She is below the line for height and weight any ideas?

Shanna - posted on 11/12/2010

my daughter was born feb. 2nd 09 and weighed 8#13oz and was 21 1/2 inches and is now 22# and 33" and is under the charts. but we eat really healthy and i am not worried about it. i am 5' 9" and my husband is 6 2". it seams like your daughter is going to be smaller stature just like you and your husband. Just try to add healthy fats in her diet.

Avvy - posted on 10/27/2010

If she is healthy, happy and your only concern is weight and height relax we all can't grow the biggest pumpkin in the field !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kristen - posted on 10/27/2010

my lil girl is somewhat small in weight for her age but she is extremely tall..so now she just looks like a twig tall and skinny. she eats all the time. she was just blessed with the high metabolism i guess.

Christina - posted on 09/24/2010

My daughters Lily and Alana are the same with their eating habbits. Height you can't do anything about, because you never know... one day or week your child might hit a growth spurt and be the hieght that matches the chart. Lily is 25th percentile, so she is under the lines too... as long as the pediatritian says she is fine, you don't have to worry. If you are trying to have her gain weight, try peanut butter apples, whole grain breads, or Carnation Breakfast Essentials. Its a breakfast chocolate drink (powder) that contains important vitamins and helps them stay healthy. you can find it in giant eagle by the pop tarts. Or you can try, kid essentials/ pediasure... those help with weight gain and nutrients also. Anything high in calories will help because they burn calories off so quickley. My kids really seem to like the peanut butter and banana sandwiches. I hope this has helped you. :)

Kimberly - posted on 09/23/2010

Regarding her height, this site might be helpful: http://www.magicfoundation.org/www/docs/... . My son is slightly above 20in and weighs 22lbs; was 19.5in and 7.6lbs at birth. I'm 5'1", my hubby 5'11". Our doc thinks my son is a "late bloomer" (aka constitutional growth delay). At about 6 mos his ht growth slowed and he is now below 3rd percentile. However, he's growing at a steady rate and all medical tests were normal. We're going to see an endocrinologist for xray of his wrist, which will tell us if his bone age is younger than his chronological age. If so, according to his doc, that will be another indication that he is just a late bloomer.

In any case, don't worry, as long as she is healthy. The only time I would worry is if she stopped growing/gaining weight and/or if she jumped percentiles drastically.

Bobbi - posted on 09/21/2010

My 19 month old is tiny too! Don't feel bad, he eats ALL day long, just never gains any weight. As long as the doctor says she's healthly there isn't really anything to worry about.

Claire - posted on 09/21/2010

Try not to stress about it, as long as she's happy & healthy it's not a big deal. My 4 year old is small & I used to really stress about her not eating but since I stopped upsetting myself over it she's eaten better!!!! Hope this helps :0)

Lianne-carla - posted on 09/19/2010

as long as she's in proportion and is healthy no sunken features, dull eyes or anything that says she's lacking in anything then don't worry you can give her more butter and cream and make her portions of meat bigger veg smaller but otherwise don't worry. her grazing appetite is good they need steady flow of food throughout the day, you'll find she'll grow to be very healthy eating the way she does plus many todellers chuck food and refuse it at times but if she was 'average/large' you wouldn't think twice other than how much hassle it is to keep picking it up

Holly - posted on 09/18/2010

When my daughter was born she was 19" and 5.6lbs. She is now 33" and 24lbs. at 19 months. She fluctuates on that growth chart every time she goes in for a check up. At her 15 mth check up she was 37% and 43%. 18 mth check up 79% and 84%. Kids have growth spurts, I find when she is gonna have one, she doesn't eat well at all. Not that she eats great anyways, every day is different for her. She pretty much snacks all day long. Its hard to get her to eat a full(child sized) meal. Her dr says thats fine if she snacks because at least she's eating, but to try and make sure at least one meal a day is a sit down, food on plate, eat a lot kind of meal. So snack all day, sometimes she will sit for lunch and eat, then at dinner time my husband and I sit together and eat and she has to sit at the table even if she's not eating until we are done. She eats a bit usually then throws the rest on the floor to the dogs, but it's a start. As long as the snacking food is healthy then that should be fine. You can't force feed them! I was the same way when I was a kid. My mom use to leave bowls of cheerios in my room and in my playroom so when I was hungry I always had something to munch on. And when I was big enough to open the fridge my mom would leave little plated of stuff on the bottom shelf so when I was hungry I could just help myself. I was really little I didn't hit 30lbs until I was just about 6. You just have a petite little girl, doesn't mean she's not healthy..

Felicia - posted on 09/17/2010

hi my daughter is small too she is 19 inches and 20 pounds we always get told she is too small as well but the same as your child my daughter eats all day long i personally dont think there is anything wrong she eats healthy and her fathers side is quite short too you can do a urine test to see if there is anything wrong thats what we were told to do but i just havent done it

Danielle - posted on 09/16/2010

my daughter is the same way. 3 ft tall and 21 inches at her 18 month check up. she eats non-stop . her doctor put her on pedia sure and that has helped her sooo much. she has gained 3 pounds in a month. and she is right where she is supposed to be on the growth chart now. you might try the pedia sure

Helen - posted on 09/16/2010

lol - I have he opposite problem!

My son is following the 98% line for his weight and off the chart for his height and has been since he was about 8 months.
A couple of times when I took him to be weighed, I was told he was too heavy, and to cut down what I was feeding him, but the people who said that didn't take any account of his height! now at 19 months hes in 2 -3 clothes, and I have to tell people that he's not that old! He was always going to be tall - I'm 5' 10", his dad is 6' and many of our relatives are taller than 'normal' as well.

If shes gaining weight, happy and active then I wouldn't worry too much, and I certainly wouldn't increase her fat intake by frying, adding butter etc just carry on with a normal, healthy diet. If she wants to 'graze' all day (ie little and often) and you are happy with that then go with lots of healthy snacks, but don't push her to eat more than she wants to - that will just be encouraging bad habits in the future.
Next time some one is negative about her height, make sure they explain and take into account your height, that of her dad, as well as others in the family (if all your family is on the short side then thats probably why shes little!).

hope this helps x

Angela - posted on 09/14/2010

Well, you've gotten lots of good responses - I just wanted to add another "don't worry too much". And I'd like to suggest you get a new Dr if all they do is give you a hard time about her height/weight!! I had (have) a very petite daughter - between drs and nurses when she was very young (infant), they caused me lots of stress & grief when there was really nothing wrong with her. But, after monitoring her growth for 18mos, she was referred to a pediatrician - "just in case" - to rule out any medical problems. All came back normal -she's just petite! As long as she's still growing (does her growth pattern follow the curve, just on the low side?), there likely isn't anything wrong with her.
And I agree with the majority - don't feed her junk just to get calories in her. She'll eat what she needs - just keep providing her with good healthy choices (and small portions is a good suggestion - kids get overwhelmed easily by a big plate of food), she'll eat what she needs to!

Tabitha - posted on 09/14/2010

Lisa, Pediasure is great! My son was 5 weeks early and weight 4lbs 9 oz by the time we got to take him home and 18 inches at birth. Now he is 24 lbs. I don't know where he is on the chart and I reallly don't care because I know he is healthy, active and happy. I give him milk when he wakes up, breakfast, then a pediasure in his sippy. Nap, wake sippy of water/juice, lunch, snack, nap, different flavor pediasure, dinner, milk, bed. He loves all 3 flavors and drinks it all. His dr. said pediasure can be a supplement or replacement for a meal... but my son likes to eat. This method seems to work for me. It gets expensive, but at least he is getting his vitamins and growth he needs. Hope this helps. good luck!

Amy - posted on 09/13/2010

My baby girl is right now 33in and weighs 22lbs at 19 months. She is under in weight but my dr tells me not to worry about it. She eats well and she eats healthy and that is all I should worry about. She was 8.5 ounces when she was born and 21 inches long so she was a good size baby. I'm prettytall at 5'7 and my husband is short at 5'9 so she could go either way. I was always underweight when I was younger and had a hard time gaining weight (not a problem anymore) so I think she will be like I was. Don't give her junk food otherwise that will be all she wants. My baby sometimes will eat a big meal and other days it snacks all day. Just keep feeding her healthy stuff it will be better for the long run. Good Luck!

CJ - posted on 09/13/2010

Have you had her tested for celiac's? Both of my sister-in-laws had this problem with their daughter's and both girls turned out to have celiac's. Once they were diagnosed and put on a gluten-free diet, they gained weight and height.

Belinda - posted on 09/11/2010

No worries My daughter was born Feb,10 2009 and weighted 6lbs 2oz and was 16 inches. Breastfed all the way!! I was the one who noticed she was never as chunky looking as other babies but she was healthy. Now I do give my daughter whole milk but i make sure she eats healthy she loves peas and eggs scrambled together or pinto beans and eggs for breakfast or even sometimes she wants just cheerios, try simple things like yogurt or string cheese for a snack, just give her good munchies
dont fry everything in butter just to fatten her up. That may lead to bad habits later. My daughter sometimes doesnt eat all on her plate she will have good days where she eats all and others where she eats 2 bites and is done. She is just fine how she is, my doctor has never said anything on her being to thin or short she is now 30in and weights 20 lbs she is just a petite happy healthy girl who brightens my day with her smile. As long as she is happy she is good My daughter loves her warm choc milk (Ovaltine) in the morning but if i give her food right away she isnt hungry because the milk filled her up so i wait a bit then feed her and i noticed she ate a lil more. Your a good mom and as long as she is eating good snacks she will be just fine.

Vicki - posted on 09/10/2010

I'm sure she's just fine. My little one was born Feb 11 09 and she's only 31in and 21 lbs. Shes been small the whole time though...matter of fact they were on my case in the beginning to switch her form breastmilk to formula because she wasn't growing fast enough for them. Needless to say, I didn't listen. She was happy and healthy then and still is. She is growing at the same rate as she should, just not as quickly. I bet ours will just be petite. I am only 5'0 and my husbands 5'6, so I wouldn't worry if I were you.

Bethany - posted on 09/10/2010

..following on, I agree with increasing the caloric value of the food she does eat. Cook oatmeal in full fat milk, and rice for pudding. Butter and cheese spread on wholemeal bread is a favorite, avocado, in pieces, or on bread. I make little pancakes with wholemeal flour and milk and two eggs, and sometimes banana. I make my own cookies, with mashed pumpkin, or carrot or sweet potato in them, and double up on the eggs, they have some butter in them too. You can sprinkle parmisan cheese and grated cheese over veges and pasta shapes, brocolli and cauliflower are favorites here.

I also find she eats more if the food is in tiny pieces, as she's teething at the moment. And if there is too much in front of her, she won't eat much at all, but if I take the plate away and just put a couple of bits on her tray at a time, she'll eat the whole lot. She seems to get a bit overwhelmed by too much at a time.

Food before drinks always. I don't give her a drink until she's had a fair bit of a go at her food, or it fills her tummy too much and she doesn't eat as much.

Any one that suggests 'snack' food or 'junk' food, high in added sugar, and saturated fats to 'help' a child is terribly misinformed and I would suggest popping down to the library and having look at a child nutrition book, not to mention the massive amount of information on the web. Just type in Child Nutrition and read your heart out.

Bethany - posted on 09/10/2010

junk food is not an option, it will fill space with low caloric value (takes up room without offering her body anything to build with) Plus, a person's fat cells are established in their first few years, so you'll only be setting her up for a struggle later.

Is she well, is she active? Then she's fine.

My daughter is born 8 Feb 09 and is 9kgs (19.8 lbs) and 77cm (30 in). She completely proportionate. She eats a big breakfast (for her) then a snack, then after her one nap she has a 'meal' then while we have dinner she picks a bit. She has a cup of toddler follow-on formula at breakfast, and after her nap, just to boost the calories, plus Pentavite liquid vitamin suppliment with breakfast too. So she's getting what she needs, and only takes what she needs.

I've never cajoled her or forced her or bribed her or convinced her to eat more than she wants as this is only going to stop her body knowing what is enough for her, and that is a valuable skill in later years, and should be nurtured.

Just accept who your daughter is, and don't focus on charts so much, it sounds like you know this already though, so don't worry, you know her better than anyone. Fancy saying a kid isn't tall enough, what a joke. And as for weight, look at the whole child's health and development, not just the scales.

Lisa - posted on 09/10/2010

Her blood test all came back good. She drinks a lot of milk and juice. I was 8 pounds and 23 inches long so I was a really big baby and she was only 6 pounds and 17 inches. I will try adding the extra butter and instant breakfast and see if she's more willing to eat it. She just wants a few bites then throws it off the tray and refuses any more.

Dawn - posted on 09/09/2010

You can make sure she gets as much calories as possible in her meals and snacks..... put peanut butter on crackers.....add some butter and jelly to toast......cook with oils.....add Carnation Instant breakfast or Pediasure to her milk.......make meals with avocado.....use cheese in more meals. And don't worry..this age is known for picky eating and a drop in growth since they are so active. I am also with the poster that suggested getting her iron checked just to rule that out. My son is 31 inches and 22 lbs and they are on me about his weight as well...but he is healthy, happy and active so I am not going to worry too much. :)

Amy - posted on 09/08/2010

My daughter is the same. Aslong as they are happy and healthy there is nothing to worry about. She is just going t be a petite girl.

Crystal - posted on 09/08/2010

My sister in-law was like that. she is a full grown adult now and is just a skinny minnie. Considering your and your husbands stats i wouldnt stress it. Did the Dr. do a iron test or say that there was cause to worry? If she is eating healthy and dosnt get sick I would just let it be. Do you have your baby book? How big were you at that age?
Maybe make sure she gets enough milk and give her a kids multi-vitamin.

Melissa - posted on 09/08/2010

Make Her Eat More.
Not Forcefully But Tell Her She Has To Eat What You Give Her.
Start Off With Very Small Portions and Work Your Way Up.
Good Luck!
But Dont Worry, Your Child Isnt The Only Tiny One, My Niece Is 5 and Weighs 30 Pounds.
Shes Just A Short Thin Girl Also