How to know if your toddler is underweight?

[Fiona2011231]

Hi, could you pls advise?

My son is three years and a half. He was born two months early. At the moment, his weight is nearly 15kgs.

Our grandparents keep saying he is underweight. But when we brought him to our GP, he said the child was fine.

Honestly we are still concerned. So is there any way to check?

FYI, I have a Bupa health insurance which covers my child. However, I have never used it for my child. So any tip would be greatly appreciated. For example, shall I ask for a referral to a private doctor?

Thank you.

[MrsPear]

First off breath. Both my children were born early - ds 1 at 10 weeks and ds 2 at 9 weeks. Take your child to the "lovely" baby clinc and ask for them to check his height and weight. If you think that you can do this accuratly at home yourself then do that instead. Then get out his red book out and plot them. What does it say? DS 1 was weighed and had had height check in January at pre school (he was doing a project book about himself). He was 3.3 years weighed 14.6kg and was 97cm - this puts him on the 25th line. This is fine according to doctors.

Oh and dh's family are always comment how slim he is and are rude about and it and i am ashamed to say that last time i snapped i would rather have a healthy slim child than a fat one!

[MrsPear]

I meant breathe - must learn to proof read!

[CelticPromise]

Hello- am rushing so just a quick reply- as long as he is growing he's very likely to be fine. My DS was premature, he's 3 and 8 months now and weighs 12.5kg ish. He's been seen by doctors for other reasons and they're happy with his weight as long as he grows at his own pace. Could you ask doctor to check what centile he's on and track him for a few months to set mind at rest? or you could do it yourself with the charts in his red book?

[MaryPoppinsBag]

Hi
Ring your health visitor.
Or take him to your local health visitor/ baby clinic
Children are covered by HV until they go to School full time. Then they are transferred to School Nurse.

Did he have a two year check - and was anything said then?

Alternatively you could measure and weigh him yourself and use the chart in the back of the red book.

[bamboobutton]

how tall is he? you can use the NHS child bmi calculator to ease your mind here

my ds 5yo, 110cm and weighs 15kg, he is underweight but is healthy and energetic enough.

unless your ds is as tall as a 5 year old I doubt he is underweight.

[PiHigh]

My (just turned) 6yo is only just over 15kg. My 3 and a half yo is about 12kg. DD1 was seen by a doctor after she lost weight following an ear infection a couple of years ago but they said she was fine. School nurse also assessed her as in a healthy range in reception - I was quite surprised she wasn't in the underweight section. She's energetic enough. Both Dh & I were small as kids too so I tend not to worry too much.

It's shocking though when we visit their cousins, both are similar in age but totally the opposite build (Dh's brother and his wife are both taller and bigger built than us). The older one is actually off the chart height-wise. My two look like little dolls in comparison .

[Fiona2011231]

Wow, wonderful replies. Reading these, I have a feeling that my child is fine.

However, this weekend I will check the numbers in the red book.

My sincere thanks for your kindness.

[brettgirl2]

My daughter is 4 and around 15 kilos, height wise 105. I get when MIL calls her 'skinny'. She isn't, she's health, active and eats well but is of v slight build. I think tbh anxiety about this kind of thing is what leads to kids ending up fat in the long term.