My 1-year-old son is very low on the charts for his weight and always has been. He eats like a horse, is very active, and has had many tests performed to be sure there's nothing wrong with him. All that said and all tests looking normal, what sorts of foods can I feed him to really put on the weight? He loves his whole milk, cheese, YoBaby yogurt, etc. What else have other moms done to add some weight? ADDITION: For the record and to a few of the responses, I am simply making sure I'm giving him enough fat/carbs/calories and that it's not something we're not feeding him that's keeping him so skinny. His dad and I are not big people either, but his big brother has always been on the top of the charts. I don't consider the height/weight chart a contest, and don't care if he's in the 5th percentile or the 95th percentile for any reason other than to avoid the constant comments and concerns from his doctor. I swear every time I bring him in to the doctor she orders another test, and every single one has come back fine. Thank you so much to the moms who have responded with food ideas for me.
If he's healthy and active why are you trying to put weight on him? The growth chart is just a guide, it's not a contest.
My daughter is super teeny (partly owing to the fact that she had a heart transplant) and we put Carnation Instant Breakfast in every glass of milk she drinks. It has helped a lot!
My son was a 27 week old preemie and is still on the low end of the growth charts, and he is 5. He is the smallest one in his class and will probably always be. So I understand your concerns.
According to his ped and all my friends and other resources, I've given him avacado, papaya, Carnation breakfast drinks and lots of red meat and he's been able to gain weight and growth this year. He's finally catching up.
My ped's concern was that he wasn't getting enough fat to his brain. So, while I'm not fattening him up on processessed food and sugar, at least he is getting good fat for his brain development.
hth
Try giving him an extra snack before bedtime, like a milkshake or someone else mentioned ensure.
Pediasure
My daughter had weight issues and her gastroenterologist said up to three a day on days she didn't eat well. She still gets one each night.
You can give him whole milk and add carnation instant breakfast, which is yummy, or add powdered milk to make kind've a "double" milk.
Look for things that are super high in fat...cream cheese, cheddar cheese, oils, mayo, etc...and add them to his food.
You can get special protein powders, etc, and just add to his food/drink.
However, I think you probably shouldn't be concerned...maybe he's just going to be a beanpole. Some children are. My daughter (who is six) is STILL in the 95% for weight, and always has been...and yet, she is not fat, or even plump. She's skinny...but very solidly built. Well meaning relatives go in to swing her up into their arms and are very surprised when they almost lose their balance.
Avocado, peanut butter, Pediasure or Carnation instant breakfast in addition to meals, and carbs are a few things. My girls are teeny and our pediatrician said to but butter and ranch on everything. Well, that bit us in the butt. Now they wont' eat anything with out ranch on it! LOL! :)
Chances are that it's not really anything you're doing, rather it's just his metabolism. With having small children, I know how you feel. Or at least, I know how I feel. It's so strange to see my 22 month old daughter wearing 12 months sized clothes. I just feel like I'm doing something wrong! Rest assured, I'm not and neither are you :)
I think I'd be getting another doctor, if I were you. He clearly is on his own growth chart and not what the gods of the chart think. I hate the stupid chart. I think it gives us parents a lot of unncessary worry. And I hate doctors that think the chart is the end all be all of the world. I know that's now what you asked...it just irritates me when wonderful mothers are made to worry because of what percentile their child is in. ***steps off soap box now****
Carbs--pastas, potatoes, breads...but as long as he's active, I wouldn't worry about it. He's burning off what he's eating, something I would love to be able to do.
Just let him be the size he is! Over-feeding children can cause them to have major issues down the road (diabetes, obesity, etc.). Why do that when you have a perfectly healthy son, even if he is a bit on the small side? If he eats well and is healthy and active, that is all you can ask for as a mom.
BTW, my younger daughter has always been under the 15% for height/weight - she, too, has had every test known to man because the rest of us are WAY above average in height (big sister is well above the 95% in height) - finally I had to just accept... she's little and always will be! We love her just the way she is! :)
My son is 17 months old and just finally hit 20 pounds. He was born with a tumor on his neck and when they went to remove it they discovered he had 5 heart defects. Anyways, he has failure to thrive.
He's been tested for all sorts of digestive disorders just incase but nothing comes up positive. Finally to actually get him to gain and maybe get him even on a curve we started giving him bottles of whole milk WITH toddler formula added. He has started to slowly gain weight and the doctor's are less paniced.
I know our situation is pry very different but the formula and milk worked. We tried adding high fat dairy, ie butter, sour cream, cream cheese etc... to everything he'd eat but nothing has worked as well as that new enfamil toddler formula added to whole milk. He's had more energy and is now gaining weight. So I suggest that always.
Pediasure (the regular, not the Sidekicks)
Same story - My first child was always above the average height/weight, but my daughter has always struggled to even get on the chart for weight. She eats like a horse, is very active, but didn't gain an ounce from 12-15 months. We are blessed to have a pediatrician that looks beyond the "numbers" so he said to just add Pediasure and try to limit water as it is just filler without calories. She gained over a pound in the next three months with just that one little change.
Children literally need a little bit of fat for development, but if you truly feel that the pediatrician is over-cautious, then I would go elsewhere.
As the parent of one kid who was in the 95% and one who is in the <5%, some kids are just small. As long as his growth curve is consistent (he is consistently gaining weight and height - even if the amounts are small) and is healthy and active, don't worry about it.
Avocados and eggs! I used them to help DD1 gain weight from 5mos on. Actually I made Fried Okra last night (http://www.food.com/recipe/fried-okra-11640) and she LOVED it!
I was told to put carnation instant breakfast in my daughters milk/. If he is healthy I would say not to worry about it.
Protein. If he won't eat meat try beans, hummus, tofu, etc. The proteins found in dairy are only partial proteins and not the full strain.
If he eats a lot and is active, I wouldn't worry too much about it.
If you really want to add weight, though, maybe Ensure?
Does he really eat that much? If he does, it is protein and veggies? Bagels and hot pretzels will put weight on and if you can add cream cheese that would be great. Instead of adding milk, add cream to everything and no baking or boiling food. Cook everything in butter or olive oil. You can also make your own french fries and give potato chips, fruit, and whole grain crackers and cheese as snacks. What percentage is your son if your doctor keeps ordering these tests? Insurance wont pay for it unless there is a legitimate reason. And you are right to try adding weight because when children are sick they don't have appetities and will usually lose weight. They need to be strong to fight the illness.
If he's hitting his milestones then I wouldn't worry about it
