so annoyed at health visitor!

JemmaM91

Sorry I just need somewhere to have a little rant.

Basically I took DS (aged 2) to health clinic today to see the health visitor. He doesn't yet talk and his hearing test last week showed that his hearing is fine. His preschool asked me to take him to push for a 2 year health check as he hasn't yet had one.

So we get there, before seeing the health visitor we have to get the children weighed. DS weighed 14.9Kg and all she seemed concerned about was that he was overweight, (hes not, he actually looks pretty boney) she was saying about childhood obesity etc. Hes 94cm so for a 25 month old is fairly tall but she never took into consideration his height.

Regarding the fact he doesn't talk she said that she doesn't 'deal with that sort of stuff' and I have to take him to see a nursery nurse.

So basically a pretty pointless trip and I feel terrible that my son is considered overweight. Looking at him youd be shocked.

Anyone else had similar issues with 2 year olds weights? Did they end up obese or is it just scare tactics by the HV?

Counting_Pennies_2

My experience with Health visitors have been up and down.


I would say in terms of the speech to call up your doctors surgery and ask for a referral to speech and language therapy, say you have been to the hv and got no assistance, you are asking following advice from his preschool.


In terms of the weight, I would have a look on the centile chart, you will be able to plot his weight and height on the chart and see where he stands on the charts.


If he was consistently in the same banding as a baby through to now, I would say he is fine. If you see he has jumped to the 90th centiles from having been in the 25% during babyhood maybe look at more activity based activities and cutting out treats and swapping them for fruit, but from what you have said I would just take what she has said with a pinch of salt and move on.


Based on my bad experience with HV not assisting me during my blackest days of PND I decided not to have anything more to do with them, and from about 6 months of age my DD and I did not have any involvement with them and I have always seen the GP

building_with_lego

Looking at the NHS BMI calculator that puts him on the 74th centile so he is a biggish lad but by no means obese!

With regard to his speech you may be able to self-refer to the speech therapist in your area, or have a chat to the gp about that.

JemmaM91

Thank you. He was 75th centile at birth so it is similar.

I just automatically assumed I needed to see the health visitor for speech. My nephews HV refered him to speach therapy ok but he could actually talk (just cant pronounce words properly) so dont know whether that makes a difference.

I will make him an app with GP and stop worrying about his comments.

Thanks again

System

Had exactly the same. My son was very tall for his age at 2 (7 months ago now) and we were told the same. We also pointed out that he was taller than he should be but she just said her records are only for weight and not height.

littlemisssunshinee

I'm sure they measured my son at his 2 year check up. He was on 91st centile for height and slightly higher (95th?) for weight.
HV reassured me that it doesn't have to be exact as they grow in spurts. I have not given his weight a second thought since that appointment, he's almost 3 now and is big for his age but is definitely proportionate.

I would check that his height & weight roughly corresponds and as long as it does (I assume it will as you said he doesn't look overweight) worry no more about it. Seems a bit mean to cut out treats based on what doesn't sound like clearly calculated advice!!

Tanswell88

When my DD was 2 (now 7), At five - she was considered obese when she was weighed and measured in foundation class. Shes short and stocky. She isn't obese at all , there isn't a ounce of fat on her. She has chunky legs and that is where all her weight is. Heck you can even see her ribs. Sometimes it IS genetics but some HV think kids are one size fits all.

Tanswell88

In regards to his speech, do you have a sure start center? ours offer a six week course for children who have a speech delay (we've had t do this with my youngest who has just turned 2) and if they feel they need referring for speech therapy they will do it towards the end of the six weeks.
Weve also started using makaton to help ease frustration and as odd as it sounds teaching her to sign has helped her speech!

JemmaM91

Thank you. Im not sure where the nearest sure start is but I will definitely have a search online.

Thanks im sure hes not overweight, I just dont understand why she wouldnt put his height into the equation. Just got slightly worried incase I am setting him up to become obese.

Na1play

Does the pre school have a SENCO? They should be able to refer to a speech therapist. X