Doc says to put on weight

We just had our 2 year check up and the doc says the kids could stand to put on some weight, one more than the other. They were always up in the 90% percentile for height and weight, but are definitely slimming down, I assume due to being more active and more picky as far as eating.

Has anyone else been told to "fatten" up their kids, and if so, do you have any easy tips for adding calories?

Thanks,

EC TWINS

 

I don't like the idea of fattening kids up for the sake of charts. If you feel they are eating healthy then I say go with it but if they are drastically falling off the charts (which it doesn't sound like) then the pedi should be performing tests to see why.

I use whole fat products (cheese, yogurt, milk, butter) for the kids. They eat healthy fats like avocados, olive oils and veggie meats since we are vegetarian. They eat three "squares" a day with plenty of nutritious snacks including smoothies, yogurt, cereal bars and nutritious cookies. My twinkies are very petite DD has been the 5%tile and DS about the 25%tile barely over 20 lbs at 18 months!

 

I agree with the pp said..if I'm understanding correctly the only concern is they are falling down from 90%ile? That doesn't sound like a reason to gain weight in my non-medical opinion.

But as for healthy fats...peanut butter, avacado, cheese, yogurt, beans of all types, chicken, eggs are all good in my opinion.

Jennifer

 

WE had this issue with ds when he was younger. Gastroenterologist suggested adding butter to everything, and not withhold fries, pizza, etc that most kids need to lay back on.

A nutritionist added that shakes were good- especially with peanut butter (not sure if your kids can eat it or not).

Also, carnation instant breakfast added to milk adds more nutrients.

 

QUOTE(Twinsanity+3 @ Apr 11 2008, 12:42 PM) [snapback]717257[/snapback]
I don't like the idea of fattening kids up for the sake of charts. If you feel they are eating healthy then I say go with it but if they are drastically falling off the charts (which it doesn't sound like) then the pedi should be performing tests to see why.


I agree. My kids have always been on the small side. My "boggest" is about 50% in height and about 20% in weight. my youngest dd is way below the chart in weight and barely on the chart for height. My doc has never said we should "fatten them up" because he knows we eat healthy and he feels it is genetically how they are supposed to be.



As long as they are eating healthy, I owuldn't worry about it.

 

My husband can eat anything he wants and never gain weight and I have struggled my whole life with my weight. That said, the day my doctor told me that my two were small and could go for putting on weight, I knew that sometimes, I just could not follow her advice. They eat all different types of foods, LOVE veggies and fruits and healthy meats and fats. But I'm not going to force them or increase their fat intake just to fit on a chart, like a PP said.

Childhood obesity is becoming an epidemic, so as long as your kids are healthy, I think that's one suggestion from your doc to overlook on a mom's-instinct basis.

 

I agree with a lot of the pp's...unless you are concerned, I wouldn't be too alarmed. One of mine dropped off the charts completely. ( He was never setting the world on fire with his weight but he had baby fat). We added pediasure and occassionally a duocal added to that. He usually averages about 2 pediasures a day. Plus he is on an appetite stimulant. We finally hit the 25lb mark at almost 3 so for him it works.....but not everyone needs that extreme. I would really just go for the healthy fats if anything!

 

The growth curves do account for a slowing down of weight gain--that is why it is a curve, not a line If he has always been in the 95th %ile, and is suddenly dropping down--which is what is sounds like from your original post, then I can see the Dr.s concern. You have gotten some good ideas for adding calories to their diets.

 

QUOTE(littletwinmom @ Apr 11 2008, 10:19 PM) [snapback]717392[/snapback]
I agree with the pp said..if I'm understanding correctly the only concern is they are falling down from 90%ile? That doesn't sound like a reason to gain weight in my non-medical opinion.

But as for healthy fats...peanut butter, avacado, cheese, yogurt, beans of all types, chicken, eggs are all good in my opinion.

Jennifer


Did they drastically fall from the 90th percentile (like to the 25th)? If not, I would not be doing anything to "fatten them up". They'll naturally fall with activity, and not every child needs to be in the upper percentiles of the charts.

My DD was in the 5th percentile for a long time, having fallen down the chart from 25th and 10th percentile, and my pedi did not call for any steps to "fatten her up". Now she's comfortably in the 10th percentile.

Honestly, if I were you, I'd just keep feeding them like you are feeding them unless it was a drastic drop.

 

I would either wait to see if they adjust to a new growth curve and hold steady on that, or get a second opinion. Eighteen months to two years is an age at which children frequently lose baby fat and assume the body type they will have through childhood. I don't think weight is something you should mess around with (either to gain or lose) unless it is causing a problem.

My son has always been below the charts on his weight. His doctors were never worried, but for years I agonized and tried to encourage him to eat high calorie foods. It never made a bit of difference. He was and remains a very skinny guy. But, he is entirely healthy, happy and developmentally normal.

There is an amazing variety of body types out there. Not everyone fits the chart, or stays in exactly the same place on it.

 

I think that without knowing how much of a drop we're talking about, it's hard to say whether I'd be concerned or not. 90th - 10th, ABSOLUTELY I'd be concerned. 90th - 75th... no, not at all.

I have some high-energy boys that eat like piggies and aren't picky at all but they burn off everything they take in and hover around the 5th %. I'm used to feeding them high-cal foods on a regular basis -- eggs, nuts, cheese, olive oil with their bread as a dip and a little salad dressing with their veggies. It hasn't "fattened them up" at all but it keeps them on their curve.

 

Thank you all for your comments and suggestions. I already feel much better. We always try to eat healthy: no junk food/organic/ etc whenever possible and they stop eating whenever they are full. We never worried until our doc appt. The ironic thing is my skinnier child eats way more than the bigger one. They are just completly different body types.

I suppose I'll try to add some healthy snacks and try the pediasure or carnation breakfasts, but I'm not going to stress!

Thanks everyone!