My Son Is to Small

I'd say find a new doctor. Parents worry enough on their own without a doctor putting new fears in their heads.

Does he look too skinny? If not, don't worry. They all catch up sooner or later. My friend's little one is about the same size and perfectly healthy. His body knows when it needs more food to grow on. When he asks for more give him more.

Good luck.

Hi N.,

I am not a mom yet, due in October...but I would say try to make him smoothies of some sort and you could add any of the following protein powder, fresh fruit, milk, yogurt.

What does he like to eat? Somehow you could creatively add protein or extra calories by using a blender or food processor?

just some ideas, good luck!

M.

My son was only 1lb more then yours at his 1yr checkup. He's in the 15th percentile for his weight but my doctor is not concerned. He said now that he's moving all over, he's just burning it up. As for feeding, what do you give him? Brandon eats everything we eat. We make him chicken nuggets, fish sticks, veggies, everything. Just keep trying new things everday, every meal if need be.

Good luck!

P.

I of course defer to your pediatrician, but I always understood that unless a child was off the charts there was no big cause for concern. The reason I can't understand why your pedi would say that is because at one year my daughter was 18 pounds. I don't remember how many inches was but she's 4 and only 38 inches now, so I'm sure it was around 29 or 30 inches back then.
I guess the thing you asked for was advice, so let me try to give you some. I guess I'd do whole milk, offer a lot of healthy snacks like apples and peanut butter (provided there are no allergies) cheese, yogurt, bread and butter, and of course all the fruits and veggies. Avocados are packed with healthy fats. Bananas are usually easy for a kid.

N.,
IT's natural to be concerned but I wouldn't worry, my son is 17 months and weighs a wopping 21.5 ponds and is 33 inches tall. He is pretty tall for his age and very skinny. we have a hard time putting clothes on him because the 12 month size shorts cut into his belly and the 18 months slide right off.
Anyway, my son eats a lot of food and loves food, he just doesnt gain much weight. I would feed him more frequently throughout the day and make sure he is eating healthy foods...my son doesnt get much junk food, maybe a cookie here and there but not much more than that.
As long as your son is eating food and healthy foods and is active, than he is healthy. I cant recommend any ways to help them gain weight, not sure if I would do it anyway.

My son is 3 yrs old today and weighs about 30 lbs. and Stands maybe 3 feet tall. His sister is now 5 and at age 2 weighed almost 40 lbs and was 3 feet tall at age 2. I bought him a new birthday outfit today and his shirt is 18months and his shorts are 12 months and I had to roll the waist band once or they would fall off. But my son is very happy and healthy and just small. His father was the same way as a child he says and I honestly am not concerned. The doctors always tell me he is healthy just small. You also have to realize that the charts they use are averaged. And as most people well know we live in a society that is getting fatter. So I'm sure they have 50 lbs one year olds and 10 lb one year olds added in there. Don't be worried as long as he is consistently healthy. If he is getting sick alot then I would be concerned. Otherwise don't get him worried about his image or weight it will only get him worried about it too young. at 1 yr old my son was even smaller than yours. So I really wouldnt worry.

Hey N.!

I don't think I'd worry too much, honestly. Your son sounds very much like our little boy (although maybe a little bigger than ours was at 1!). Our son is 3, almost 37 inches tall & weighs 29 pounds soaking wet. :)

He is *very* active, eats like a horse, and burns all of the calories he eats & then some. I seem to remember, around age 1, that Chase was a little pickier with what he ate. He ate oatmeal almost everyday (sometimes for more than one meal), and our pediatrician loved that. She said he'd outgrow his picky phase, and to continue offering a variety of foods. He did - he eats almost everything in sight these days!

Our doctor also said that with kids, you need to look at what they eat over a few days' time, not just at one meal or one day. Most toddlers get all of their nutritional requirements and eat what they need in that period of time, although each meal may not seem filling or like "enough." I'd say just make sure he's getting fruits, veggies & protein without a lot of extra sugar & fat and you both should be just fine!

Good luck!
J.
(mom to tiny Chase - 3)

I wouldn't worry too much at this point. My daughter was even smaller at her 1 year check up and now that she is 15 is very healthy and petite. She only weighed 17.5 pounds and about the same height as your son. Currently, she is just shy of 5 feet tall and barely 100 pounds but she just comes from small people and your son's genetics should be considered.

I wouldn't overly worry...they really do come in all shapes and sizes. You can try to fatten him up with healthy food choices....but remember alot can change in a short time period.

I do home daycare and they are all shapes and sizes...but noe are ill more than others, all eat well in general and are active and happy kids.

I have a 7 mos old girl who is 20 pounds....a 10 mos old (this weekend)girl who is only 15 1/2...2 year old twin girls who are like 19 and 21 pounds each...then a 3 yr old sibling of the lightweight 10 mos old who is only about 25 pounds. And beleive it or not the 3 year old can eat more than my 200 pound weight lifter husband...amazing to see! She can eat 4 adult siz servings of spaghetti and meatballs.....at leat one can of any canned vegs you give her...easily 3 bananas at a sitting...but she never gains weight it seems.....her 18 mos size shorts from previous summers fit (no diaper now) they are just too short (daisy dukes look real bad on a 3 year old!)

Anyways...my point is...feed him healthy stuff as often as he will eat...keep him active and I wouldn't worry....stay away from all the junky foods still....not a good way to fatten any of us.....I am sure it all will even out in his future...I would only worry if he is ill and lethargic alot.

You could fatten him up with the foods that we as adults generally try to avoid.

Whole milk, non-fat cottage cheese, non-fat sour cream, non-fat cream cheese, sugar, butter...and lots of it. You could try the carb foods too, because carbs turn to sugar and add weight, like pasta's, potato's, corn...you could even try corn on the cob...my daughter loves to munch it right off the cob, and load everything with butter of course. Hope those ideas help.

Hi - Your son sounds fine. As long as you are offering healthy foods for him, he should be fine. My daughter was less than 18 lbs at one and she is a perfectly healthy two year old - but very petite. The only thing I do to add extra calories is buy either the pedisure or a cheaper alternative is the Carnation instant breakfast powder which I mix with her milk - she loves it! Don't let the "growth curve" thing bother you to much. He might just be a kid who hits his growth later than most. My husband who is a big man was very small until college!! Good luck!

When our little girl turned one she weighed 16 pounds. I was concerned because so many people mentioned how little she was. The doctor told me she is just fine and for every child in the 90% there is one in the 10%. She told me I could add Pediasure (or something similar) to add calories/nutrition but that it wasn't necessary. She will be 4 in a few weeks and is 36 inches tall and almost 29 pounds. Her little brother (who turns 2 today!) is also 36 inches tall and weighs 36 pounds. They come in all shapes and sizes, just like the rest of us. Don't worry!

My son is almost three and only weighs 26 lbs. He is tiny for his age and I get comments all the time from other parents but I am only 5 ft tall so I think he is just taking after me.
He eats like a horse and sometimes when I am busy I will admit that he gets fast food three times a week although I do the whole apple instead of fries thing.
I just took him to WIC for his checkup and the nutritionist told me he is doing just fine.
I really would not worry about it unless he was drastically losing weight.
BTW my brother was the same way and he is a normal teenager.

I want to repeat what some others have said. Please don't worry too much! My daughter was tiny when she was younger (she didn't hit 20 lbs. until she was 2 1/2). The Dr. said that he was worried and we should put weight on her, he went so far as to recomend ice cream for breakfast. This sounded a bit fishy to me so we went to another dr. to see if this was a common thought process. This doctor told us that our daughter was really healthy (good muscle tone, happy, learning, engagable -- everything "falure to thrive" isn't) and not to worry. Kids eat when they're hungry. Obviously offer a variety of healthy foods, but just allow her to grow at the rate she's going to. This was the best advice we could have received. We now have a petite 9 year old who is smaller and lighter than all of her classmates, but that's just who she is. (look at the genetics in your family, I had a 4'9" grandmother) We also have established healthy eating habits. Instead of ice cream for breakfast, if she's hungry, she'll have a 2nd apple.

N. I personly would not worry about your sons weight that much. As long as you know that he is eating and all. When my oldest daughter was one she only weighed in at 17lb and to this day she is still tiny as her weight goes she is now 11 yeas old and she only weighs 72lbs and that is if she has on blue jeans and is fully dressed. My Dr. have never been conserned with her weight or anything. I would not be to worried if I were you.

Hope this helps you any some way.
M.

Some babies are just genetically built that way. Both of my girls are small. My daughter is 19 mos and still only 23lbs but eats like a horse. My oldest is 8 but only weighs 55lbs. Just continue to try different foods with your child. It sometimes takes them 8-10 times to try a food before they like it. If your doctor is concerned he can provide a medical solution. My 19 mo old loves pasta, veggies she can pick up like peas and green beans, bananas, canned fruit, and sometimes I supplement with the Gerber Graduates meals. Good luck to you.

My son was the exact same weight and maybe 1/2" taller at his one year check-up. He is now a 35# happy and healthy 4 year old. I never gave him any vitamins, but have considered it. Just keep giving healthy food choices and you little guy will eat when he is hungry. They seem to grow in fits and spurts, so he might be just on the verge of a growth spurt.
My advice: try to relax and enjoy your son.

N.,

I see you have a lot of responses, but wanted to let you know that my son is the same. He was the exact same weight as yours at 1 year. I can't remember how tall he was, but do remember it was the 14% for his age. I worry that he doesn't eat enough, because that is what Mom's do! :) He is getting less picky as he gets older (he's now almost 16 months). My pediatrician hasn't been concerned because his growth curve has continued to rise, with him at the 7% for weight and 14% for height since about 9 months. It's funny because he was 9 lbs 7 oz when born and his brother has always been on the high end for height and in the middle for weight. I expected him to be a big boy, since he started so big!

I second the vote for Avocado if he'll eat it, it's a great source of good fats. He might also be a snacker, so you may try adding more small meals throughout the day. My son tends to be hungrier at 4:30 than he is at 6 when we eat dinner, so I usually feed him a bigger snack then and less for supper.

Good luck to you!
J.
SAHM to Charlie (3) and Joey (nearly 16 months)

Is your son along the same percentage for height and weight as he has been in the past? If that has been consistent, then DON'T beat yourself up about it.

Both of my kids are quite small. We worried about my son because he was so much smaller than all of his peers. He turned 3 in Feb and is still smaller than the "average", but he has remained in the same percentile categories since birth. My husband and I are not large, therefore neither are our kids. Our daughter who is 18 months is in the 10th percentile for height and 5th percentile for weight (she only weighs 20.6 pounds). Our doc said if this was a one time meeting with her, he might be concerned, but since she has remained consistent in her growth and is otherwise very healthy/active he isn't at all concerned.

As for the eating (well, not eating), they ALL go through it! I swear my kids will eat like crazy one day and then go a week with hardly eating a thing. Yes, it's frustrating, but as long as you keep offering him healthy snacks - even if he just grazes throughout the day, he'll get what he needs.

Good luck! You're doing a great job!

N.,
My son is 2 1/2. He was an 8lb. baby. He was in the 50th percentile all the way until his 1 year check-up. He began to drop off the growth chart in weight. His height and head size remained in the 5oth percentile. He has been labeled, "Failure to thrive" because he does not eat a big enough variety of foods and his weight is not increasing. He drinks 2 bottles of Pediasure a day to give him the nutrients he needs. He was in "feeding therapy" at St. David's in Minnetonka for a while until our insurance would not pay for it anymore. If your son is healthy and eats some foods from each food group and is in proportion and the doctor agrees I would not worry. If your doctor is concerned I would continue to seek advice and help. Especially if he is only 1 year old. He is young enough to be able to change eating habits and ideas. You are your son's advocate. If you are concerned, find a doctor to support you!

Looks like you've received a ton of responses, but just wanted to add my 2 cents. My daughter was 5 lbs 10 oz at birth. Her father and I are not big people. Today she is 6 years old and weighs in at a whopping 39 lbs. She's healthy, eats VERY good, but our Dr says that around 6 months of age babies typically start to grow according to their genetics.

Now, on the other hand, I've witnessed my sister being told by her Dr that her children need to be as close to the 100th percentile rank as they can be. Her oldest is now 7 years old and is obese, in my opinion - wearing size 12 jeans and weighing almost 100 lbs. The percentile tells us where our child falls amongst a number derived by a makeup of their peers. Some children are genetically driven to be larger and some smaller. I don't put too much stock in the percentile rank, myself!

All kids go through their picky eating stages. Our Dr told us to get Poly Vi Sol (liquid vitamin) and give it to her if we felt like she was missing nutrients. We bought it, but I'm not so sure we ever even used it!

Good luck and I'm sure he's just fine.

N. my daughter was 4lbs 10oz when she was born and at her 1 year check up she weighed 18 pounds. Her father and I are both tiny people and her father is asian so the doctor doesn't show any concern. The only thing she tells me is that as long as she follows the growth curve and doesn't dip below her norm then everything is fine. Before you get extremely worried maybe go to another pediatrician their opinion.