how do you get a 23month old to gain weight?

Victoria - posted on 10/21/2010

my son is same age and weight! the doctors and health visitors are fine with this, he eats normally runs around like a looney and is getting very clever very quick so there is nothing wrong, if hes happy leave him to it! you know whats best for him so if your not worried dont worry!

BONNIE - posted on 10/20/2010

You are very right. If the weight matches the chart for the height obviously a taller child wlll weigh more than a shorter one. Kids are what they are and as long as they are healthy and active moms shouldn't obsess over what some mystical "chart" says they should be. Obesity is rampant in the US and so are eating disorders among girls from eleven years old up. My twelveyear old granddaughter who is four ft sx inches and weighs seventy pounds thought she was getting chubby. I stood her in front of the mirror told her to lift her shirt andtell me what she saw. She said, ribs, I said where's the fat??? She grinned and said, guess there isnt any. I said yeah, me too. You are in perfect balance for height and weight you wear a size zero skinny jeans and you are what you are supposed to be. Sh went to the fridge and ate some frozen chocolate chip cookie dough. I know, I know salmonella and all that but my whole family is addicted to the homemade dough an I have been eating it for all my sixty seven years and none o us ever got sick. The dough rarely gets to the oven. Actually, I think we eat less of it because those darn chocolate chips arehard as rocks when they are frozen. we all need to chill. Dr Spock said in his book that no one knows their child better than the childs mother. Feed 'em when they're hungry, put 'em to bed when they're tired is my motto.

Ashley - posted on 10/19/2010

My daughter is 23 and a half months and she only weighs 22 pounds. She eats everything, and drinks alot of milk. She is ver different from my other daughter. When she was that little she was a little chunky girl. So it all depends on the child.
If your boy is healthy, and eats good, I think that they are just worrying you for nothing.

Tanya - posted on 10/19/2010

Hi there. I definitely wouldn't worry about it. My son is 23 months as well and weighs only 25 lbs. And hasn't changed in weight in over 6 months. Plus he is tall for his age. My doctor isn't concerned because he is healthy and meeting milestones. I would change doctors if they keep pressuring you. We had to change doctors because my daughter is the opposite. Over the 100% for weight and height on a 7-yr old growth chart when she is turning 5 tomorrow. We were told not to worry about anything for 4yrs and then I was given a big speech on how she will have poor self esteem and get teased at school and be a closet eater even tho she NEVER asks for seconds at mealtimes. I was so upset over it that we changed drs and our new one says she is perfectly healthy. Some just can't see past their "growth charts" and how a "normal" textbook kid should develop. Some kids need to be smaller or else they wouldn't have a curve in the chart!!!
Don't push your little one, and too easily kids get bad eating habits, so just keep giving him healthy foods.
My son is only on 2% milk and sometimes he gets1%. He won't drink the homo, but I give him YOP to drink- try that for extra calories, and kids love it!! You should feel lucky that he will eat anything you give him and isn't picky!!! He's healthy.....weight shouldn't be such a big deal.

Alice - posted on 10/19/2010

My son is the same size and my doc hasn't mentioned anything about him being too skinny. Maybe get a second opinion, especially if he eats healthy.

Janel - posted on 10/18/2010

My little guy is going to be two and he weighs 22 lbs. My doc was worried, has us see the dietican, giving him foods with lots fats, and such. He is a very active boy (he doesn't watch tv and loves to play outside), and his daddy is average height and slender. My doc came to the conclusion my LO has a high metabolism and wears off the calories he is taking in :) I just try to give him lots of snacks that are high in fats. (such as real cheese, lots of butter, peanut butter, high fat yogurt :) Hope this helps :)

Cami - posted on 10/17/2010

My daughter is 23 months and 23 pounds and 33 inches. She was diagnosed as failure to thrive when she was born and has had a g-tube (a tube inserted directly into her stomach to feed her through) since she 2 months old. For the first year of her life that is the only way we could feed her. Because of medical problems she would feel very uncomfortable from eating so would avoid it or throw up everything she ate. Right around the time she turned one she slowly started eating. The last time we used her gtube was in March and she just had it removed last week. It has been a lot of work getting her to get all of her calories without it. She has consistently stayed around the 15th percentile this past year. Some of the things our nutritionist recommends to add calories/proteins, and things that have helped us are: adding Carnation Instant Breakfast to milk and milkshakes, making peanut butter milkshakes, Using evaporated milk in place of milk in dishes and baked goods, give cheese as a snack and add in things like eggs, potatoes, etc., use mayo and salad dressing liberally, add sour cream to potatoes, casseroles, sauces, baked goods, etc., add peanut butter to toast, crackers, bananas, apples, celery, etc., add a lot of butter to puddings, casseroles, sandwiches, vegetables, and cooked cereal, etc., and use gravies liberally on potatoes and meats (I keep extra when I make it in the freezer in ice cube trays so I can add it to her food for lunches and such). Sorry that is such a long list. The most important thing is just being diligent at adding calories everyday where ever you can. I know how frustrating it can be to worry about your child. So I hope this helps anyone who needs their child to move up or keep up on their growth chart.

BONNIE - posted on 10/17/2010

You know,when my kids were little (my baby is 40) babies were routinely prescribed vitamins usually PolyViSol. They were given these drops until about age 2 when it was recommended that they take tablets or continue on the liquid ones through age four. It was mainly because when they switch from baby food to table food their total calories and vitamins is reduced until their intake increases. Also about age two they get really finiky and opinionated about what theywill eat. We never worried back then about their weight. Doctors more often than not were concerned about consistant weight gain and growth, not how much. My preemie son was just over 15 lbs at age one, he was 2#6OZ AT birth and at 15 lbs had tripled his weight at the time he came home. The doctor said h was just fine and he continued to be small. He is 43 now and just 5 ft 3 inches tall and has always been my healthiest kid. I remember he started kindergarten at age five and wore a size 3 slim jeans and size 4 T shirts. Adding fats to a toddlers diet just doesn't sit well with me considering childhood obesity is an ever increasing problem in the U.S. Once the body developes fat cells they NEVER go away. As long as the child is healthy and active and meets developmental milestones, dont worry. I think sometimes the best doctors obsess over a kids size.
i R VUERG

Avie - posted on 10/17/2010

My son's dr recommended pediasure with the milk because I was having a hard time getting him to drink his milk. And because I worried that he wasn't getting the vitamins he needed (especially iron because I'm anemic), I dstarted giving him gummy vitamins. 2 per day. He loves them and I feel a little better. As a mom, though, you can't help but worry. Good luck, Honey.

Avie - posted on 10/17/2010

I've worried and worried about mine as well. But he was small when he was born (6.2) and has trended well. His dr says not to worry. She first suggested adding gravy and butter as often as possible but I worried that would lead to unhealthy eating habits later since I have struggled with my own weight. He's perfectly healthy ans she reassures me at every visit that he's growing normally. He's just small. I also recommend looking into foods with healthy fats as opposed to butter and gravy. Avacado, slamon, those sort of things. Maybe add a little extra virgin olive oil to some things. They're very active at this age and can be very finicky eaters. I try to remind myself that he'll eat when he's hungry. If you continue to worry, maybe check with another dr.

Dayna - posted on 10/17/2010

i dont have that problem with my children but i agree with many of the other mums that good fats and calories would help greatly

Nikki - posted on 10/16/2010

My son is almost 23 months, and also weighs just 24 pounds. he is about 35 inches long. At his last "well visit", his weight was only measuring in the 6th percentile. He is a picky eater, so that is part of my problem. When he wants to eat, he will eat just about anything, but he can literally go days hardly touching any food. But, since he is gaining weight (he has always been tiny), and he is eating healthy foods when he eats, the doctor has not been too concerned yet. She just said he is a smaller baby, and since he is not sickly or losing weight, not to worry about it. I would say, if he is healthy and has a good appetite, then he is just fine.

Chelsey - posted on 10/15/2010

Have snacks available to him at all times. I always have some kind of snack sitting on my daughters table whether it be cereal or crackers..

BONNIE - posted on 10/15/2010

You are not alone. The majority of two year olds get picky about their food. It is because this is the age where they begin to realize that they are people. Does she like juice. If so, a litle prune juice and cherryjuice mixed together a couple of times a day might just take cae of the constipation problem. Some kid don't like the prune juice and the cherrycovers up thetaste. I would offer her just little tastes on a big plate (makes it seem like even less that she is faced with eating). After twenty minutes take away the plate and let her get down. Don't give her snacks and wait about two hours before you ask her if she wants more juice. Perhaps she isn't really hungry, so I'd give her time to feel hungry. Just don't let the worry you feel make you make eating an issue. Kids can make no eating a power play so jus be as casual as you can.



jeaway the plate

Tinia - posted on 10/15/2010

my 23mo son has the same prob and his dr said to give him lots of butter an i live in the Caribbean so he said to give him pure coconut oil in anything possible. The issue there is that he stops eating once he tastes it. My friend had the same problem with her daughter but it was concluded that her daughter was destined to be small since her parents were. I am 5' 2" and 99lbs for MANY years now and his dad is 5'9" and 160lbs. I wont worry much about my son because thats probably his nature.

Mallory - posted on 10/15/2010

my 22 month old daughter barely weighs 24 lbs and she eats practically everything in sight!! i think its just that she is sooo active! the doctor told me that she is small for her age but he is not worried because she eats good and has hit all her milestones on time or before. she is healthy and happy...who cares if she is a little underweight then? i say, as long as he is eating, hes healthy, happy & active...then dont be concerned about him being smaller.

Camile - posted on 10/15/2010

my 23 month old daughter dont eat as she ought to, she says no to just about everything that we try to give her....she ask for what she wants sometimes and even when she do, she will pick a few pieces out and then she leaves it, sometimes she dont return to eat the rest...she likes frankfurters and some fruit so she always ask for those and even though she likes them she sometimes dont eat them, my concern is because she hardly eats she tends to be constipated most times and thats a no no, because it cause her to be in a great deal of pain once she want to do the number two, and once she feels it she gets scared and start yellng #2, #2..mamma #2, it sometimes hurt my heart to see her this way...i took her to the doctor and her recommends that we do a stomach ultra sound, once that is done then we will know where to go from there...this is a really hard task for me, because no one wants to see their baby in pain.

Michele - posted on 10/14/2010

As long as your son is eating properly and drinking enough fluids I wouldn't be worried. Doctors seem to think that all kids are the same and they should all fall into the same rank. My daughter is 23 months she is tall but she is also thin. She weighs around 23 lbs. She eats and drinks enough along with sleeping but she is also very active. Kids who are active seem to burn off what they eat.

Lynne Jensen - posted on 10/14/2010

I wouldn't worry about it. They told me the same with our son, and he's 23 months old now, a smidge over 3 feet, and 26 lbs. As long as you're comfortable with his eating habits, put it out of your mind. We worried ourselves sick for our LO's first year over trying to get him to gain weight, and finally we told the doctor, "He's healthy, he eats great, and we're not feeding him junk food (or putting butter on everything, which is what she suggested!) just to plump him up." Since then, she's laid off and his weight is creeping up slowly but surely.

Corrin - posted on 10/13/2010

I have this problem also, my daughter came 6 weeks early so she has always been a small girl. Anyway, she only weighs 9kg and she is 2 next month. But she eats everything and anything. Just like your son and I don't know how to make her eat anymore.

Glenis - posted on 10/13/2010

Hi my son is also 23 months old and weighs 24 pounds but his drs are not concerned about his weight. As long as he is not underweight and he is eating well and he is healthy you have nothing to worry about. If you are still worried, as someone suggested it might be good to increase the good fat in his diet. It might also be a good idea to find and visit a dietician from whom you will get some expert advice because this is more their area of expertise than even the doctor.

BONNIE - posted on 10/12/2010

If the doc has ruled out any underlying medical problem, then first stop worrying. My 12 yr old granddaughter is 4 ft 6 in tall and weighs just 70 lbs. When she was your sons age she weighed about the same. Her sister is almost 21 and is four feet ten and just had her second baby who was term and weight0ed 4lbs 15oz. If they are healthy and active i wouldn't worry. At your sons age kids typically start turning their noses up at almost evrything. Sort of a power trip for them. I always offeredpeanut butter toast at breakfast and as desert for lunch. A really good sourc of protien. You could add Instant Breakfast to his Milk once a day, it has vitamins and minerals that are healthy, but with childhood obesity rampant in the US as long as he is healthy let the doctor worry and you justmake sure that whatever he eats is healthy nutricious food. He may have a really fast metabolism (don't I wish I did). My 4 ft 10 grandkid who has the two babies only weighs 103 and could eat a building if she wanted to and not gain an ounce. They are who they are and overall health is the important thing. How tall is he? And is he gaining weight regularly? How much is not reallty important only that they continue to gain and grow in height. If whole milk constipates him then add lots of fruits and veggies to his diet. They have pitted prunes in zippy bags that really taste good. Kids need whole milk until they are two for brain developement. Little kids are usually big on dipping stuff in other stuff so raw veggies and ranch dressing may be interesting to him. Just don't make an issue about food. Offer him new stuff like the raw veggies and see where it goes. Now that summer is over finding fresh fruits is a little more difficult nd expensive but apples are cheap and healthy, and the occasional peach or nectarine if you can find them are worth the extra expense. Doctors often over react about kids growth. You know your child better than anyone, if he's healthy, go with your gut.

Jo - posted on 10/12/2010

my little one is barely 23 lbs. we've been struggling with being underweight, but our last visit the doctor said he is on track now. i gave him mediterranean yogurt that had 8% milkfat and mixed whole milk with formula. i think it helped. he was sick for a little while and went off of his developmental curve. that is why my doctor grew concerned because he took a negative dip in his weight curve. otherwise, he didn't make us paranoid or anything.

Michelle - posted on 10/12/2010

I have the same problem with my lil guy. I started buying the carnation instant bfreakfast essintials, made by nestle. Its a powder breakfast shake with lots of nutrients in it. It has 2X the protien of an egg 2x the calcium of yogurt, antioxidents & b vitamins. I give him a packet 3x's a day after every meal. If you mix it with 1 cup of fat free milk, which i dont use fat free, Its an extra 660 calories a day. & its healthy for them, it will fill the nutritional gaps & help him gain weight too! My lil guy is starting to slowly put on the lbs! Hope this helps. They can be expencive about $6-7 dollars a box for 10 packets. Id see if you can find them in bulk at a wholesale place!

Jill - posted on 10/12/2010

my daughter wasnt gaining weight since she turned one and now she seems to be gaining a little bit (i wont know until i go to te drs next month) and i was concerned and the dr told me that she wasnt concerned bc shes working off what she eats during the day. when i took her to the dr last she was about 21 lbs. and she was 33 1/4 inches. but the dr wasnt concerned so i wasnt.

Jacqui - posted on 10/12/2010

I think he sounds like he's eating healthy.. so I wouldn't worry at all then. Depending on his height, I don't think he sounds underweight. My 23 month old is 27 pounds and tall and is perfectly healthy. :)

Katie - posted on 10/11/2010

Why does your doctor want him to gain weight? My daughter is 24 months old and is 27 pounds.
Maybe try giving him more snacks through out the day or foods that are higher in fat.

Heather - posted on 10/11/2010

he loves his fruits and vegetables he eats fruits almost every day and if hes not eating them i give him healthy fruit drinks. and he eats vegetables alot to but sometimes when he wont eat them i will give him the v8 fusions drink because he doesnt like regular v8. he seems to me that hes growing on time and he is very smart for being 23months old. and he eats whole grains and all that.

Kim - posted on 10/10/2010

I saw your second post and you spoke about not being the most healthy cookers in the world. A healthy diet which is rich in nutrients is far more beneficial to a meal full of empty calories. Make sure he is getting at least 5 fruits and vegetables per day and as little processed foods as possible.

Kim - posted on 10/10/2010

If he is eating well and is happy I wouldn't worry too much. My daughter is tiny too and is about the same weight but her bones are not sticking out and she is healthy so am not fussed. Not all kids are average... some are small and some bigger than the average.

Kim - posted on 10/09/2010

My daughter is 23 months and has pretty much stayed the same weight since she turned 1. When she was at the dr's last week she was 24lb 7 oz. and the dr didn't mention anything to me about her weight being low. She's liitle compared to my other children. My other daughter will be 9 months on the 14th and I'm guessing she weighs about 20lbs and she's only 2 inches shorter.

Stefanie - posted on 10/09/2010

My daughter is the same way. She's 24lbs, and her Dr's say she's perfectly healthy. She will not drink milk, so the Dr's mentioned to us to give her cheese. And she Loooooves cheese. Marion's cousin who is 4 months younger weighs 28lbs! She's a chunkster when it comes compaired to my L.O.

Hope - posted on 10/08/2010

let him eat as much as he wants but make it healthy

Dipal - posted on 10/08/2010

I have same thing...my daughter is 23 months old and she is also 24 lbs. but my dr. said its good. She didn't say anything being underweight. my daughter eats very little breakfast. and for lunch and dinner...its little too..she drinks milk a lot about 40oz. per day. we are vegetarian, so we eat vegetables...she loves peas, carrot, sweet potatoes, and potatoes. She likes rice with yellow lentils. yogurt and etc....

DeEtte - posted on 10/08/2010

Cont...Here's the thing my son who's 5 doesn't gain weight well but he's also tall for his age and now my 4mo old has a small head at 3% on the growth charts. When are they going to stop harassing and worrying us mothers when there is ANY family history of such and NO developmental delays?!

DeEtte - posted on 10/08/2010

My 23 mo. old daughter has a weight problem too. Her weight is at 1.3% on the growth charts and she has been listed on the failure to thrive list by her Dr's for over a year now. She is 21lbs12oz and 31 1/4in so she's petite all he way around. My husband was always thin as a child and his grandmother was 4ft7in and 100lbs, Yet my daughter has had to go to a couple specialists to try to diagnose her "problem". I have had to document a weeks worth of her complete food/liquid intake and she has been blood tested a few times. They have found NOTHING wrong and yet they still have her on that list. If I don't cooperate with them to at least some point they may contact CPS.

Alexandra - posted on 10/08/2010

i give my son milk twice a day, one cup each time, with half a sacket of breakfast essentials. i figure since he never wants to eat anyway, then he can get some fat from that. you can find it everywhere, targtet, walmart, near the breakfast cereal.

Dawn - posted on 10/08/2010

I really wouldn't worry then. Find a new doctor if need be. You don't want to start unhealthy eating habits of *trying* to get him to gain weight and then in a few years he will be overweight. You were thin as a child and dad isn't very big, then it makes sense that your child isn't going to be.. I don't give my son whole milk either, the smallest amount we can get is a half gallon and it always goes bad before he can drink it all. So he just shares the 2% with the rest of the family. Avacodo is a really good sorce of good fat though if you worried. So is fish. But watch the type of fish, some fish has a lot of mercury and is not good for littler ones.

Heather - posted on 10/08/2010

ian is healthy and developmenting fine he is 33.5 inches tall but the dr said that he is almost to the point of being underweight! but when i was little my mom said i was really thin and his dad is around 150 and hes 5'9 me on the other hand i have lost the weight from pregnancy yet i was never motivated to lol the only thing is he cant have whole milk he has to have 2% because whole milk makes him constipated so thats the only fat he doesnt get is from the milk. because were not the most healthiest cookers in the world! but thanks everyone im glad my son isnt the only one haha

Dawn - posted on 10/08/2010

How tall is he? My son ony weighs 23 lbs and is perfectly healthy. He is just small. But we are smaller people. I am 5' 7" and weigh 125 lbs, daddy is 5' 9" and 145 lbs. Does your son appear healthy? Is he doing the things he should be doing development wise? Has this been his growth pattern all along? If yes, then don't worry! And don't let your doctor stress you out!! Your son should be evaluated on how HE is growing, not how every other boy his age is growing. Adults have different body styles and so will babies. It's silly to try to get your child to gain wieght if he is healthy, when so many children are overweight! Babycenter.com has a height/weight calculator on thier site. According to it your son is in the 5-10% which is healthy.

Caitlin - posted on 10/08/2010

I have the same problem with my daughter, but she has food allergies that prevent her from eating dairy or egg, so a lot of those fats we can't even add into her diet. She's tall for her age (same as a lot of 3 year olds) and she hovers around 24 pounds, you can see her ribs quite clearly. I'll see what the doc has to say about it next month at her 2 yr check up. She's still happy and has a lot of energy, sleeps fine so i'm not really worried unless the doctor says I should be, but I agree with increasing the fats.. (I add canola oil to her juice in her sippy cup - how gross does that sound..)

Jen - posted on 10/08/2010

i have the same with my 23 month old he wasnt eating alot then we ddi get him to eat more but then 2 weeks ago he had a chest infection n now his gone bk to one bite of stuff n im so going crazy.

Kylie - posted on 10/07/2010

I have the same problem, my doc said put plenty of butter on all the bread and veggies my son eats. She said fats are very important for growing brains. I also make a smoothies with banana and strawberry's , full fat milk, yogurt and ice cream..liquid calories go down great with my boy.

look at yourself and your partner if you guys are thin and were thin kids that is probably the reason you Lo is small ion the charts. I dont go crazy worrying about my sons weight because he is eating and reaching milestones on time or before average. He's just little.

Jacqui - posted on 10/07/2010

we don't have a problem with our LO gaining weight.. but what about increasing the good fats? Avocado, olive oil, salmon, flax oil/seeds.. I make fruit smoothies and do add flax oil sometimes... there is no noticible taste.