nursing and appetite

[spicy tomato]

My son is 2 1/2 and nurses 3-5 times a day. He is below on all of the weight and height charts. He is very picky about food and I am starting to worry. Is it normal for breastfed toddlers to be lower weight?

[MiaMama]

Which growth charts?

My daughter's pediatrician looked at a growth chart and said "this chart says she needs Pediasure." I looked at the chart and, sure enough, it said Pediasure! all across the top and all down the sides.

I go by the World Health Organization's child growth standards. These charts are supposed to reflect breastfed children under optimal conditions.

http://www.who.int/childgrowth/standards/en/

[spicy tomato]

thank you

thanks so much for the link! That put him on the charts... still low, but at least on the charts. The pediasure thing is scary. One more reason to avoid the baby isle at the grocery store as much as possible! I have looked at some UK charts in the past, but the WHO charts made me feel much better.