Hi,

I am very very confused so thought I would ask here for help!

My little girl is now 8 months old we started weaning at 23 weeks though at that time she got Swine Flu so she stopped eating for 2 weeks so we really started at about 25.

She loves food, however t does not eat huge amounts. But loves trying different things. We do a mixture of finger foods and mush!!

She however is very small 14lbs 8 yesterday.

She was referred to the peadeatricians because she basically did not gain weight from about 4/5 months until now it took her all that time to put on one lb.. her gain however had slowed back at 10 weeks where she dropped from 25th to 9th centile... she is now inbetween 2nd and 0.4th.

The Peads yesterday did lots of blood tests on her (horrible!!) and we are awaiting the results. They rushed us through to see a dietician.. one came and found us as we were booking an appointment to see her as she didnt want us to wait a month.

The dietician has basically said we need to fatten her up and now. But I am horrified at this approach.

The instructions given to me were:

Give up Breasfeeding - I point blank said no.. one because my daughter does not like a bottle and two because I dont want to. If and when she takes a bottle she will take 2oz!! if we are lucky.. so I comprimised on trying to top her up after a feed.

Add Butter, Cream and Cheese to everything.

Stop giving as many finger foods and give her 2 proper meals a day. Her lunch at the moment is a handful of cherry tomatoes cucumber slices peppers organix crisps and a sandwich followed by a yogurt!

Fry foods where possible .

meat at every meal!!

To add cereal mixed with FF to yogurts!!

Honestly it just seems soo wrong to be doing this and I am loathe to do it. Could a low weight really be detrimental to her health? I was in so much shock yesterday I didnt really ask to be honest.

She said if she hadnt gained well in a month when we return to see her, she will prescribe some formula that makes them gain.. I just keep thinking of those bodybuilding powders LOL!!

Can anyone offer advice? Is there a healthier way of doing this?

Typical Day is this:

7am Breakfast (Yogurt and grapes - about 2 weeks ago she started refusing porridge so we have this now) Sometimes she has a slice of toast of crumpet (she doenst each much of it though!!) as well.

9am Breastfeed then nap

11am sometimes breadsticks etc whilst waiting for lunch

12pm Lucnh handful of cherry tomatoes cucumber slices peppers organix crisps and a sandwich followed by a yogurt!

3.30 Rusk or Ricecakes or a muffin if I have been baking!!

5pm Dinner - anything that I am feeding the boys Spag Bol, Cottage Pie, Salmon and Potatoes.. Pasta etc.. A proper meal. She does not eat huge portions erm maybe the equivialant of a small jar?? Follwed by a yogurt!! (she likes yogurt!)

6.30pm 2oz formula (if we are lucky) followed by a breastfeed.

She then feeds about 3 times in night (sigh!)

Help!!!

Lorraine and Tilly X

Hello there..... i'd say this is a tough one..... the dietician did seem very concerned didn't she, but remember this is only one persons opinion..... it might be helpful to try and see another and compare the two opinions. (you are entitled to a second opinion).

I would say however that a diet suitable for an adult is not the same as an ideal toddlers diet..... they definitely need more calories (from fat and protein) than adults do....your little ones cells are dividing and multiplying much more rapidly as they are growing. I found this website for you which has some answers....

http://www.eatwell.gov.uk/agesandstages/children/yrtoddler/

I'm not exactly sure why you are "horrified" that they suggested she needs to put on some weight...... can you explain that any better do you think??

My little boy was underweight for some time in his first year, and i was happy to give him food such as custard and ricepuding with a little cream added..... as long as she is getting fruit and vegetables as well this will not encourage a bad diet as she gets older.

Hope this has been of some help.

Nicki + Zander

Thanks for your replies...

I was horrified as I didnt think ladening down food with fat is actually good for you.. I understand she needs to grow more but I didnt think that was a particularliy healthy way of doing it.

Yes sh has fruit! besides grapes, she eats apples and oranges.. I rarely buy bananas as was fedup of boys either eating them all in one day one week thn refusing any so having to throw them away the next!! But will add them to the diet. I dont eat a lot of fruit so I hate buying lots of it for it not to get eaten.

Her Height and Head were both on th 25th centile.. so she is not overly big but obviously her weight does not match up to other measurements.

I do fry cchicken etc for her now in oil when doing pesto pasta..

Sorry yes she does always have butter on toast and crumpets sandwiches are either Tuna Mayo or soft cheese spread or cheese . She has dips with breadsticks.

I was small as a child (coming upto 18lbs at a year) and am still small now (size 8 - 3 kids) and only 5ft 2 .. DH is overweight now (LOL too much beer) but again not too tall or big naturally. Both my mum and MIL are small too so I really think it is genetic rahter than anything else but I guess will have to wait for results.

Thanks again.. I will try adding things to her food and adding more snacks etc Off now to make her dinner!!

Thanks

Lorraine x

Sorry forgot to say developmentally she is fine

Crawling for ages Cruising, standing unaided, says a few words.. doesnt keep still for a second..

If only she slept well and she gained a little more weight!