How can a child gain weight? What do you feed your child?

[cantbearit2]

cherrygal:

Haha, thanks everyone for your comments.

My son is 109cm, 19kg... when he stands next to boys his age at kindy, he is one of the shortest and smallest. The doc said not to worry coz he is active but he is always at a disadvantage when he plays at downtown east or some kids playground. I always worry that he would be pushed down or trampled on.

As he goes to full day childcare, I don't see what he eats for breakfast, lunch and tea. He drinks a cup of milk before leaving for childcare and is supposed to eat his brekkie there. He tells me sometimes he doesn't eat what they serve for breakfast but he eats 2 bowls of rice/noodles for lunch. He eats a good serving of rice, vege and meat/fish for dinner everyday coz we always cook. He treats himself to yoghurt, ice cream, lollipops even after dinner, then downs 2 cups of milk before sleeping. He is quite fussy about his breakfast - no untoasted bread, no jam, no kaya, cheese must be melted (how to melt at the kindy??)...so he ends up not eating breakfast. He said he only wants ham and hotdogs or eggs. But breakfast cannot be the only thing causing this rite?

He eats like a snail at home... taking >1hr to finish his dinner, sometimes not even finishing the rice but I make him swallow the protein and veges.

Hello Cherrygal,

Could it be genes? My 6y.o. DD1 even skinnier. She is only 14kg and abt 103cm tall. Each time I chk wif the Paedi, all said the same thg. As long as she is healthy and hit her milestone, we shld not be unduly worried. IM also worried for her when she goes P1 next yr. How to carry a bag full of books???

All my relatives and even my mom said DD1 looks like me when I was a kid (which is true, I was like a bamboo pole) but look at me now (fat mama, haha...).

So I juz continue to give her Pediasure twice a day with all full meals included (snacks, supper, titbits etc) and continue to monitor her lor.

[Jennifer]

cantbearit2:

Each time I chk wif the Paedi, all said the same thg. As long as she is healthy and hit her milestone, we shld not be unduly worried.

I regretted listening to my boys' PD. It does matter when they kept falling sick at least once a mth n not putting as much weight as they are eating. It all boils down to not absorbing the nutrients or digestive sys not working well. Now we are doing nursing back to proper health.

[cherrygal]

Jennifer:

cantbearit2:

Each time I chk wif the Paedi, all said the same thg. As long as she is healthy and hit her milestone, we shld not be unduly worried.

I regretted listening to my boys' PD. It does matter when they kept falling sick at least once a mth n not putting as much weight as they are eating. It all boils down to not absorbing the nutrients or digestive sys not working well. Now we are doing nursing back to proper health.

Really? How are you making them gain weight? Any medicine?

I now remember my cousin taking some medicine to kill worms in the tummy. She was really skinny last time and started to put on weight after the bout of medication. Wonder if I should get my son to see the doc.

[dimsum]

I need help too! My DS’s legs are like 2 sticks. He doesn’t like to eat. Coming to 4yo and I still have to feed him and he can take more than 2 hrs to finish a meal! I am very frustrated. Sometimes, he can say he’s hungry but after just a few bites, he says he’s full and refuses to eat anymore. He dislikes meat. Even drumstick, he can complan it’s tough! Really heartpain when he falls ill. Totally no more allowance to lose further weight.

[vicki]

cherrygal:

My son is 109cm, 19kg... when he stands next to boys his age at kindy, he is one of the shortest and smallest. The doc said not to worry coz he is active but he is always at a disadvantage when he plays at downtown east or some kids playground. I always worry that he would be pushed down or trampled on.

Hi Cherrygal -- if our boys end up in the same class -- they might become partners!! My boy is abt 108cm and 20kg!

And he always ask me why is he a K2 but have N or K1 size!? (I have no answer to that).

Actually my boy eats ALOT - can finish a whole pack of Chicken rice (adult portion). In CC, teacher also tells me he asks for 3 helpings!! But dunno why - still so small size! Infact, i only bot his CC unform once (when he first join the school at 18 mths) and he is still wearing the same uniform!! Unbelievable!!

I also dunno if it its genes (cos i quite tall for a gal 168cm but my dh is quite short for a guy (169cm) --> told dh its all his fault!!

Anywas, so as long as he eats normally and is healthy - i guess should be ok...

[mrswongtuition]

My boy is considered skinny (takes after me) but he's very tall for his age. At one point, we faced the same problem - poor appetite and very fussy about food.


Now, his appetite is super huge and it's so scary to watch him eat (and only put on that little bit of extra weight - but at least he's not that skinny).

Things we did:
1. Gave him some chinese herbs to stimulate appetite (there are ready made powders but I preferred to choose the herbs ourselves and blend them at home - quality control). Since it's in powder form, we gave him 1/4 tsp daily, mixed into his milk. Ever since then, his appetite increased tremendously.
2. Stock up on their fave foods. My boy loves certain brands of biscuits/snacks and we simply made sure there's amply supply at home. He's allowed to snack as and when he likes as long as he's able to finish his proper meals.
3. Introduce different types of foods. I was very strict about his food before he turned 3yo (no junk food). Now that he's older, I allow certain 'junk foods'. His current fave - CHEESEBURGER. I will give it to him if he has been a good boy. Amazingly, he can finish 1 whole burger on his own after his dinner and milk.
4. Constantly offer him food. I realise that my boy won't eat when he is 'busy'. We have to keep offering him food. \"Do you want to eat watermelon?\" \"You want some biscuits?\"
5. Give him a hearty breakfast. I know for some kids that go to CCC, they have their breakfast there. For my boy, even when he was attending CCC, we made him have breakfast at home. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and I want to make sure he really puts food into his mouth. My boy's current fave for breakfast - Peanut Butter with bread/crackers.
6. Gave him supplements to prevent him from failing sick (once they fall sick, they lose weight very fast and it's very hard to pile back the weight!)
More details about the supplements I give here: http://thelittleonesinmylife.blogspot.com

Hope this is useful

[sakura_2009]

dimsum:

I need help too! My DS's legs are like 2 sticks. He doesn't like to eat. Coming to 4yo and I still have to feed him and he can take more than 2 hrs to finish a meal! I am very frustrated. Sometimes, he can say he's hungry but after just a few bites, he says he's full and refuses to eat anymore. He dislikes meat. Even drumstick, he can complan it's tough! Really heartpain when he falls ill. Totally no more allowance to lose further weight.

Like u, DS doesn't like to eat meat and has a small appetite. My mum used to say: 'Don't eat meat, won't put on meat'. She's referring to my DS and I guess she meant that DS won't put on weight since he doesn't consume much meat. He's already in P3 & weighs a mere 22kg.

Like most mummies, I brought him to several docs since young but they all said the same thing...as long as he is eating well and healthy, no need to worry...Of course I tried all sorts of methods, from Pediasure (he took this milk from 3 to 8yrs, gave up liao coz don't see any improvement in terms of appetite or weight), vitamin boosters with lysine, probiotics, even brought him to Chinese docs...so far don't see much results... :roll:

I got worried when I saw how skinny and small he was compared to other kids when he was younger. When he was playing with the other kids, he used to fall even when someone pushes him slightly or brushed against him coz he's so light. When he turned P1, I got even more worried coz their school bags are so heavy and he's obviously carrying something too much for his weight. Now that he's in P3, his school bag is even heavier... Most of his peers are also carrying bags of probably around the same weight but to see him lug such a huge bag on his small frame, really heartpain

I know its really frustrating when a child is really fussy about food and I really envy parents whose kids just eat anything that is placed on their table. Anyway, I sort of 'gave up' liao...coz in reality, aside from being skinny and underweight, he is otherwise healthy. At this point, I just have to make sure that he gets the necessary nutrients (since he doesn't take much meat, I make sure he gets a lot of fish and other protein food etc).

So dimsum, take heart. Just make sure he gets a balanced diet and try to give him other substitutes to replace what he is not eating. Hopefully, he gets less fussy when he's older and as long as he remains normally healthly, I guess you don't have to worry too much.

[sakura_2009]

mrswongtuition:

My boy is considered skinny (takes after me) but he's very tall for his age. At one point, we faced the same problem - poor appetite and very fussy about food.


Now, his appetite is super huge and it's so scary to watch him eat (and only put on that little bit of extra weight - but at least he's not that skinny).

Things we did:
1. Gave him some chinese herbs to stimulate appetite (there are ready made powders but I preferred to choose the herbs ourselves and blend them at home - quality control). Since it's in powder form, we gave him 1/4 tsp daily, mixed into his milk. Ever since then, his appetite increased tremendously.
2. Stock up on their fave foods. My boy loves certain brands of biscuits/snacks and we simply made sure there's amply supply at home. He's allowed to snack as and when he likes as long as he's able to finish his proper meals.
3. Introduce different types of foods. I was very strict about his food before he turned 3yo (no junk food). Now that he's older, I allow certain 'junk foods'. His current fave - CHEESEBURGER. I will give it to him if he has been a good boy. Amazingly, he can finish 1 whole burger on his own after his dinner and milk.
4. Constantly offer him food. I realise that my boy won't eat when he is 'busy'. We have to keep offering him food. \"Do you want to eat watermelon?\" \"You want some biscuits?\"
5. Give him a hearty breakfast. I know for some kids that go to CCC, they have their breakfast there. For my boy, even when he was attending CCC, we made him have breakfast at home. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and I want to make sure he really puts food into his mouth. My boy's current fave for breakfast - Peanut Butter with bread/crackers.
6. Gave him supplements to prevent him from failing sick (once they fall sick, they lose weight very fast and it's very hard to pile back the weight!)
More details about the supplements I give here: http://thelittleonesinmylife.blogspot.com

Hope this is useful

Hi, mrswongtuition, may I know what sort of chinese herbs did you give to your DS to stimulate his appetite?

MTIA

[kaitlynangelica]

Hi all,


Am facing the same problem as you all.............

My dd is in p1 this year and is the shortest in class. She is only 110 cm and weighs a mere 17.5 kg!!


How????

[jlim]

It's not true that eating lots of meat will put on weight. My DS's a meat-eater, chicken, pork, deer meat, beef and lamb and salmon with rice, still don't put on weight. All because of high metabolism. Being healthy is still the most important!! :lol: