[minkajane]

DS is really skinny. His ribs and spine are visible. He has the round toddler belly, but everything else is so tiny. His dad and I are not skinny people and most of the kids I know are really overweight, so I don't know what normal looks like on a kid. He's also really short, so he looks much much younger than he actually is. Most people think he's 2 and he'll be 4 next month (some of his clothes are still 2T). He's on the growth charts and his weight is ok for his height, but for his age, his height is off the bottom of the charts. He's very muscular, so he still looks skinny while being on the charts for his height.

Part of it is that he doesn't like to sit down and eat. Even if he specifically requests something, half the time he won't eat it. He wants to get up every five seconds and come and say he loves us or smile at us or go pee or whatever. It seems like he's hardly getting any calories in him at all.

How do I tell if he's not getting enough to eat or how skinny is too skinny? He's been tested for cystic fibrosis and it was negative, but hasn't been tested for anything else. I don't know whether or not to be concerned!

 

[elmh23]

Have you tried a snack tray? My ds eats much better if allowed to go up to the tray, grab something, eat it and go play again. I just keep it packed with healthy stuff and he eats a pretty balanced diet that way.

 

[Erinz]

I was going to suggest a snack plate/tray as well. I put a large wooden plate down with raw cashews, cubes of raw cheddar cheese, dried cherries, sliced apples, dried apricots, sliced bell pepper, etc etc and just leave it out with no pressure, no expectations. Have you tried something along those lines?

I think the NO pressure, NO expectations part is critical.

 

[minkajane]

I've tried the snack tray before, but I had a hard time with it. It ended up sitting on his table collecting dust. I don't know if I was putting the wrong things in it or what. I've been trying really hard to make sure he's actually hungry before I give him a meal. I ask him if he's hungry first. If he's not, I say ok and ask again later. If he is, I let him choose what to eat. That's why it's so frustrating when he won't eat it. He tells me definitively what he wants to eat, then won't have anything to do with it.

 

[cristeen]

Is there anything that he will eat consistently? I'm thinking crackers, bacon, cheese, apple, nuts, etc... anything? Will he drink a smoothie/shake?

 

[minkajane]

He begs for grilled cheese a lot and almost always eats it quickly. Cheese and pretzels are two things he rarely turns down. He loves smoothies, I'll have to start making those again.

 

[weliveintheforest]

It is possible that he may not be able to communicate when he is actually hungry. If I ask my dd if she is hungry when she is busy doing something, she will often say no, but then when I offer her a snack I've prepared and bring her to the table she will eat it. I also tend not to give too much choice about what to eat, because if I so she will always say cheese or bread. I just give her whatever I have planned and it's usually fine.
I think smoothies are a great idea, you can hide lots of good fats and things in there! They also make good popsicles.

 

[cristeen]

I'd let him eat as much cheese as the budget allows, unless he has a dairy sensitivity... it's a nutrient dense food source. I would be sure to buy as good of a cheese as I could though, if he's going to be basing his diet on it.

If he'll eat grilled cheese, then I'd get a good healthy sourdough bread and some good cheese and feed him that. If he'll eat it, you can put some meat, tomatoes, even apples inside his grilled cheese for some extra nutrients.

But honestly I'd work on the things you know he'll eat for now... let him eat plenty of cheese, grilled cheese and smoothies. Pack his smoothie full of whatever other good things you can... CO, raw egg, yogurt, fruit, maybe even some greens hidden in there. If you can get him to eat a grilled cheese and a smoothie every day, you'll be sure he's getting enough nutrients into his system so you don't have to worry so much.

HTH

 

[WuWei]

Add fats, especially easy with smoothies. I add coconut oil, olive oil, nuts, kefir, cream, avocado to smoothies. There are protein powders to increase caloric intake also. But, soak some almonds and throw in at least 6 to each smoothie.

What about nut butters? We made some peanut butter balls with coconut and palm oil mixed in. Rolled in unsweetened chocolate. They are delicious.

Full fat cheese, full fat dairy, mayo, butter. Add butter to all vegetables, beans, rice. Add extra oil to baking, pancakes, waffles.

Make dips from beans with fats added, butter, coconut oil, olive oil.

What about hearty soup? Bone broths are nutrient dense and you can add fats to the broth and pour in a cup to sip.

Full fat ice cream?

Pat

 

[Ruthla]

Quote:

Originally Posted by minkajane He tells me definitively what he wants to eat, then won't have anything to do with it.

Does he actually eat NONE of what you prepare, or does he eat a small amount and then stop eating? It could be that he needs far less food than you think he does, and he gets full quickly.

 

[kjbrown92]

Okay, maybe I see it everywhere, but... it seems odd that the two things he craves are milk and gluten (grilled cheese and pretzels) and he's not gaining any weight. Is it possible that he's intolerant to one or both of those foods, so he isn't absorbing nutrients in the foods he does eat? I looked at his picture, and maybe it was just a sleepless night, but he's got circles under his eyes that could be allergic shiners. Does he have any skin issues? sleep issues? poop issues? etc.

Kids like to dip. What about fruits to dip in yogurt? veggies to dip in guacamole? something to dip in salsa? something to dip in ketchup? (my kids did carrots, broccoli, cauliflower and everything else in ketchup (not corn-syrup sweetened kind). If he's not eating much of anything, make sure that the foods he IS eating are nutrient dense. If he's thirsty, give him smoothies (you can throw all sorts of things in it) or bone broth. We fry eggs in coconut oil. I use coconut milk in baking. We use bacon grease to add to foods.

 

[Chinese Pistache]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kjbrown92 Okay, maybe I see it everywhere, but... it seems odd that the two things he craves are milk and gluten (grilled cheese and pretzels) and he's not gaining any weight. Is it possible that he's intolerant to one or both of those foods, so he isn't absorbing nutrients in the foods he does eat? I looked at his picture, and maybe it was just a sleepless night, but he's got circles under his eyes that could be allergic shiners. Does he have any skin issues? sleep issues? poop issues? etc. .

: My other thought is celiac's. My friend's dd was tiny/skinny and it took a while to figure out (they did all kinds of metabolic testing and such). They took gluten out and she started gaining.

 

[minkajane]

I know that he's got circles under his eyes, but I don't know that it means anything, because I have them too. I'm not allergic to any foods (just mold and seasonal allergies). We both have very mild eczema (his dad too). The only food issues he's had is a strawberry allergy as a baby that he outgrew.

He went through a phase of wanting nothing but peanut butter sandwiches and pretzel sticks for a while, then veggie dogs, now it's grilled cheese and hot pretzels with mustard. He'll also wolf down applesauce and yogurt. I figured going through phases like that was normal for a kid his age.

I forgot to mention - he also gets acetone breath regularly, which I've read is an indicator of diabetes. He was checked for when he first started getting the acetone breath (around 18 months) and it came up negative. We have a VERY strong family history of blood sugar disorders. Could this be juvenile diabetes?

 

[kjbrown92]

Quote:

Originally Posted by minkajane I know that he's got circles under his eyes, but I don't know that it means anything, because I have them too. I'm not allergic to any foods (just mold and seasonal allergies). We both have very mild eczema (his dad too). The only food issues he's had is a strawberry allergy as a baby that he outgrew.

Well then allergies run in the family. Eczema is sometimes environmental, sometimes from food. It's just something to think about.

Quote:

I forgot to mention - he also gets acetone breath regularly, which I've read is an indicator of diabetes. He was checked for when he first started getting the acetone breath (around 18 months) and it came up negative. We have a VERY strong family history of blood sugar disorders. Could this be juvenile diabetes?

They could check again for blood sugar. It's just a pin prick test. Celiac was already mentioned. Anything that keeps food from absorbing is up for suggestion -- food intolerances, diabetes (which also causes weight loss), celiac. Does he sleep well? Is he thirsty a lot more than normal (another diabetes indicator)?

I still think eating nutrient dense foods, if he's not eating much, is a good idea, while exploring other causes.

 

[Ophelia]

Okay, maybe I see it everywhere, but... it seems odd that the two things he craves are milk and gluten (grilled cheese and pretzels) and he's not gaining any weight. Is it possible that he's intolerant to one or both of those foods, so he isn't absorbing nutrients in the foods he does eat? I looked at his picture, and maybe it was just a sleepless night, but he's got circles under his eyes that could be allergic shiners. Does he have any skin issues? sleep issues? poop issues? etc.

The first thing I thought of was celiac or another food intolerance. It's quite possible. I've also read that dark circles under the eyes are a sign of allergy (I have them myself and do have seasonal/food allergies). I would definitely check on celiac or food intolerance. You may need to go GFCF and get some substitute food for him. It would likely take longer for the dairy to get out of his system than the gluten.
I also keep reading you crave what is not good for you (for me, that would be sweets and carbs!), so cravings can be a sign also.

Celiac most definitely interferes with absorption of nutrients.