Needs ideas on how to get ds (7) to gain weight

[luvmylittleboy2003]

He is so thin and getting him to eat is crazy, even when he does, he isn't a big eater. We did ensure (Doctors advice) for a while and it put about 3 pds on him but now he hates the taste.
Would love some other ideas..

 

[AKL_Megs]

Ice cream, chips and dip, candy bars, cookies... Well, these are the things I would eat to gain weight!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

What is his weight percentile? Have you been checking the curve over a period of time and it has become medically serious or are you just trying to get him to gain in general?

I ask because my dd was on growth hormone for 6yrs (K-5th grade)and it was the missing piece for her to be able to gain weight. Now granted she was barely growing at all so her issue was more complex.

 

[luvmylittleboy2003]

What is his weight percentile? Have you been checking the curve over a period of time and it has become medically serious or are you just trying to get him to gain in general?

I ask because my dd was on growth hormone for 6yrs (K-5th grade)and it was the missing piece for her to be able to gain weight. Now granted she was barely growing at all so her issue was more complex.

He weighs 53 pds and is 7 years old will be 8 in July. He wears a 7 slim which i still have to adjust the inside buttons to around the fourth hole (and x for length because his height is slightly above). He is on focalin xr which can effect his appetite and weight.

 

[BCDisneyFanatic]

Milkshakes and sliced apples with peanut butter are what we're going with at the moment.

 

[Promomx2]

Went through this with ds. I ended up taking him to a edocrinologist just to make sure everything was alright. He went for about 3 years, every few months. Dr. checked everything and did x-rays to check his bone age. Everything was fine except his vitamin d was low. Dr. told him to take over the counter vitamin d3. He still weighs very little but his height is great. He will be 16 on feb 2 and weights about 106 and is 5ft 8. He grew almost 6 inches this past year. So don't stress about the weight (I really did), just make sure all the tests are okay. Ds did't like the ensure either. I did get him to eat protein bars for a while but that didn't last very long.

 

[Singleminnie]

I had the same situation with my DD now 10, even did the ensure too, now she hates it too. We then changed to carnation instant breakfast with whole milk, cheaper and about the same calories and vitamins. She remained in the same size clothes for two or three years until this past summer, she went through a growing spurt I guess on her own, I haven't done anything different. She grew 4 inches and gained almost 20 lbs. Needless to say, had to do some shopping this fall! I guess I would say don't worry too much, they will catch up.

 

[Nette]

How tall is he? DD is 52 lbs at 8 yo... but she's also just about 48 inches. She's definitely thin, but not underweight. It might not be a popular opinion (and I obviously don't know what your son looks like, so I could be wrong) but I think kids eat when they get hungry. I also think that what people see as "normal" has changed A LOT in the last several years.

 

[dejr_8]

Just make sure you don't give him a complex about his weight.

If he is healthy but just thin, I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

He weighs 53 pds and is 7 years old will be 8 in July. He wears a 7 slim which i still have to adjust the inside buttons to around the fourth hole (and x for length because his height is slightly above). He is on focalin xr which can effect his appetite and weight.

That is around the 50th percentile, right?

So is the concern because he is dropping his percentile because of the meds?

My nephew who is 20 now, was on HIGH doses of ADHD meds to the point of abuse I think, and he is just now finally able to gain weight. He is off those meds.

Milkshakes are a standby for weight gain. As long as he has no diabetes, right?

Sorry I have to say something because of one of dd's ex's who started losing weight and turned out he had undiagnosed diabetes. He turned to those protein shakes and it almost killed him.

Not that your son has diabetes, just something I am throwing out there because you never know. I am sure it is probably just the meds.

Good Luck!

 

[Daisy&Max]

We started by adding butter and cream to their foods. My two DSs are on high doses of concerta and they don't eat much during the day. So when I make breakfast I make oatmeal with milk and butter and my oldest likes p-butter in it too. If we can add butter, cream, mayo, or anything else that gets the rest of us fat just thinking about it, then we let them have it. We do a lot of ranch dressing too! Not the light!

Daisy

 

[PrincessShmoo]

He is so thin and getting him to eat is crazy, even when he does, he isn't a big eater. We did ensure (Doctors advice) for a while and it put about 3 pds on him but now he hates the taste.
Would love some other ideas..

Our DS has this same situation. Only now he's 22 years old. 5'7", 98 pounds. He has to buy boys size 18 slim pants which I let down as much as I can. He still needs to use a belt on them to keep them on!

As long as the doctor is aware of his physical situation and your DS is healthy, I wouldn't worry about it. It'll probably catch up to him in middle age!

 

[BelleBeautyandtheBeast]

My 8 year old is a little guy, at the bottom of the growth scale for his age/height/weight. The doctor told me to push milk shakes.

DS really dislikes Ensure but I found that if I mix it in with ice cream for a milkshake rather than milk he doesn't notice.

 

[doxdogy]

I have never tasted Ensure, but Boost tastes good. Also if he likes milkshakes those are a good source for weight gain.

 

[Suellen]

Is it really the weight that is an issue for you? Or is it more of the nutrition he is missing out by not eating?

My DD3 is not much of an eater... though she is far from underweight. She eats when she is hungry and we just make sure what she does eat is healthy(ier) items. Veggies, fruit, cheese... etc.

What does you pediatrician say?

 

[TheIncredibles!]

He weighs 53 pds and is 7 years old will be 8 in July. He wears a 7 slim which i still have to adjust the inside buttons to around the fourth hole (and x for length because his height is slightly above). He is on focalin xr which can effect his appetite and weight.

Is his pediatrician concerned? My youngest is 7 (2 months younger than your son) weighs 47 lbs and wears size 7. I am not at all concerned and neither is his Pediatrician.

Having said that - do not feed him junk food as per the other suggestion. If your Dr is in agreement that he needs to gain weight then you can ask for a referral to a nutritionist who will give you all kinds of ideas that will be suitable for your child.

 

[FINFAN]

Oberweiss chocolate milk and have him eat abowl of cereal before bed each night if he can.

 

[WhatATreat]

I don't know what Ensure tastes like but when my DS was having some gastro issues he drank a lot of Carnation Instant Breakfast. It tastes just like chocolate or strawberry milk but has a lot more calories than the regular syrups.

 

[RadioNate]

He weighs 53 pds and is 7 years old will be 8 in July. He wears a 7 slim which i still have to adjust the inside buttons to around the fourth hole (and x for length because his height is slightly above). He is on focalin xr which can effect his appetite and weight.

My DS is 9, nearly 10 and weighs like 62lbs. No one has every tried to bulk him up. He wears a 10 slim that I have to adjust as small as possible.

He's nearly getting too tall for those and I don't know what I'm going to do because the 12 slims cinched are bulky.

 

[disney1990]

My granddaughter was in a low percentile and her Mom (my daughter) was encouraged to help her gain weight. She ended up feeding her anything that she would eat. Well, what she eats now at 12 is not the healthiest diet, because she developed a taste for all the wrong things.

I have know other children that their parents were encouraged to help them gain weight and they are now older and, unfortunately, in need of losing weight. If there is not a medical reason for weight gain, I would stick with making sure that your child gets the proper nutrition -- especially not empty calories.