My 4YO daughter is 34 lbs, and has been exactly that since she was 2. It concerns me, but the doctor seems to not be worried. She is gaining in height, just not weight. What is the strangest is that her body shape is staying the same. She doesn't look any thinner - I've looked at photos and she looks the same. She has gone from 2T to 4T clothes. Waist is a bit big, bit not overly so. She is very active, ahead in her mental development. She is a light eater, but she eats often.
We eat very healthy, and my oldest is almost 8, and she is 56" tall and 85lbs. Much taller and heavier than normal. She towers over the other 3rd graders and is started school early so she is well over a year younger than some of her classmates.
Should I be worried about my little one?
Wow, what fast responses! She is due for her 4 year old check up in a few weeks, so I will have her tested for celiac. I know I am a bit sensitive to wheat, so could be possible indeed. Plus, never thought of the baby fat aspect. I have noticed lately that she looks more like a young girl than a baby. Thanks everyone!
Sounds pretty normal. I have 3 kids and have worked with kids since I was a teen. As long as she is eating/pooping/peeing OK, then, no need to worry.
I wouldn't worry abut it. Obviously she is growing, just not outwards...just upwards. She is probably very slender. Nothing wrong with that! I would only be concerned if she didn't eat, felt poorly, looked poorly or was showing SOME ill effects from not gaining weight. No worries!
It is completely normal to worry. I might ask the doctor to do a blood test to celiac disease. The first part is a "simple" blood test. (I know getting blood out of a child is anything but simple, but you can get through that part.)
We had a similar problem with our son. We couldn't get him over 40lbs. He was constipated all the time. I finally took him to a gastroenterologist, who just routinely screens for Celiac disease, which I had never heard of, my son had it. We had to have an additional test to confirm it. Then we went gluten free and he grew and gained some weight! The constipation is getting better but he has "learned" that pooping is really painful, he is reluctant to do it. We are working through this part.
Siblings are not always a good camparison (although I always do it myself). My youngest at 5 years old was 5 1/2" shorter than his older brother was at the same age. I guess they just picked up different genes (we have relatives that range from barely 5 ft to 6' 6", rather thin to stocky). It sounds like your daughter is healthy and that is more important than size.
Hello Nicole,
My 7 year old is 4 feet and weighs a whopping 45 pounds(lol). The doctors said theres no need to worry hes in the 95th percentile for his height. He's been in size 6 ever since he was 4 years old. My 2 year old daughter weighs 29 pounds and shes 3 feet tall. Every child is different so just be patient she will definently grow at her own pace. Good luck:)
I would defer to your ped and you instinct.
My 29 month old was a TANK and was 30 lbs at 18 months. He's now 31.2 pounds and almost a year later. He's growing and eating and doing all kinds of things, but he's just thinning out a bit.
My aunt always talks about how my cousin was 34 pounds at 2 years and then still 34 pounds at 4 years even though he'd grown.
Sounds like she is just fine. Eating healthy, getting taller, good cognitive development? Her body is just doing it's thing!
I wouldn't worry , 2 of my 3 kids are the same , my 7 yr old son weighs 40lb now , when he was 3 he was 37lb so has only gained 3lbs but has got a lot taller. My 4 yr old daughter weighs 36lb now and has hovvered between 34 & 36lb since she was 3 , but again is taller and wears bigger clothes. When they are younger they carry extra baby fat which they burn off , and if you look into it the weight your daughter is now is about where she should be for her age , it is not physically possible for them to gain weight at the rate they do when they are younger , if they did they would be obese. As long as she eats good foods and has regular meals then she is fine.
I don't think so. My 5 1/2 yr old twins are just hit 40 lbs this year.
Have your doctor show you her growth charts. If it is a concern, at the very least some bloodwork could be done.
I would be deeply concerned about this issue. If your doctor isn't giving you the answers you need then maybe you need to switch doctors. She could have an illness that maybe preventing her from gaining weight. Dig deeper.
No way. She eats and is active, that's what's important. And the doctor isn't worrying either. Just keep doing what your doing. If she has a change in her physical ability/attitude then I'd start to worry. Some kids just stay rail thin. :)
Celiac disease would cause her to have lots of intestinal distress either in the form of diarrhea or constipation. Also IF she had it, just removing wheat from the diet would make a HUGE difference, you don't need any testing, just changing the diet. HOWEVER, since she seems to be healthy and happy I wouldn't even go that route. She doesn't need pricking and prodding since she's feeling great.
My son was 27 lbs at a yr, 36 at 2 yrs, and at 6 he is 40lbs. He has gained a lb a yr since 2. His ped says he's normal. He is growing taller, although alot in the past yr.
