Gaining weight!

mlamping

Hello, 

I am a lurker, and I hope you can help me. My dd is 2.5 and is 30 pounds. She has been the same weight since 18 months or so. We tried to feed her high calorie foods but she does not gain the weight. She is very active and I think burns its during her day. She is tall at 37 inches. My pedi thinks I should feed her more, but I am trying and it is not working.

Any ideas of how to have her gain weight. I think she is fine and healthy but the doc keeps telling me her weight should be changing.

Thanks for your advice.  

pitterpatter129

Huh.  The info sheet we got at the 2 yr appt said to expect very little weight gain this year...

 

LSU628

If it makes you feel any better, my DD will be 4 in July and is 28lbs on a good day. Can you have your LO drink the pediasure to get some extra fat and calories? Peanut butter is another staple in our house as are the 100% beef nitrate free hotdogs, guacamole and hummus.

NCMichelle

My DS hasn't gained an ounce or grown taller since his 12 month appt!  He currently weighs 20.2 lbs.  He's doing a sweat test on Monday to rule out cystic fibrosis and he has an endoscopy on Thursday.  He currently wears 12-18 month clothes and most of the shorts still fall off.

 

We have worked with a nutritionist (which was helpful in a way) and have ruled out allergies and gluten (he's sensitive to milk protein so we're off that).  He has sensory processing issues...  so combine that with pickiness and whatever medical issue is going on and it's a good time at our house.  

 

My DD hasn't gained weight in over a year either (she's 29.4 lbs) but the pedi isn't concerned with that because she has grown in height. 

XCrissCrossX

peanut butter, whole milk, avocado, nuts... try to fill her up with proteins rather than carbs.

tracy41

DS eats like a horse and at 34 months weighs 28 lbs. He's grown a lot in height though. I'm not worried but now I'm curious what his pediatrician will say at his 3 year check.

sucredee

Why is your pedi concerned? Your DD is at the 75% for weight and approx 90% for height...my DD is 3 and 28# (she is 50% for height and went from 10% to almost 25% for weight in the past year. The first 9 months of her life she was also in 50% for weight and then dropped. Since was was easing and doing well otherwise no one was concerned). . At 18 months and 30# your DD was over 95th% for weight. It is probably totally normal she hasn't really gained any weight, she just stretching out. 

If she was in the lower percentiles I would maybe be concerned but if your D is eating normally  and developing normally otherwise I wouldn't want to stuff her with high fat high calorie foods. If she is growing in height that is much more important. 

chardonnay24

Why is the pedi concerned? My son is the same age and is 36.5" and lbs.

He eats a ton but doesn't put on weight easily, probably because he is always active. He eats a lot of peanut butter, avocado, and full fat dairy, except milk, but you could always do whole milk if you're concerned.

ncbelle

It's normal for toddlers to not gain weight - most only gain a few pounds a year and some even lose weight as they outgrow "baby fat".  If she's healthy, I would not worry.  30 pounds is a very average weight for 2.5.  Just offer healthy choices and let her do the rest!

logoz80

My 2.5 year old is 22 lbs. These doctors will drive you crazy with the numbers. If she's eating, active and healthy, don't stress yourself over it

Angela814

I can see how it might be concerning that she's not gaining any weight, but weight gain does slow down quite a bit for toddlers. At 18 months, 30 lbs was 97th percentile for weight. At 2.5 years, it's between 50th and 75th. It sounds like her weight is now more proportional to her height. I'd just try to keep offering healthy fats and not worry too much. Does she have any other symptoms? Loose stools? Tummy aches after eating certain foods?

ETA: DD1 was 37 3/4" and 29 lbs 12oz at 2 years. She was absolutely at a healthy weight for her height then. It sounds like your DD is too.

mlamping

Thank you ladies, I feel better about it. She is a healthy little girl, so I am deciding she is just fine. thanks for all the answers and support. 

sugarbear0524

sucredee:

Why is your pedi concerned? Your DD is at the 75% for weight and approx 90% for height...

My DS had these exact stats at his 2 year appointment. The reason they may be concerned is not the percentiles themselves (which measure weight or height against other kids) but the relation between the weight and height (Body Mass Index). My son's BMI is 15, which is in the healthy category, but on the lower end. That's probably what they are looking at.