DC falling off growth curve, worried

[SchnitzelVonMum]

At my DD's 12 month check up, the doctor found that she has fallen off her growth curve for both height and weight. She isn't a big eater but enjoys fruit and veg, and I try to get her to eat a good diet which includes fatty foods like Greek yoghurt, oily fish, cheese and avocado. Some days she eats well, other days she eats a small amount and the rest goes on the floor/in her hair.

I feel like I have failed her and now need to 'fatten her up'. Has anyone else had experience of this? Doctor wasn't overly worried and just said we'll weigh/measure her again in 3 months. After googling (I know...) I'm seeing phrases like 'failure to thrive' and suggestions that she has some kind of disease. It's making me panic.

Any advice/similar experiences would be very welcome.

[Splandy]

Hello, my eldest child also fell off the bottom of the charts for both height and weight by his twelve month check. In his case, he had a growth hormone deficiency. It took a while to receive a diagnosis, they had to do some testing and then he began treatment at three. It's a nightly injection which simply replaces the amount of growth hormone his body would naturally make every day. There was some 'waiting and seeing' involved before he was diagnosed. If height and weight have both dropped together then I don't think they'd assume your daughter went eating enough. In my son's case, it had nothing to do with being underfed - but he did eat less than other children because he simply didn't need as many calories. As soon as he started treatment, his appetite doubled.

[Optimist3]

What ever you do don't get obsessed about calorie intake!! The children I know whose parents stressed about calorie intake eat badly and are very fussy. Just carry on feeding her healthily and start giving her meals you eat.

Mine were all under the bottom percentile. Still are. All bright, healthy and willing to eat anything. Just not overly chubby like many class mates.

[SchnitzelVonMum]

Thanks for the reply, good to hear that your son is ok and interesting that he didn't eat much either. My daughter loves eating and I don't want to ruin this by pushing food on her that she doesn't want.

Height and weight have both dropped off but head circumference is still on track. I've just been worrying as I've been letting her eat what she feels like at meal times/snacks and now I'm worrying it's not enough and I've been 'doing it wrong'.

[RB68]

At this age there is often a change in weight and body shape as they get mobile and start moving much more - little and often and keep going

[SchnitzelVonMum]

The last thing I'd want to do would be to spoil her enjoyment of food. She's currently mastering use of a spoon which she finds great, messy, fun. She already eats a lot of what I do, although she's not keen on meat or potatoes.

[RandomMess]

If her height and weight are on the same centile she's fine!!!

[SchnitzelVonMum]

I'm not sure what centile she's on. The doctor didn't mention it (currently in Germany so different methods perhaps), he showed me her projected 'growth curve' and how she'd dropped below it.

[Optimist3]

So she's fallen off the growth curve and not the percentile chart itself. Really don't bother giving it a second thought. It's natural for children to change lines.

[SchnitzelVonMum]

From what I can work out, she's near the bottom of the percentile chart, especially for height. I'm trying not to worry!