Need help getting 19 month old to eat more, he only weighs 10kgs!

robin_banks

As with previous posters I agree it's not too much of a problem, and along with other posters I also agree that plenty of fruit and veg is always a good thing.

Mullerice is crammed full of of sugar btw, make your own - far nicer and cheaper.

hayleyc_2

I think 18months - 2years is a classic 'fussy' phase for a lot of toddlers. I think the main thing is to try not to make meal times stressful, and just keep offering a good variety of foods without making a fuss if he tried them or not. If you eat with your son, and he sees you enjoying the same foods as he's being offered then he's likely to start trying them eventually. A friend of mine's little girl went through a phase like this where she would only eat cheese, chocolate rice and noodles and not a lot else! Luckily she was being breastfed so got plenty of calories that way. She's 3 now and as far as I know eats normally again

Hayley

sooty&sweep

Hi

When my son was born he was 9lb 3oz and on the 91st centile. He slowly but surely moved own the centile chart to (last time I checked) the 5th centile. Initially Doctor and Health Visitor were concerned but they compared his height with his weight and his height was also roughly 5th centile.
So his weight was in proportion with his height. My daughter did exactly the same thing.
If you and your husband are small then your son will also be small.
If you're concerned then check with your Health Visitor but a young child shouldn't be on the same type of diet as an adult. There tummy's are small so if you give them too much fibre rich foods then they won't have space for other things. They do need a relatively high fat diet so full fat milk cheese etc because they are growing so much.
There is nothing wrong with baked beans although I'm not so sure about the ones with sausages.
Does he like mashed potato with butter & cheese ? Houmous with breadsticks or veg sticks ? Some of my two's favourites.

Don't worry as long as they've got the opportunity to try different things you'll be surprised all of a sudden they're eating things they didn't like before but it does take time for them to develop tastes for new things. Children aren't like adults they will quite happily eat the samethings and it takes time for their tastes to develop and widen. Or at least it has with mine.

Best Wishes

pinky13_2

Firstly, thank you all for your replies. They have really eased my mind a lot. I just look around and see a lot of big toddlers and wonder if he is too small. As you all say, the fact is that I am 5"1' and his dad is about 5"6'. He is approx 79cms tall. He is also extremely lively little boy and spends the whole day running around our tiny flat. He has always been in the lower centile (I think the 10th, the second from bottom) and when he was born weighed 6 pounds 15 ounces.

I would like to sit with him at the table and eat properly but our flat is tiny and we do not have a dinner table. We have his highchair in the kitchen and just feed him there (me and his dad eat on the sofa :embarasse).

Anyway, I am going to swap his cereal for something much healthier or maybe give him a boiled egg in the morning which is what I used to do and he likes them. Also going to get rid of the muller rice and introduce a lot more healthier stuff.

He is absolutely fine in himself, not lethargic in anyway.
Thank you mummies :T

lisaloo1977

Hi,

Just wanted to say my son was a terrible eater. We went to see dieticians with him at the hospital after being referred by our doctor, and the general feeling was he will eat when he is hungry, and try not to make a fuss of it or he will just eat less. It didnt help that he lived on one product, Mullers Cruch Corners.

He would sometimes have up to 10 of them a day, but he would never eat the crunch part just the yougurt. If we bought other types of yogurts that did not have the corner part, he refused to eat the yogurt. It was rather annoying, as we had to pay extra for ones that he wasted the part you paid the premium for. This went on for 9 months, you would think he would have become bored of them but he still has a few a day now, though he does have the corner part now as well.

I would take him to the doctors if your are worried, it is always worth it for piece of mind. My son now eats so much more food types, but i still would not say he is the best eater. When ever we go to my parents my mum cant get her head around the fact he does not eat 3 meals a day!!! If he is not hungry he is not going to want to, is how i have chosen to see it.

bumblebee87_2

my DD rarely puts on weight as she is very very active, she rarely sits down. as long as he isnt getting poorly then everything should be fine. your HV would pick up on things very quickly if there was anything wrong x

sooty&sweep

Hi

Once a child starts walking / running their weight gain slows down alot simply because they are burning so much energy.
My little girl is three today and I am buying 12-18 month skirts/trousers etc for her. She is alittle bigger in her tops.
My son is nearly 8 and he is just going into age six trousers and I have to turn them up. I have to buy with the adjustable waists (BHS & Next are good) as otherwise they fall down.
Can you make your own rice pudding ? Rice + milk + a little sugar doesn't sound particularly unhealthy to me. Add some fresh fruit or dried sultanas, raisins apricots etc even better.
Have you tried making porridge ? My husband makes it in the microwave with full fat milk and it is lovely. Just becareful that you use a huge jug or bowl as it boils up and goes everywhere if not careful. My two love it with fresh banana.

Barneysmom

I think you should bring his high chair into the same room as where you eat, so it's not such a solitary experience for him.
If he eats with you two, and you let him see how much you enjoy your food, and all talk as a family, it will be more fun for him and he'd be more likely to pick up on new flavours.;)

anonymousie

Agree with all above- get height and weight checked and if in proportion he is just smaller than average and really don't worry!! Put your logical thinking hat on and remember that average is just that- there have to be some kids beiiger and some smaller -that is exactly as it should be!

You only need to worry if he isn't growing along his line as the months pass (don't get him weighed too often as you'll get hung up by the fact that some weeks he may loose weight esp if he has a cold etc but month on month the trend should be slowly increasing height and weight) OR if his weigh it down at the 9th centile or so and his height is up at the 97th- then he is out of proportion, and maybe (only maybe) there is a problem.

fsdss

pinky13 wrote: »

I would like to sit with him at the table and eat properly but our flat is tiny and we do not have a dinner table. We have his highchair in the kitchen and just feed him there (me and his dad eat on the sofa :embarasse).

this is more likely to be the prblem with eating - eating is a important social event for the family, and might be better if you could join him at mealtimes or he could join you? when a child see's you eating - they are more likely to try new things and copy what the parent is doing

75cm on the height chart for boy aged 19months is on the 9th centile - so he is absolutely perfect in ratio (dont worry checked the right chart this time!)