My daughter will not gain weight! Need Help and advice.

mamajemjme

I went into the doctor today for her 15 month checkup and when we put her on the scale, I completely lost it.  She weighed in at 18 lbs and 14 oz, and I am completely at a loss what to do.  Every night, I feel like a short order cook.  She doesn't want to eat what we eat and it is getting so exhausting.  I often have to prepare 3 or 4 different things for her, and when all is said and done, she ends up snacking.  It doesn't help either that I am 8 months pregnant because all I can do now is cry and cry and cry.  Please give me any advice you have.  I went to see a nutritionist and these were a couple of ideas.  I can't get her to eat meat, she is hit or miss with cheese, doesn't like past.  I am extremely consistent and everything ends up on the floor except french fries, fruit, waffles and sometimes graham crackers.  I have also tried avocados, eggs and mashed potatoes but she will not eat those either. 

 

1.  Put butter on veggies and any other side items

2.  Put Cool Whip on fruits

3.  Give her Carnation instant bfast in her milk, which she hates

 

Please HELP! 

BFab11

Is she on a meal schedule? If she's snaking all day, she won't eat well at dinner, kwim?

Cook meat, veggies, etc in olive oil, I'd do yogurt instead of cool whip on fruit to reduce sugar, try cottage cheese also. Is her pedi concerned about her size?

lite-bright

Full-fat yogurt? Also, add sour cream or cream cheese to different foods. I put flavored cream cheese (strawberry, blueberry, etc.) on my girls' waffles. Offer ranch dressing for dipping.

If she hates the Carnation stuff, personally, I'd try adding heavy cream to her milk for extra calories. It's like milk jacked up with extra fat, right? 

I had this happen when both of my girls started walking/running between 12-15 months -- they plunged in the percentiles even though they were eating a lot, there wasn't enough fat in their diets to keep their weight steady. DD2's pedi appointment is tomorrow and I fully expect to be told she needs to be on a high-fat diet. With DD1, we started at 12 months and by 15 months, her weight had evened out and we could back off on the extra calories.  

MrsSR

Will she eat purees?

 Does she eat at a certain time each day?

Is she spitting any of it up or throwing up from eating it?

LizzieTim

Have you tried letting her "dip" things? At 15 months my son discovered ketchup and fell in love... dipping french fries, chicken nuggets, etc.

Then he discovered the whipped cream I dip my waffles into at the diner and started loving that... I think kids just love to dip - cream cheese, chip dip, ketchip.

Oh and he loves potatoe chips and the lipton veggie dip mix (just add the packet to sour cream, in your case get the full fat)

Could you try making a fatty smoothie with whole milk yogurt, peanut butter, bananas, etc. and give it to her in a cool cup with a fun straw? My son likes straws

Will she eat the fruit/veggie pouches? They are not high-cal, but may be a novelty for her and get something healthy in?

Oh and my son has recently shown less interest in eating so we started feeding his favorite stuffed animals and it seems to motivate him.

And try putting her in front of the TV... my son doesnt really watch TV, but sometimes he'll space out for a few mins which is long enough to squeeze in a few bites

melody921

Full-fat yogurt and cook with olive oil. Can she have peanut butter or another high-fat substitute? Havew you tried Pediasure?

SaranJonathan

I would make her pudding pops. Use a regular instant pudding packet + 2 cups whole milk + 1 T vegetable oil (not olive oil though, its strong). Freeze them for a nightly treat.

Add peanut butter or nutella to things

Butter, sour cream, melted cheese

Frosting on graham crackers

I would use heavy whipping cream instea of cool whip on fruit (more calories)

Add powdered milk to her whole milk

Bananas dipped in chocolate or peanut butter or honey

Abinormal

First of all, is she falling in the percentiles? Is her doctor worried? and Did she gain weight from 12 months to 15 months?

I have a small child, but she's proportionate in her height/weight and she hasn't lost weight between appointments since she was a couple weeks old. However, she only gained 3 lbs from 9 months to 18 months.

Does she drink milk if there isn't Carnation Instant in the milk? If so, then I'd just make sure she's getting 16-20 oz of milk a day, there's a significant amount of fat/calories in whole milk. Also, what foods does she enjoy eating? Do you have a day to day eating schedule? Is she spending a majority of the day snacking? Have you ever done a calorie count?

SaranJonathan

Also have set times for meals/snacks. No snacking between those times. Make sure shes not drinking during her meals, liquids after

vicki0827

You may also want to try Pediasure.  DD is not a fan of Carnation, but she loves the Pediasure. 

I also want to add that if she is gaining something, don't get yourself all crazy.  DD is 5 and only weighs 28 lbs.  I'm not sure about your genetics, but DH and I are both small, so we don't really expect our kids to be very big (or average). As long as she is healthy otherwise, dont fret!

Kingston54

I do agree about the snacking - if she's snacking all day she might resist meals.  Maybe try to just stick to 3 meals and one snack?

Also, my LO refuses everything too.  I've finally agreed that for now I'll just feed him the same foods over and over again - whatever it takes to get him to eat.

Was your pedi worried?  Is she drinking 18 oz. of milk?

Have you tried YoBaby yogurt?

Dreamsicle23

Abinormal:

First of all, is she falling in the percentiles? Is her doctor worried? and Did she gain weight from 12 months to 15 months?

I have a small child, but she's proportionate in her height/weight and she hasn't lost weight between appointments since she was a couple weeks old. However, she only gained 3 lbs from 9 months to 18 months.

Does she drink milk if there isn't Carnation Instant in the milk? If so, then I'd just make sure she's getting 16-20 oz of milk a day, there's a significant amount of fat/calories in whole milk. Also, what foods does she enjoy eating? Do you have a day to day eating schedule? Is she spending a majority of the day snacking? Have you ever done a calorie count?

All of this.  Try not to freak out too much unless the pedi is concerned.  Also, IMO being a short order cook makes eating habits worse.  Not just because of pickiness, but because it's a battle that she keeps winning.  I know it seems counter productive to let her go hungry if she doesn't want what you make, but I think if she learns "you get what you get" and you don't engage in battle, she will probably come around and eat more of the things you want her to be eating.

mamajemjme

lite-bright:

Full-fat yogurt? Also, add sour cream or cream cheese to different foods. I put flavored cream cheese (strawberry, blueberry, etc.) on my girls' waffles. Offer ranch dressing for dipping.

If she hates the Carnation stuff, personally, I'd try adding heavy cream to her milk for extra calories. It's like milk jacked up with extra fat, right? 

I had this happen when both of my girls started walking/running between 12-15 months -- they plunged in the percentiles even though they were eating a lot, there wasn't enough fat in their diets to keep their weight steady. DD2's pedi appointment is tomorrow and I fully expect to be told she needs to be on a high-fat diet. With DD1, we started at 12 months and by 15 months, her weight had evened out and we could back off on the extra calories.  

 

I like the adding heavy milk to her milk for extra calories...thank you so much!!!! 

mamajemjme

Not spitting up or throwing up from eating.  She pretty much eats at Bfast - 8:30 am, snack - 10:30, lunch - 12 or 12:30, snack - 3:00, dinner - 6:00.  I think this is a pretty good schedule, but if you think I should do something different, I am all for your thoughts!!!  Thanks  

Baby428

I recently discovered that DD LOVES bananas dipped in crushed graham crackers.  Also, take tonight for instance, DD would not touch her dinner...she maybe had a few bites.  I removed her from her high chair and we played outside for a good hour then I brought her back in and offered the same exact dinner.  SHE INHALED IT!  Maybe the snacks are filling your LO up? 

mamajemjme

She is not falling in the percentiles, she has always been in the 3rd percentile for weight and 10th for height.  The doctor doesn't seem too concerned, but once again referred me to go the nutritionist.  She does drink milk without Carnation instant bfast.  I think I just need to get better about making sure she eats what I offer her at meal times and no exceptions afterwards.  Should I be offering her milk throughout the entire day?  Thanks!!!

 

g8trkim

I would just try to add fatty things to the stuff she likes. If she likes waffles add butter, yogurt, cream cheese, peanut butter... things like that. Also, I always see commercials for pediasure. That may be a good calorie increase and it's probably tasty.

Abinormal

mamajemjme:

She is not falling in the percentiles, she has always been in the 3rd percentile for weight and 10th for height.  The doctor doesn't seem too concerned, but once again referred me to go the nutritionist.  She does drink milk without Carnation instant bfast.  I think I just need to get better about making sure she eats what I offer her at meal times and no exceptions afterwards.  Should I be offering her milk throughout the entire day?  Thanks!!!

 

If she's never fallen in percentiles and is pretty even in height/weight percentiles, then I honestly feel like you have nothing to worry about. There has to be kids in every percentile, otherwise the percentil wouldn't exist. Trust me, I understand how frustrating it is to have a small child and a picky eater, but I've recently started to accept that my daughter is who she is and I need to accept her for who she is. Is your daughter meeting all her other milestones? Is she showing any signs of malnutrition? Maybe your doctor has suggested the nutritionist, merely because you seem so upset by her size. Just let things be, offer your daughter food and allow her to eat what she wants of the food that is offered. The thing I've found most difficult is not being a short order cook and in some ways, I still give my daughter several options. However, now I put food in front of her and it's typically 1-2 items that I know she'll eat and 1-2 items that I'm pretty sure she won't touch. Sometimes she surprises me, like tonight when she ate some peas because she was excited about having "balls" on her plate, lol!

lotsofbustles

She's fine IMO.  She's almost 19 lbs!  My sisters and I were tiny babies.  My dad was in medical school at the time and thought there was something wrong with us but, we were all fine.  Dad's an MD and my Mom was an EBD teacher  2 very qualified people to raise babies.  I was 17 lbs at a year, next was 16 lbs at a year and my sister Abby was 15lbs at a year.  We are just tiny people.  Our dd was 18 lbs at her 1 yr check. 

Try to relax.  Lots of kids go through phases where they seem like they eat nothing.  Keep offering the food and find some favorites that she will eat consistently.  My cousins daughter wanted nothing but fruit from about 18 mo to 3 yrs.  They just kept offering everything and she came around eventually  She is a very healthy little girl. 

HTH

MermaidNM

I I have more comisseration that advise because my DD is not even 16 pounds at 12 months and has fallen percentiles, so clearly I am not in a position to tell you what to do, but certainly understand how you are feeling.

First if she is happy and healthy in all other ways, don't worry too much, but if you feel something is not right, make sure you do something about it.

Second, I have had good luck reading the Ellyn Satter books.  I read Child of Mine and How to Get Your Child to Eat.  I preferred the format of How to Get Your Child to Eat but Child of Mine focuses much more on infants/toddlers.

It isn't just about the food and people giving high fat/calorie food ideas is helpful but misses the root of the problem at least in my case.  DD is picky, doesn't like to sit for long and just plain old doesn't like to eat much.  Also she doesn't want to be fed but doesn't use a spoon and doesn't like the way a lot of things feel.  I have to practice being patient with her and letting her eat at her pace what and how much she wants. 

The best thing I did to help was get her a booster that straps onto a chair rather than use a high chair.  Also having the same meal as her and both eating it together helps.  Also she does not think she is a little girl, so do not give her little pieces of apple, peach, ect.  She will not eat them.  She wants a big piece she can bite.  Scary choking hazard, yes, but it works.

 People can tell you that if the pedi isn't worried, you shouldn't be, but you know her best and you need to follow your gut.  My pedi is concerned but not worried, but in my gut, I know she is hungry and not eating enough.  I am with her everyday.

 Good luck to you and feel free to PM me if you need extra support.  I am not on the boards much, but check in every so often.  I def check my PM more.