how to fatten this kid?

Pleione · August 2014

My kid will easily take over an hour to finish a meal because we bribe her with TV so she'll actually eat. Otherwise she'll happily have a few mouthfuls and be done. Which I wouldn't care about if it wasn't that she's slipped from the 30th percentile to the 15th and weighs 24 lbs (anyone got a kid this little?) I feel like I've tried everything - the high fat foods, snacks, etc.

And I have no perspective on what's "normal" for a meal at this age - to give you an idea, for dinner today she had a slice of bread with peanut butter, a bowl of broccoli and cauliflower, and a chicken drumstick. But the kid also can't sit still - she's bouncing off the wall all day long, so she might be burning more than she ought to be eating. So should I be stuffing her more somehow? And how on earth to get her to eat in a decent amount of time?

sarahandeddiejune212008 · August 2014

Avery is only 22.6lbs. She is constantly wanting to snack, but meals are hit or miss. For breakfast she'll eat an egg or 2-3 mini pancakes. Lunch and dinner I try to give her 2-3oz of meat, veggies and a carb. She rarely eats everything.

One go to snack for us is cheese. It's her favorite food. I also let her eat on the run if she is refusing to sit and eat. I'd rather her get the food in her than worry about her sitting. I know eventually she'll sit and eat.

Pleione · August 2014

@BethandBen - that is exactly what my kid's meals would look like if I left it up to her. The only reason it isn't is because of bribes and the pause button on the remote. And I know I'm creating a monster, it's just soo hard not to go down that road when I know what it's going to do to her weight if I don't. I'm sorry you're dealing with this too.

As for the pedi being concerned.... that's a whole different thread, don't get me started! We're in Canada and you don't get a pedi unless something is the matter with the kid, so she's seen by a regular GP. And they are nothing like a pedi - we're lucky if we get 2 minutes with them at an appointment. The nurse asks general development questions, and sends you on your way if you don't raise any red flags. Her weight hasn't raised any concerns with our GP, but I feel like she'd have to suddenly turn into a dwarf or something for it to register with him.

lilahbean13 · August 2014

This is us! Cooper will eat like 3-4 bites and be done. She's 27 pounds and 3 feet tall. I've been so worried about it and trying to get her to eat more but I get stressed out and worked up and give up. Glad to see we aren't the only ones

APendola · August 2014

Hey my daughter was 25 pounds at her 2 year check-up which was about 6 or 7 weeks ago.. She recently had a growth spurt and she's 27 pounds now. So they can pack on a couple extra pounds fast.

Like some other posters wrote, they come in all shapes and sizes. My doc has never expressed concern about my daughter being skinny. She was a chubby baby, but once she started crawling and walking, she really leaned out.

As long as you are offering a variety of healthy foods and your LO is active and happy, I wouldn't worry about fattening her up. It sounds like you are doing a great job with the food.

sarahandeddiejune212008 · August 2014

I forgot to mention that I started bribing both my girls. If they eat a majority of their meals (at dinner) they get a freezer stick. I found some made by Mott's, so at least they are better than the regular freezer sticks. It's worked very well for my 3yr old and pretty well for Avery.

Pleione · August 2014

@stephaniefine - huh, growth charts change at 2? First I've heard of it, I'll have to check it out, thanks! And 40th percentile for nearly 25lbs @Meow84? That's encouraging... and we're obviously talking about different charts here - you wouldn't know which one your pedi uses would you? That's the one I need!

@bellaxanthe - yup, same here, a tablespoon of something is all that goes down without bribery. And we've switched to whole grain and high fat everything too. No plans to go down to 2% milk here any time soon.

Thanks for the encouragement ladies, it's nice to know I'm not alone. I've been feeling like I have a scrawny waif on my hands recently reading about the other kids here and knowing she's dropped percentiles.

C&Csmommy · August 2014

Camden has dropped 3 lbs in the last month and it's because of the same thing, he is too busy to eat and has really no interest in food. I learned with my first that toddlers will not starve themselves and will eat when they really need to. With Camden we just offers food a lot and if he takes it great if not then we will wait 20-30 minutes and offer it again. We have also have started mixing the carnation breakfast essentials with his morning milk to give him some extra protien.

He currently weighs 26 lbs.

elizdg · August 2014

Graham has always been small (born at 4 lbs), but his pedi was concerned at his 2 yr appointment. He's tall and skinny (22 lbs at his appt). His pedi suggested lots of healthy fats, whole milk, full fat cheese, eggs, avocado, etc. We've also been supplementing with pediasure once a day (we tell him it's a "milkshake"). Graham is always on the go and too busy to stop and eat, so I feel your pain. We're going back in for a weight check next month. FFTC, I pretty much will give him whatever he wants to try as far as food goes, I'm just happy when he eats at all.

JulesET · August 2014

Logan went from the 15% to the 2% at his 2 year check up. The Pedi said to drop juice except for 1 pedisure juice box each day and that has helped a lot with his food intake. He went for a weight check just this past week and had gained 1.5 pounds in the last 3 weeks. Pedi was pleased with that and said just keep trying and focus on giving him the foods we knows he will eat rather then trying to introduce new foods or getting him to eat things we knows he probably wont. He has always been tiny and has never been more then the 20% for weight or height.

lewispm · August 2014

For the past month or so K has had no interest in eating. He asks for snack occasionally and I do provide them (though not often or in large quantities), but when it comes to meals I have to sneak bits in while hes playing with his food or a toy for the most part. Or I have to bribe him with "if you take 3 more bites, we can go play outside", etc.

He's definitely not small, though, so I haven't been to concerned. Its frustrating though so I feel your pain! Hopefully it is just a stage?? Sorry its rough

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