big. 8 pounds and 5 ounces. He is just now in 9/12 month clothes. Mostly for length. He will be my tall child. He did have the baby fat for awhile, but he crawled at 6 months and never stopped going. I encourage my children to be active. I don't give them a lot of junk foor and I rarely give them juice and when I do it is really watered down! He eats nonstop and as long as it isn't nailed to the floor, he isn't particular. My advantage is I don't vaccinate, so I don't take my kids to the doctor nearly as often. Weight checks are bogus. Is he otherwise healthy? Don't be afraid to get another opinion. DOn't be afraid to ask your doctor why it matters what his weight is if he is healthy. I also recomment visiting the website for the world health organization. They have a more unbiased growth chart. It is based on what a healthy child des an appropriate diet in any country SHOULD way. It doesn't not compare them against America's overweight kids. http://www.who.int/childgrowth/en/
CLick on standards to the left. I would print it and take it with you. I don't think it's fair to base a kids weight as a measure of health by comparing it to what some other kids weigh or what someone else thinks your child should weigh. My almost 3 year old weighs all of 26 pounds and my 13 month old is about 18 pounds. If you need to convert to Kilograms, divide the pounds by 2.2 for the new growth chart. This is the only country that uses pounds anymore. You can't make your kid gain weight and you shouldn't be pressured to do it. If your son was unhealthy it would be another story. We place too much value in weighing as much as other kids and then look what happens...the school nurses are sending letters home telling parents their kids weigh too much. Mixed messages! Do what you think is right. Doctors don't know everything, in fact most know hardly near enough. If she gives you problems, find a new doctor, one the will be respectful of allowing your son grow as his body deems necessary as long as he is healthy. Also, look at yourself and your husband. Point it out to your doctor if neither of you are big either. Ask your moms if you were big at that age. MOst doctors completely leave genetics out. It's only about the number on the scale! Good luck, your son will be fine.
C.

by son is almost 18 months old and is 18 pounds.. he is very small for his age! he does have a syndrome though so thats why..

at this age they dont gain quite as fast as they do when they are infants. as long as he is healthy why worry about the weight? most drs are used to the big "fluffy" babies! thats where most of the averages come from!

sounds like he is just burning off the calories with his activity level. if you are really worried, try maybe giving him pediasure instead of milk sometimes, its very caloric and nutritious!

oh , one more thing! boys clothes run so big! my daughter who is in a 3t can wear my sons clothes! he wears 6-9 months and some 12 months