Baby Just Turned 1 and Is Very Skinny

My daughter had similar problems. She stayed at 15lbs from 6-12months. We monitor her weight very closely and they have run blood tests to rule out any major problems (all they found was that she was slightly anemic). She's two now and still at the extreme bottom of the growth chart, but as long as she stays on the chart we're going to toss it up to genetics. In the beginning we tried increasing her daily calorie intake, mostly by pushing fruits and toddler meat sticks and really anything that she would eat. She's almost 2 1/2 now and has NEVER had a chuncky stage. She's just my little petite princess.

Get a copy of Ruth Yaron's Super Baby Food.

I read this advice in the Sears Baby Book (or was it the Sears Discipline Book...?): Set up a "nibble tray" - an ice cube tray with big variety of healthy snacks (vegs, fruits, healthy whole-grain crackers, hummus, beans, etc.) - and let her graze whenever she likes. (But don't let her run around the house with her snacks - that is a choking hazard.)

Make everything she eats very, very nutrient-dense - the healthiest foods possible.

Don't waste any time in getting that book!

L

L.,
I have a four year old and she was the same way. Through six months see was at the 100 percentile of the baby charts she was even a bit over. However, when we went for her nine month checkup she had not gained a pound in fact she lost some. By the time she was one she actually weighed more at nine months. Her eating hadn't changed, she was even still nursing. The doctors continued to nag me about her weight, we had to go in for weigh ins. They even wanted to run a bunch of test on her metabolism. One doctor told me to start putting Tbsp of margerine and butter in her food, feed her as much whole milk as she would eat and so forth. Thankfully I didn't listen. Instead I started looking into the situation on my own and talking to others. Did you know that those charts are based on the average American child. Well the average American child is over weight and malnurished. The U.S. has the highest growing rate of childhood diabetes and obesity. And they wanted my daughter to meet the same requierements that are putting all those kids on insuline and diets by the age of 10 or 11. She is four now, and she is not a chunky girl. She is just skinny. She eats, she plays, and she has only been sick on time, aside from a mild cold now and then. If your little one is eating, has good color in their skin and eyes, and plays, don't worry about her weight. I find it crazy how our society tries to convince us that babies should be chubby and then we all spend our adulthood on diets. Children create new fat cells until the age of 2 and then after that the cells themselves just grow and shrink but new ones aren't made, perhaps for many of us our parents were forced to believe we all needed to weigh a bit more and our bodies created a few to many fat cells and that is why weight becomes a life time struggle.

Our son is very small, and has been since birth. He was born at 37 weeks weighing only 5 lb 5 oz. His weight and length have always been in the 5th percentile or lower, though he eats an astonishing amount. Seriously, this guy loves to eat! At 14 months he's only barely reached 20 lbs, but he eats and eats and eats and is very active and healthy. So, maybe your daughter just got petite genes, like my son did.

My son did the same thing from 6-11 months, did not gain weight. It turned out that he had ear an ear infection that the dr. said had been there for a while. He said that he noticed fluid on his ear during his 9 month check-up, but did not do or say anything about it. My son had been a little fussy, but not really any more than usual to be worried about. Anyway, he got tubes put in his ears and he was like a whole different child. He was not fussy at all and was eating like crazy. I hope this helps you.

My son was never a chunky baby either. And at almost 6 yrs old, he is only 39.5 lbs! And he is 4 foot tall on top of that. So tall and lanky. His doctor has told me he is very healthy. He is very active, and when I say very, I mean he is like the energizer bunny times a million! Always on the go. He eats well, not a whole lot but good. There are times that he seems like a bottomless pit and others that you think it wouldn't keep a bird alive. I am sure that everything is fine if the doctor is keeping up with it. Hope this helps!

I wouldn't worry to much. My no2 son was and still is very thin. At 4months you would have thought he might end up a very fat baby - his cheeks used to rest on his shoulders. But by a year old he was pencil thin and still is at 13. He never has eaten alot and I swear he grows on air. I just make sure that he drinks his milk and has yoghurts - calcium for the growing bones. As long as you are giving her a healthy diet don't worry to much.

Don't worry too much. My son is 2 1/2 and until he turned 2 he had fallen off of the weight charts a couple of times completely. He has always been very active, and he has never been a big eater. Once he turned 12 months and I took him off breast milk, we started putting PediaSure in his milk for extra calories, protein, carbs, etc. Our pediatrician just told us to put cheese and butter on everything and he would eventually gain weight. He still won't eat anything, but he is now in the 25th percentile on weight, which is a huge improvement. Just stick with her and keep trying to encourage the food. She will catch up eventually.

JEff had trouble putting on weight when he was little. In fact the Drs put him in the hosptail and ex -ray every part of his body and found nothing. He late had his one in only asthma attack and then the Drs say that was his problem with weight putting on weight. He is now a health somewhat tall 24 year old adult young man. Please do not worry it is more then not nothing to worry about. sure talk to the Doctor to make sure and to be able to rest a sure about it.

Don't worry so much. My first daughter hit the chunky 6-9 stage but my second one never did. In fact she was always so skinny she didn't even register on the growth charts. Then she hit two years old and shot up to a normal height and weight, even though she is still skinny. Some babies just don't get fat. Enjoy your petite daughter

The dr. will help you feel more comfortable at her 1 yr. check up. Depending on her height/length maybe she just looks skinny because she is taller than average. One of my brothers was always a skinny little baby and finally beefed up around 3 yrs. old but not until then. If she is content and developing in all the other ways, she is just fine and her body is just doing her own thing. If the dr. has any concerns, he'll let you know but I bet she's fine.

My daughter is almost 2 and never went through a chunky stage-I missed it, b/c her big sister was so chubby and I loved it! What is she eating? If she is still on baby food that may be why she's not eating much! My daughter (the skinny one) only tolerated baby food for about a month-she was on table food at 6 mos old-saved us $$ on baby food and she eats very well! I've always heard you don't need to worry unless they are losing weight, you should be able to tell by the way her clothes fit if she is gaining weight. (My daughter can also wear lots of 12 mo size clothes at 23 mos old!) I agree with other posts about offering lots of snacks that are high in nutrients. You can also start her on milk if you havent already that can increase the calories. God Bless!

How much does she weigh... and how tall is she? My daughter never even made it on the charts until her 18 month check-up. And hasn't really gained any weight since then. She's is holding steady in the bottom 5% for her weight... but she is perfectly healthy! Try not to stress and let your doctor tell you what the deal is.

if she's one now and is able (no allergies or anything) I would start her on whole milk and try to give her about 3 bottles of it a day as well as offer food in between. she should have tripled her birth weight by 12 months. If this doesn't work, I would definitely let the Dr. make sure everything is okay. It's better to be safe!

Definitely talk to the doctor about your concerns and make sure there is nothing wrong first. There are so many things that can cause a lack of appetite -- ear infections, viruses, sore throat, etc. If there is nothing wrong, then I guess it just goes to show all babies are different. My son went through a phase where he wouldn't eat hardly a thing and the doctor just said that phases will come and go. He was right because now, it's like I can't keep him full. I have also known some women who had really long and lean babies and they have always been that way. Either way, I know you are worried. You are not alone, many mothers have worried about their child's lack of appetite. I hope that you get some explanation, resolution, or peace of mind soon.

Don't worry unless the doctor worries. My daughter never went through the chunky phase. She is now 3 and still wears a smaller size than her age group says she should wear. Her doctor said that as long as she is consuming enough food (formula as a baby) to equal 7 meals in one week that she was healthy. Bring your concerns to her doctor at the check up and go by what he says. She will hit a point where you can't keep enough food in front of her and then you'll wonder what you were ever worried about.
J.

Not every baby has a chunky stage. She may just be petite. I would make sure she is pooping and peeing like she should, make sure she is drinking liquids (water, milk, juice, formula)Maybe ask the doctor if you should give her a pediasure every day to ensure she is getting the vitamins she needs. Don't compare your baby to others...just herself. If she is failing to thrive, then I would worry, but if she is eating and drinking, pooping and peeing, it could be her metabolism and it will catch up with her when she is 30! ;-)

FTR, I have had chunky babies and scrawny ones. I say that kindly. My 9 yr old son was always skinny- looks like I don't feed him. He would prefer a big glass of milk over a plate of food. My 10 yr old daughter LOVES to eat and was a chunky baby. My 11 yr old daughter was a skinny kid but ate just fine. Each kid of mine (I have 6) is totally different. But as long as they are thriving and doing good, I am fine!

My oldest child weighed a little over 15 pounds at 1 year. At 18 months, she was the average height and weight of a 9 month old. I obsessed about getting her to eat more because the doctor was concerned about her weight. Now she is 8 years old and chunky. She always had good muscle tone, but never had the baby fat. Now the doctor says that she is overweight. I have a friend that spent a lot of money and time at the doctor's getting tested because of "failure to thrive." Now her daughter is ahead of where her older sister was at the same age without any intervention. Make sure there is nothing medically wrong, but please don't try to constantly force her to eat. That could lead to an eating disorder. Don't let her relate eating to pleasing you. Try to make the association with eating healthy to being healthy and feeling good.

I think you are right to be concerned. It is okay for children to be petite, but when they fall from the percentages they start out in, then it signals a concern. Ask your doctor what he/she suggests and offer her formula during the day. You may want to be referred to a gastroenterologist - esp. if your pediatrician is still not concerned, I would get another opinon.