Wrong board, please move: How many pounds SHOULD a young child gain per year?

[BWVDenise]

My ds will be 6 next month. When he turned 5, he weighed 37 pounds. He only weighs 38 pounds now (with clothes on!). Is there a "standard" amount of weight that a child is expected to gain in a year? I think he eats pretty well. He just doesn't seem to get any bigger. I've asked his ped. about it but they seemed to think he was gaining weight. I don't agree though.

 

[Duchie]

My pediatrician always looks for what is "normal" for that child. For example, let's say your son had been gaining 5 pounds a year and was routinely in the 50th percentile for weight and height. If he suddenly dropped to 1 pound in a year and dropped to the 10th percentile, then she would begin to wonder what was going on with that child.

My oldest had a spike in between ages 5 and 6 where he suddenly jumped up in weight and went off of his "normal" curve (again, by "normal", I mean was was normal for him.) He shot up several inches shortly after that, and by the next year he had returned to his "normal" curve so she wasn't too concerned.

I'd talk to your pediatrician and ask him/her to tell you how your son is doing based on his own pattern. It might ease your mind quite a bit.

 

[dcfromva]

Here is a link to a growth chart for a boy 2-20 years old

My son dropped down from the 95% to the 25% when he was a toddler and stayed there for years and years, so it can happen.

I think Mom's know the most about their child and if it doesn't seem right, you should ask again. Your pediatrician's office should have records on your child's weight. Ask them to show you what they are looking at--they probably have one of these growth charts in you son's record, too--so ask them to show you that, too.

-DC

 

[tiggerlover]

Denise, I went through the same thing with my son and it lasted a long, long time. Is he getting taller? That was the case here, DS just keeps growing up, but rarely puts on any weight.

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

It depends on the child--Buzz and Belle are 21 months apart--she's older--and she's 1 inch taller and 1 pound heavier (but has a LOT of hair--down to her thighs!). Definitely talk to your doctor if you're concerned, but also go by what my doc calls "the look test"--does he look scrawny? pale? low energy? Skinny doesn't count--an awful lot of little boys don't have the hiney to hold up their pants, mine included. Neither does my daughter!

 

[pat fan]

I think you're getting some good advice here.My Ped. would always show me the growth chart when we visited him.He would only get concerned if the height & weight were at different levels.Say his height was in the 75% and the weight was in the 25%.They should be about the same, and if they are, you really shouldn't worry.Every kid is different,and unless you see lethargy,weakness or other signs of a problem, I wouldn't be too concerned(after you have talked to your Ped. again,of course).Good luck!

 

[snoopy]

My child gained only one pound from one year to the next (4 to 5). I was concerned too, but the doctor said it was normal at that age.

 

[my3kids]

I didn't think my son would ever get out of the 30's. He was very small and I also wondered if he was gaining enough. If he put on a pound, I was thrilled. The doctors followed his weight and height on a chart, and while smaller than friends, he didn't deviate from a progression on his chart. He is still the smallest in his grade, but is now in the 50's, and continuing on the same percentile bands on his chart. He is just going to to be small.

 

[JerseyJanice]

My son (7 yo) is as skinny as can be and has been all along--going back to babyhood.

I used to worry about it so much. I'd drive myself crazy trying different foods on him and feeding him at different hours. Just to get him to gain some decent weight. Never happened.

It's just him. There are naturally thin people in the world, and clearly he is one of them. If your pediatrician isn't very concerned, you shouldn't be either.

 

[Poohbear123]

Year old DS is on the skinny side---thats how my family is, except when we turn 30! THAN we start packing on the pounds! I was 5-7 pounds underweight, when growing up, in fact had to take Dance lessons to put on Muscle tone. Now, I have PLENTY of muscle tone--in ALL the wrong places!

 

[Hootiss]

I agree with the others, as long as there has not been a huge jump on the growth chart he should be fine. It took my ds (6.5) 3 yrs to break 40lbs. We had a party. He is always eating, but never gains weight.(just like my dh, they have great genes lol). He now weighs 43lbs and is 48 inches. He looks like a bean pole!

 

[Lexxiefern]

I wouldn't worry. Did he get any taller in the year? My DD is 3 and she gained hardly any weight from 2 to 3. But she grew 3 inches so my ped. said not to worry. As long as the numbers are going up and not down.

I was very underweight as a child and my mom said she would worry about it all the time. I can tell you I am not underweight now!! (I am not overweight either )