My Son - Queensbury,NY

my 3 year old weighs 33 pounds. That is super scary.

If he hates to eat, I would try getting cookbooks, maybe from the library, and see if he can help you decide what to eat. Maybe some of Racheal Ray's kid cookbooks or something. I was a super picky eater as a kid, and it would help me want to eat if my mom let me help plan the meals. Good luck.

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We received very helpful advice from a nutritionist, who actually got us started in the direction of integrative medicine. Beware - not all nutritionists are created "equal." She recommended (and our ped agreed to do) some comprehensive bloodwork so we could assess his nutritional + health status. It was a real eye-opener; he had some results that were quite "off."

Over the past few years we discovered that our son is highly sensitive to gluten, dairy, and about 40 other foods (almonds were our worst offender!). Once we pulled the most reactive foods he really started to put on weight and the constant illnesses slowed down.

We also had good response to carnitine (please research and seek professional advice on supplements - though with our son our mainstream peds weren't that helpful - we had better results elsewhere). I also remember our nutritionist telling us that some kids are zinc deficient (which may lessen interest in food). This never seemed to be our problem (our son was always interested!) and we haven't done much zinc supplementation.

My son is now taller than me and at a very healthy weight - we are thrilled with the progress that he's made. He's going for his black belt in karate!

Keep searching for answers . . . your instincts are probably correct that he needs assistance in this area.

Good luck to you and your son!

I'm concerned about you changing peds over and over and going to different doctors. It's no wonder you don't know what to do. Choose one ped, make an appointment for a complete physical exam and work with that doctor in finding out what is wrong and what to do. Finding out what is wrong when it's not obvious is a matter of trial and error. You need consistency and a focus. You can only have that when you stay with one doctor. Don't expect an answer right away. Accept that finding a cause will take time and patience. And be willing to accept any suggestions and trying many different things.

At home, I'd work on relaxing about food with your son. Fix and meal, put it in front of him, let him eat or not. Tell him eating is his decision. Have him help you with meal planning, shopping, and cooking. That may spark an interest in food for him. Supplement with Pediasure if the doctor thinks that's a good idea but don't give him Pediasure as a meal. Have only healthy food in the house.

What you describe sounds a bit like anorexia. Has that been suggested? If it's a possibility ask for a referral to someone specializing in helping children and their families with psychological issues.

Perhaps he has a sensory processing issue where everything feels wierd on his tongue. I know I can't stand things like pastina, tapioca, etc. and I don't have any sensory issues. If he has an issue with textures, etc., it could be making eating really unpleasant.

I'm not sure what doc could look into this, but if you have a pedi you trust, ask them about it. Good luck!

Have you tried maybe taking him to a conselor? Maybe he being 7 needs to talk to someone outside the house. It might be worth trying. I hope you find the resolution your looking for. Good Luck

I'm very sorry to hear this. Perhaps he has a rare childhood disease like a vitamin deficiency, gene mutation or malabsorption problem?

Has he been fed through iv's or a feeding tube to help? Can you get a prescription for ensure or osmolite to help him gain some nutrients?

Perhaps he has childhood anorexia and needs professional help with that. Here are two good articles that can help:
http://www.healthyplace.com/eating-disorders/main/when-ve...

http://www.childrenshospital.org/az/Site585/mainpageS585P...

here are symptoms of anorexia:
* dry skin that when pinched and released, stays pinched
* dehydration
* abdominal pain
* constipation
* lethargy
* fatigue
* intolerance to cold temperatures (hypothermia)
* emaciation
* development of lanugo (fine, downy body hair)
* yellowing of the skin

I would contact a rare disease expert with the symptoms and test results to see if there is a specialized opinion out there.

Here are some rare disease research and support group. Perhaps you can read through some stories and see if anything sounds familiar. That is one point of the group, to spread awareness.
http://www.rarediseaseday.org/

Dr. Geeta Nayyar is a rare childhood disease expert
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sK_Ic57g4cs

Emily von Scheven is one expert. Her specialization is different, but perhaps can point you in the right direction.
http://www.ucsfhealth.org/adult/cgi-bin/prd.cgi?action=DI...

Have you considered seeing an allergist? My son is an extremely picky eater and has a peanut and egg allergy. He flat out refuses anything with either ingredient. It's like he has a nose for it... If your son has an allergy to something common, like wheat and/or milk, then it's possible he's avoiding all foods with those ingredients (which is just about everything!) Anyway, just a thought. I hope you find some answers.

Goodness C. is your son also short as well? Because if he is averge height his weight should be nearer to 60lbs. Is your dr's not at all concerned? Can you make him smoothies with bananas and whole milk plus add supplements recommended by your doc's? Have they had him checked for a possible parasite? I know that sounds outlandish, but children can get them and not realize it and can't hold their weight on. I'm sorry I wish I had better answers for you.

How tall is he? My son is thin, he is 61/2 and weighs 40 lbs.- I can't imagine him being much thinner.
You should switch him to boost or slim fast rather than pediasure and make him protein shakes. Sounds like he doesn't like solids. How about soup? And cut things up into really really small piece.

Hi C.,

I'm always the one to say that kids are healthy the way they are, but my seven year old daughter weighs 45 lbs and is extremely thin looking, easily the thinnest in her class, and my heart goes out to you if your boy is 15 lbs thinner. I agree with Ashley. Can you take him to a pediatric nutritionist? It sounds like you're following all the channels available to you. I'd just keep pushing pushing pushing pushing until someone figured somethig out.

He hates to eat. That's the part that makes me think it might be mental/ emotional and not physiological (since you've been to an endocrinologist). Have you tried seeing someone who specializes in eating disorders?

I wish you all the best and am sending you support and strength.

C.,
Is he healthy? My son was very tiny. He was the only baby I have ever seen with cheekbones that showed! No butt! The diaper slid off all the time. He was in a size 18 months at 4 years old. At 7, he looked like a 4 year old. He was healthy though. He is now almost 6 feet tall at 16. He is still skinny as a rail. All of 140 pounds. But healthy.
What does your pediatrician think? Is he concerned? This might just be the way he is. I always thought I was the only woman in the US with a "third world poster" child.
I don't mean to downplay your concerns, and I pray he is just like my son was and is just tiny...

Sounds like you are enabling him! Stop giving him pedisure,and bananas. When he gets hungry he will be forced to eat something else! He may skip a meal or 2 and cry/fuss/scream a lot, but that won't hurt him and eventually he will eat. As long as there is no medical problem, no child has ever starved to death with food in front of him.

And I can understand why you would be concerned. My youngest son will be 3 in 3 months, is the thinnest of all my boys, and he weighs 32 lbs. My first thought is, how tall is he? My boys are average or above average in height so while my 6 1/2 year old and 9 1/2 year old weight 71 and 104 respectively, they are not overweight because of their height. (My 9 1/2 year old looks like he's at least 11 or 12.)

What have the doctors said? There is nothing physical to explain why he won't eat? If so, at 7 years old, I would be pushing him big time. Right now my 2 1/2 year old is my pickiest eater of all my children and I let him be because he is only 2 1/2 though I do still "try" at every meal. The minute I feel like he is at a better stage for communication (perhaps 3?), I will absolutely begin pushing him more.

At 7 years old, your son needs to understand that his health and growth are affected by how he eats. He cannot survive on a liquid diet and if he looks too thin, I would not be surprised if people don't start commenting or making calls wondering if it is something you are doing (obviously them not knowing the circumstances). *I* know he is the one choosing not to eat. *I* know you are a concerned, good parent. People who don't know those things may wonder though and I'd hate to see your family put through something like that. :-|

At 7, he needs to understand what healthy eating is, why he needs to eat 3 square meals a day, etc. Tell him what it could do to him! If it scares him, so be it! My kids hate shots to the point my oldest has had to be held down. Too bad. They aren't getting shots for me to be mean. They are getting them to protect them. And I tell them this. I tell them that if they don't get the flu shot, with them having asthma, it could end them up in the hospital with straws (IVs) and blood tests or worse, dead, and that both could be avoided by one quick stick of the flu shot. They get that and they understand the alternative is far worse so even though I may still have to hold them down, they get their shots.

Get a fun kid cookbook and have him go through it with you and find things he would like to try. Whatever you need to do, you need to get him eating more. I'm not saying turn into a glutton but SOMETHING healthy for at least 3 meals a day. Even if he has some cereal for breakfast, a sandwich of some kind for lunch with some fruit, and then a healthy dinner...then I'd add things like fruits and veggies, yogurt, or V8 Fusion.

I really hope you know I wasn't saying anything with the thought that you are to blame for the situation. I know how head strong our children can be but this is his health and you obviously recognize his lack of eating is a BIG problem. This doesn't fall under the "oh they won't starve themselves" category in my opinion. To me, this is no different than if I had an anorexic teen!!! Deal with it the same way. In fact, maybe that is the route to take! If you've already covered the medical side and they say nothing is wrong, take him to an eating disorder facility. Ask them for help via counceling with him if you can't get him to change his behaviors for you yourself. **Let him see the people who are sick with eating disorders, how thin and unhealthy they are, and what they are going through!!** Maybe seeing them will help him to see the path he is on because in all honesty, at what age would refusal to eat finally fall under an anorexic diagnosis? I firmly believe that SEEING a possible result of a path they are on will help them to see you aren't just making stuff up to get him to do what you want. Let him see the concern is real and founded and the end result is NOT good.

I really hope you let us know how it goes and what ends up working. I feel for you, I really do, and like I said, my youngest doesn't like to eat either unless it's yogurt or cereal some days. I may just find myself in the same boat as you in a few years so I really hope you will let us know how things are.

((hugs))

Maybe he has difficulty accepting different textures of foods in his mouth. You should try calling the Swallowing Disorders Center at NYU. Tel: ###-###-#### and ask if your son is a good candidate to be treated there. If so, you would need to take him there at least a couple times per week for feeding therapy, but they worked wonders there with my daughter. She was a toddler who refused to transition from smooth pureed foods to regular table foods. It took about 6 months, but the experienced totally changed the lives of our family for the better. They are extremely booked all the time, but perhaps you could just go for the initial consultation with a clinician to figure out exactly what the problem is. Good luck.

has he always been in this percentile. You may want to look into celiac- he may not be absorbing nutrients, even if he lives of pediasure and bananas that is slight in weight. I have 6 year old that weighs 37 lbs soaking wet and if it makes yo feel better he eats and a 2 year old who weighs 31 lbs and doesnt eat so great these days. I would test thyroid or endocrine and especailly celiac. may need a more specialized physician outside of reg pediatrician. good luck. I went through a pediasure phase and was thrilled that he was taking that , older went through phase where he preferred drinking over eating but now eats drinks fine. has he lost any weight , did he used to eat and now lost interest?