Anyone have an underweight baby?

[tiff211]

My 9 month old eats like a bird. I took her for her checkup and she has only gained 2 oz in 3 months. She will only eat a little at a time. I have tried everything. She doesn't like baby food so she eats table food with us. I feed her baby cereal and fruit but she eats meat, rice, pasta and veggie. Whatever we are having. But after a few bites, she shakes her head and clamps her mouth shut. I have to have to take her back in two weeks for a weight re-check. How do I get her to eat so she gains weight? What should I try to feed her?

 

[TiggerPiglet]

My older daughter was underweight as a baby and still is as a 10 year old. In fact, she had gained very little between check-ups as a baby too and basically the doctor told me that as long as she was growing, she's fine (she has always been in the 90th percentile in height). Is your daughter not growing at an acceptable rate? Has your doctor expressed any concerns? If your doctor hasn't expressed any concerns, I wouldn't worry.
By the way, she still doesn't eat a lot, but she is definitely willing to eat more things and has become a lot less picky. So, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

 

[ADisneyQueen]

My now nine yr. old has always been underweight, but normal height. She eats frequent small meals and always has. When she was 9 mos. she hadn't gained any weight for a few mos.but had grown taller so they ran some tests. She was fine. I would try to feed your baby more smaller meals thru the day, maybe her stomach isn't as big as other babies her age. Were you or your husband underweight as children? Both DH and I were so the Doc. wasn't too concerned.

 

[ADisneyQueen]

Oh, I also remember her doctor giving us a list of foods that would help her gain more weight. One was to give her ritz or townhouse crackers instead of saltines, avocados (?), and he also told me not to give her rice cakes b/c they had no nutritonal value(she loved them). Maybe you could find a list online.

 

[ducklite]

Sounds like she might ahve an oral aversion. You might want to post about this in the Disabilites Board, there are several there struggling with this with their children who might be able to offer advice. Many are supplementing the diet with baby formula or Ensure. Good luck!

Anne

 

[MsLeFever]

Those beautiful kids in my siggie (no bias here.... ) were both 2 pounders and stayed small for a long time.

As it turned out DD has some sluggish thyroid issues which was why she had stayed so small. DS finally caught up.

We used Pediasure (for awhile but WHEW it is $$$) to try to get them to gain weight. It's kinda milkshakeish and they both liked it.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

From her pictures she looks OK. What is her height and weight???
Has she gone thru growth spurts where she will eat alot and then grow?
How about constipation? Is she regular? If not that can hinder appetite.

My 9yodd is on growth hormone shots. The shots give her the ability to gain weight as well as height. How, I don't know.

Getting alot of nutrition in at breakfast & lunch is key for a 9 month old. Most young children do not eat dinner well.
Shakes & smoothies are a great way to add calories.
You can add protein with yogurt, fruit, grains, etc...

 

[tiff211]

My now nine yr. old has always been underweight, but normal height. She eats frequent small meals and always has. When she was 9 mos. she hadn't gained any weight for a few mos.but had grown taller so they ran some tests. She was fine. I would try to feed your baby more smaller meals thru the day, maybe her stomach isn't as big as other babies her age. Were you or your husband underweight as children? Both DH and I were so the Doc. wasn't too concerned.

Well, my oldest DD and DD3 have always been on the slim side but continually gained. DD5 was at the opposite end of the scale, off the charts for weight and height. The baby is not gaining enough, dr. said 2 ozs in 3 months is not sufficient. I have to bring her back in 2 weeks and her pedi would like to see that she has gained. DH and I were not underweight but slim.

 

[taximomfor4]

3 of my 4 kids were underweight (and still are). As long as my kids stayed on THEIR growth curve, I don't worry about it. Our former ped was horrified that my 12yo dd (13 next month) is 5 ft 3 in. but only 89 lbs. Well, she has ALWAYS been higher on the height chart (around 75%) and lower on the weight chart (below 10%). If she were staying around 75% on the heigth chart and going LOWER on the weight chart, THEN I would worry. The same issue with my youngest dd. The ped was HORRIFIED and had us bring her every 2 mos for a weight check, then they would lecture me. Well, since she, at 3yo, is in pretty much the same proportion (height to weight) that she has always been, I am NOT concerned. I will not try to "fatten her up." I finally sought out a nutritionist on my own. She explained how absolutely tiny a portion was for a 3yo (so imagine how small for a 9 mo. old!) My child has energy and is thriving. As long as I don't give her too much milk, she eats a little at every meal and has 2 small snacks per day. She stays in place on the growth charts, and is fine. I say, if the ped thinks she is OTHERWISE healthy, she will grow at her own pace.

Edited to add that 3 of my 4 kids were under 17 lbs at 1 yr old (and they were NOT preemies, or small birthweight babies...all around 8 lbs at birth).

 

[tiff211]

Oh, I also remember her doctor giving us a list of foods that would help her gain more weight. One was to give her ritz or townhouse crackers instead of saltines, avocados (?), and he also told me not to give her rice cakes b/c they had no nutritonal value(she loved them). Maybe you could find a list online.

I will defintiely look for the list, I haven't really expanded her diet since she just turned 9 months. I will now and I am sure she will like the ritz crackers. Who doesn't?

 

[Snowysmom]

My older son was slender as a baby. We had to take him back to weight rechecks a couple of times. He was always 90th percentile for height and 5th or 10th percentile for weight but was healthy. I made my own baby food from fruits, veggies, and meats. He did not like the texture of some of the foods so he would clamp his mouth shut. Could she not like certain food textures? My DS liked creamier textures and cheerios. I would mash up bananas and make puddings for him. Also, when I made up the baby cereals for him I would use apple juice instead of water or milk. He tends to be more of a grazer with food now than sitting down to big meals. Maybe a your peditrician or a dietician would have some ideas for you.

 

[kbkids]

I wouldn't worry much. My DD wasn't even ON the growth charts until she was 4 years old. My pediatrician made me an adjusted chart just for her, and she pretty much followed the "normal curve," just WAY below it. We both had a celebration on her 4 year old check-up when she said, "HEY!! She's in the 5th percentile!"

To give you some idea, she only weighed 12 pounds on her 1st birthday!
She weighed 24 pounds on her 2nd birthday! But now, she'll be 9 in October, and she's finally caught up. She's still slim but pretty tall and weighs 54 pounds.

The funniest thing was that she walked at 9 months - but looked like maybe a 4-5 month old baby walking around. We used to get the strangest looks in stores!

 

[tiff211]

From her pictures she looks OK. What is her height and weight???
Has she gone thru growth spurts where she will eat alot and then grow?
How about constipation? Is she regular? If not that can hinder appetite.

My 9yodd is on growth hormone shots. The shots give her the ability to gain weight as well as height. How, I don't know.

Getting alot of nutrition in at breakfast & lunch is key for a 9 month old. Most young children do not eat dinner well.
Shakes & smoothies are a great way to add calories.
You can add protein with yogurt, fruit, grains, etc...

Not sure her height. She is 15 1/2 pounds though. I think she is okay as far as height. Her pedi showed me the chart and there was a drop.