I am curious if this is cause for concern: My very healthy, energetic 6 yr old son has grown about 3 inches since he was 4, but has remained the same weight. He eats great and is very healthy. Has anyone else had their child go through something like this?
All my boys gained wt very slowly. Especially my middle one. He is now 9 years old, over 4ft tall and barely 50 pounds. As long as he is getting a good diet and is otherwise healthy, there is no reason to be concerned.
My son is 5 and the same way. Is he underweight? If you would see my son, you would think he is underweight, but the doctor told me that he is just right and that we just see so many "chunky" kids that we don't knwo what a normal kid looks like anymore. As long as he is not underweight and getting the nutrients he needs, there is no need to be concerned. Also, just mke sure he is not losing weight.
The hardest part I find about this is finding pants that fit. He needs a 6 for the length but they always fall down. I am always looking for the pants with the adjustable waist. They are slowly but surely becoming the norm, but it was hard there for a while. I had to get his pants at the Disney store all the time. I was able to put an 18 months pair of shorts on him the other day and they fit in the waist but were super short. That is how skinny he is.
As long as he is eating healthy and doesn't show any signs of something being wrong, I wouldn't worry about it. I was always an eater, very tall, and a bean pole. My brother was the same way. Has the doctor said anything to you about it? You say he is energetic, he's probably just burning off all that he takes in.
I have a 7 year old who is long and lean. Anytime he goes through a growth spurt, he "fattens up" then "stretches" it out. We notice he'll eat like a horse and wants to sleep more. Then we'll notice he's looking like he might have some meat on his bones. Then a couple of weeks later his pants are all too short and he's back to his bean pole looking normal self!
I am dealing with this too. My son just turned 5. He has grown in height but has not gained weight since his 4 year check up. The doctor really isn't concerned. However, sure enough, in the last month or two, he's gained a pound. It's just very SLOW. Anyway, go with your gut (especially since it's been two years). Ask the pedi what he/she thinks. I think it's pretty normal though.
My son is the same way. I asked my pediatrician if he was too thin and she said no he was just fine. As long as he is eating healthy and getting plenty of exercise I'm sure there is nothing to worry about, but at his next visit just check with your ped!
This happened to my oldest daughter. She started out for the first couple of years in the 50th percentile for height and weight, then her weight started to drop off and, eventually, her height gradually dropped off as well. Her dr. has kept a close eye on it but it appears to be normal for her. She is almost 13 and is now in the 10th percentile for weight and 25th percentile for height. She eats well and is very active so I try not to be concerned! Best of luck to you.
If your son is as active and has lots of energy than he most likely using up all the calories by just moving and running around like kids do. You can add fruits and juices this will help with the energy and the sugars natural will help the body also. He sounds like a hand full and healthy. Don't you just wish that you could bottle some of his energy. Save some for me.
Listen to your mothering instincts. Every child is different in their growth pattern.
I will tell you that my (now 15-yr-old) was in the 50 percentile on the growth chart for height but barely in the 5 percentile for weight. The pediatrician asked me about his eating habits. When I showed the doctor a picture of my husband (tallish but lightweight), he just gave a bit of a laugh and said let me know if there is a big change in how much he eats!
It certainly "like father, like son" for my kids!
Good luck.
Yes, I myself was a thin child, and, now thin adult. Be thankful. At 20 years old, I was 85 lbs, and, after my first child I went back down to 90. Now, after my third child, I am 110. Don't try to fatten him up, as long as he is eating. I could eat my entire family out of house and home and not show it. Its a good thing, don't try to make it a problem just because so many kids are more pudgy than they used to be. Make sure he is eating healthy. Many of my dinners did consist of a vegetable plate or fruit plate, as I did grow up in a healthy home. Don't just let him pig out on junk just because he doesn't gain weight. Its not a good habit to teach for when he gets older. Healthy habits are learned, so, make sure you teach him!!! :)
Yes. All 3 of mine at some point.
Yes, all my boys have done similar things. Sometimes they put on weight right before a big growth spurt, then don't put on any weight for awhile.
Still growing in height is good and if he is eating well, also good. Next time you are in to the Doc. see if he/ she is concerned.
Last year our Doc was concerned about my 16 year old who hadn't grown or put on weight in a year. He was very busy in sports and school and NOT eating well at all.
We kept a food log for 2 weeks then visited a nutritionist who reviewed it and made suggestions. But again, you would only take this route if Doctor is concerned about this.
