Hello, I posted before the board changed but I think I need more advice. My daughter is 6 and weighs 33 pounds. She has been to the Doctor who just writes her off as "Failure to thrive". But I will not let him win. She is a fun loving, active little girl who wants to do everything. She picks me up when I am down and I need to help her now. Any tips on what to give her that is good for her yet fattening or high in calories? Please help, I am at my wits end on this. Raven

Hi
Does your daughter eat properly or is she a slow picky eater? if she's eating a good diet (lots of whole milk, fresh fruits, veggies and meats?)You need to find out whats causing her to be so thin if she is eating properly. I suggest you find another doctor, she could have absorbtion problems and what she's eating just isn't getting ot where it needs to be. See if you can find a specialist or another doctor who is a little more willing to help.
good luck, :0)

Raven,
I am quite surprised that the Dr has not provided you more info concerning her diet.
Have you tried Pedisure? Or , in my sons case, we used Ensure diluted with milk.
Milkshakes, bananas, high carb foods.
Vitamins in addition.
Eliminate sugars from candy etc.
Use %100 juices. Look for sugar content and get the lowest sugar you can, because the carbs will turn into sugar and you won't need all the extra sugar.
Please inquire with your DR about any additional advice. Is she under a great deal of stress?
Best to you and your daughter.
Cimba

Hi Cimba,
Thanks for the info. I wouldn't say she is under a great deal of stress, if so she doesn't show it but I definately am! Maybe it effects her as well. She has been on Pedisure since she was a baby but if she drinks alot she throws up sometimes. We used to blame the Pedisure or Chocolate Milk she always wanted to drink. She eats candy I try to limit her but they even give it to her at school. She gets it from her dad as well. She gets multi-vitamins and she eats the most fattening of foods that I can get but either she doesn't eat enough of it or she has to much energy and wears it off. She also eats food that is very good for her. She loves Brocoli and fruit. She always says her stomach hurts, which means either she is full or she has to go to the bathroom. I think she doesn't eat enough period! I am still up for more tips!!!! Thanks, Raven

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~Raven~



[This message has been edited by moderator1 (edited 12-02-2000).]

You mention that her dad gives her candy. Not to be to invasive of your personal life or situation, but are you divorced? Does your daughter go to visit her dad on weekends? If so ... I would venture to say that yes, she is dealing with a lot of stress. Kids have a way of not showing the stress, or what is bothering them. I have two young children (son 9 and daughter 7) that live with their mother. My son is already counting the years until he can live with dad ... and my daughter is so torn that it is affecting her as well. My daughter is a very good eater (when she is with me), but she is so thin and frail. That is another story, but sounds as though there are similarities here.

Anther thing I agree with from a previous poster here, get a new doctor. Just because a person is a doctor (or a lawyer, or any other professional for that matter) doesn't mean they are good.

Above all else, try and keep her young life as "normal" as you can, and don't put to much emphasizes on these matters where your daughter can tell it is an issue.

Good Luck ... and keep us informed.
Dave

Hi Dave,
No we are not divorced but my husband is a Truck Driver and isn't home too often. He feels bad so he brings her candy. I think my daughter does feel my stress and pain. I am not well and I have bad days that my temper is short. I am sure these things affect her. But I still feel there is something else going on. Like if she eats cereal, she wants it but only eats alittle. Everything she wants and gets she doesn't finish. I am over weight also I wonder if she sees this and doesn't want to be over weight. Anyways. I am working on making her dinner and breakfast fun. I hope that it will help her eat better. Right now though her Grandpa is in ICU on Life Support and I just got out of the hospital. She is worried I know But she doesn't understand how seious Grandpa is. I want to prepare her for the worst but I am so worried it will cause her to stop eating. Thanks for your help if you have any other suggestions now that you know whats going on please feel free to write. Thanks Raven http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

Hi Raven ....

Real quick here, as I am getting ready to head to the office.

Well, it's good to hear mom and dad are both in the house, that eliminates that problem. From what you say though, I can see where there probably is a lot of stress on your daughter, or maybe I should say there are a lot of things that make her think. At 6 though, I wouldn't think that she would put together your weight issue and eating at this early age.

I went through the death of my mother when my kids were very young. Corbin remembers Grandma, but Megan was too young at the time. When we talk about Grandma, we say she is our "Special Angel" ... and the kids really accept that. Corbin says that he is special to have a special angel, and has even asked me if I had a special angel when I was young. I took the kids to the cemetary one day, and I was totally suprised at how they accepted it. They told Grandma that they loved her, and that they missed her. I have other family members there as well, and they showed an honest interest in all of it. I was reluctant at first to take them, but they have accepted it very well.

My thoughts now would be to take your daughter to another doctor, or to a specialist. It can never hurt to have a second opinion. Maybe her doctor can recommened her to a Nutritionist. That would probably be a good place to start. If the doctor tries to say she doesn't need to see a specialist, then I would most certainly find a new doctor.

Good Luck .....
Have a Great Day ...
Dave


[This message has been edited by moderator1 (edited 12-02-2000).]

Raven take heart I too have a 6 year old who also is very very thin 40lbs she is all arms and legs happy bouncy and vibrant.
I dont' feed her the most fattening things i can find but try for the healthy ones she eats huge amounts of fruit, bread,and rice (she loves it) not that she doesn't get the take out stuff.
Try peanut butter, honey and banana sandwiches it sound yuck but try one they are sooo good. When making soups and stews add rice or lentils or pasta. Use only full cream dairy products and add full cream milk powder to any muffins you make along with the hidden goodies like raisens, saltanas, dried apricots. Add bananas to milk shakes along with milk powder and yoghurt and a dobb of ice cream.Get her to help make these it is fun and she will start a conection with the ritual of food.
Don't make a big thing about eating kids always resist it they will either over eat or under eat. remember what we do to them now will affect their whole life.
My pediatrition told me not to worry too much as a child will rearly eat too much or to little if left to there own devices.
If she is full of energy don't worry it could be genetic a throw back to a skinny relative. But if she isn't got to another Doc and get her checked for diabetis.

Hope I've Helped a little, please let me know http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by Thai (edited 12-29-2000).]

Hi Raven. I'm new here but your post caught my eye. I have a 9 year old daughter who weighs 44pounds.... WAY underweight for her age and she looks like a charity poster fro famine relief http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/frown.gif She is weighed at the hospital on a regular basis and the last two times got told off as she had LOST weight (she's back up a tiny bit now)
However. She is healthy.. she is NEVER ill, she has unbounded energy and enthusiasm for life. She also has ADHD..hyperactive type.
I was told ADHD-ers are often small and underweight (even before medication) as they kinda burn all their calories off... just a thought..is she very active?
my Abby also has very poor circulation..her feet and hands are blue and I have often wondered if it's connected but no one seems able to tell me.

I have tried everything to get Abby to eat, but I have stressed myself more than I have ever managed to increase her intake. Aby has many sensory issues and refuses most textures, only eats pure white chikcen, wont chew any othe meat, won't eat 'kids' food (Mc Donalds etc). It is frustrating. However she'll eat rsaw vegetables and odd things like that.. all healthy,but not designed to help her gain weight!!
I think the main issue is whether your little girl is healthy or not. If she is pitifully thin AND unhealthy/energyless etc then you need another doctor and some serious help, but if she is bouncing with health and happiness, it may be just how she is for now... you may have to ride it out until she is older.

It's awfully hard I know http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/frown.gif
HUGS
Tufty
Mom to Abby 9 ADHD SID, Zach 7, Lucy 6 Charlie 3.7 Hypotonia, speech and developmental delays, seizures , connective tissue disorder cute as can be...

Tufty Hi there,
I thought my daughter was small but I really feel for you. My son also has sensory problems and wont even put meat in his mouth for the most part and I don't even think of offering eggs unless it is very hard boiled and only the yoke.
The only thing I could think of that may help is milk shakes if she will have them, or flavoured milks, to this I would add full cream milk powder and yoghurt also Ice cream if she doesn't mind the texture. Also those powders that body builders use are usually full of callories ask you diettion about them it might help.

Also on another matter my son(4) has a language and development delay if you would like to converse with some one who has the same problems leave me a message and we'll talk

Hello,
After reading all the post about underweight children, it prompted me to write about mine as well. I have identical twin daughters that had TTTS (twin to twin transfusion syndrome) when I was pregnant with them, for those that do not know what this is, it is when they share the same feeding cord ect..and one twin gets all the nutrients, food, ect..and the other doesn't get enough. They were given a very small chance of living 30% to be exact but made it at 2 1/2 months early weighing in at 2 lbs. & 11 oz. and 1 lb. & 11 oz. My little girl that weighed one lb. more than her little sis has never had a problem with eating and I beginning to wonder if i should even start to monitor her eating habits at this age...she is always eating and even finishes her sisters plate when she doesn't which is *TOO* often. She weighs 43 lbs. but is quite tall for her age. The doctor says there are only 5% of the children her age as tall as she is and my little one weighs 27 lbs. and is pretty normal in height for her age. She is very skinny! She will not eat anything hardly and is super active, but so is the other one. She will eat one or two bites of something and is finished. I let her eat whenever she wants because I feel that anytime she wants to eat it is good. Which runs into my other problem...The older larger twin feels like eating anytime and it is hard for me to not let her eat when I let the other eat anytime she wants to as well. Do you see my problem. I don't want to let the bigger one go around eating all the time because I am afraid that she will just get plum fat...but I don't want to make a big deal of eating issues with her at this age. Since they are identical twins and the only ones in the family it seems like everyone makes a big deal at how big the one is and how little the other is and I find them making playful remarks that worry me will bother them in the future. Their doctor isn't worried a bit about the bigger one and he says the little one will eat when she is ready to. He doesn't seem to think it is a problem. I really don't think there is anything wrong with the way she eats but I just wish I could find something to help her gain. Pediasure and such is out of the question for that stuff is waaaay to high for me to afford to buy since the other one would want some too (sigh)! It seems they started out like this from day one when I was pregnant with their weight gain and the TTTS they had. If anyone knows of anyone who had twins and had this as well, and their growth rate was the same or diff. please let me know or if anyone knows some suggestions with the problems I have mentioned when having two little ones in the house with different dieting ways please let me know. Hope to hear some suggestions soon.

Hi I just wanted to share my story.

My daughter is 6 1/2 now and weighs 38 LBS when she just turned 6 she was about 36 LBS. She is rather small for her age, the size of about a 4 1/2 yr old. She was born normal weight and height, but she just kept getting further and further behind. But I never really worried about how much she ate. She is a normal little girl, and is very healthy. As a baby she never once consumed an 8 oz. bottle. Her eating habits are still much the same. She eats like a bird. She doesn't look undernourshied at all, just like a normal kid, but still wearing slim sized clothes, and is the smallest in her first grade class. Just watch what she eats, is she eating a variety of foods. We set limits at dinner time, she has to eat at least so much meat, so much potatoes/stuffing etc, and so much vegetables. and has to take at least one bite of something new (vege's) I also tell her she has to drink her milk in her cereal bowl. Even if we go to McDonalds, I say "at least 4 nugget" and that is a big deal, she hardly touches her french frys; And I don't let her play until she has finished eating. Don't let her fill up on liquids at dinner time, especially on pop, this is always a problem at restaurants b/c they bring the drink long before the food. We waste more food and money on her than she ever eats. Also I'd like to note, that if I don't keep an eye on her eating on the weekend, she'll go all day without eating except one meal. This is not healthy and it is hard to keep track of someone elses eating if they are not complaining of being hungy. Don't get into the habbit of giving your daughter high fat foods, as this will just lead to poor eating habits and poor health in adulthood. Because of her age, at 5 yrs old we switched to skim milk, b/c that is what's recomended. Try things like ensure, but as long as your daughter is not losing weight, and is steadily growing, even if it is slowly, I wouldn't worry too much. That is what our doctor said, just as long as things keep going in the RIGHT direction not the other way. Some people are just smaller than others. Besides with all the overweight kids in America, what do you really have as a comparison.

One last thing, I am only 5'3 and her dad is 5'4. I was always small as a child and so was he, I kinda rely on the comfort of just knowing that we bred/produced a small child!!???? LOL

[This message has been edited by Shaelle (edited 01-19-2001).]

Thanks Everyone for your comments tips and support. My daughter is growning but slowly. It hit home on a couple of notes Shaelle said. My daughter always wants a drink and if I do not watch her she fills up on it before eating. She doesn't like to drink her milk in her cereal bowl but does if I get on her. She does like candy and cereal more than anything too. so I always get asked for cereal or candy and I have to explain over and over that she needs to eat better food. But one thing I will say is, I don't try to find the most fattening food but I guess a better way to word it is. I do not try to give her low fat foods. I go for Whole Milk Ice Cream, Sour Cream, Cheese and foods like that so there is added calories. She picks at her food, she eats like a bird and on weekends she has actually gone without eating three meals because like you said I forget to keep tabs on her eating habits. I know the blood tests says she's healthy and she is active and looks good, but thin. But I still worry but I do notice she is concerned with her weight which I find strange at her age. She says things like. I don't want to eat too much I might get fat or my tummy hurts because it is getting fat. Yeah right! There isn't a oz of fat on her body!!!!! Should I be concerned about those comments? Thanks again. Raven

My daughter has made comments about other kids as school--who comment on her size. I tell her that I was too the smallest kid in class, and it is no fun. And that she'll catch up one day. I am actually the one who makes the comments like, if you keep eating so much candy (she thinks she has to have some every day) you will get a butt like mommy's. I am overweight, and it runs in the family. I do exercise, and I don't skip meals in front of her. She sometimes thinks that she should exercise too, and I tell her that she does not need to worry about that now, but when she is older, maybe a teenager, she might need to get into the habit of it then. And we'll worry about then when the time comes. But she gets plenty of exercise now. I try not to make the day revolve around eating though. I think that is where my family has gone wrong, and why every one is so overweight. But this overweightness doesn't start setting in until about 22 yrs of age. With the skim milk, what I am doing is trying to follow recommended nutritional needs for children her age. And only eating high fat foods in "moderation". The added cholesterol and usually salt in those higher fat foods, aren't good for her either. If they are around the house alot, and you are consuming those too, then she may be getting the message that as an adult, it is okay to eat those foods too. And as adult, when we consume those kind of foods, we suffer the consequenses. I will note that if we are having chicken for dinner, I will pick off the skin, have a little bite, (it's so good) and set it aside, my daughter loves to eat it. I let her have mine. But I remember as a kid, I used to love that stuff too and I still do, but I don't need those extra calories. I don't tell her this, I just say, I don't want it. Let her indulge sometimes, but not all the time, I'd day have the whole milk ice cream on hand only for treats now and then. But keep yogurt handy for snacks. My daughter loves those go-gurts. I don't buy potato chips that often (because I'll eat'em) but we indulge now and then, may be once in a month or two. My daughter also loves plain old saltine crackers, ???. Apples and oranges. She likes carrots, celery and cauliflower, only if she can dip them. So I buy lite sour cream, not fat free. (I don't tell her) and mix in the ranch dip stuff. Great snack, with some cream in it too. She also loves cereal too, and remember that cereal is a good source of the vitamins and minerals that she needs, even if it is sugar smacks. Compare them at the store, they contain about the same amount of vitamins and minerals. Though she hardly consumes a cup of cereal. I wouldn't worry about how small she is, it sounds like she's pretty normal. Just small. Try to serve good foods that are healthy for every one in the family, and try for at least a 3 course meal. (meat, veggies, and what ever else.) If I can only get two (like in a casserole), that is when we might have the ice cream. (yes the good stuff) Just make sure she eats her food. (that whole 6 oz) http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wink.gif