small babies not on the centile charts

[hana]

my dd2 is a v small baby, weighs just 12.6 at 7 months. We have monthly checkups with a pediatrician at the hospital and on the last visit I was told to add sugar to any fruit that I give her, and butter to everything else.
I think that dd2 is absolutely fine, her older sister is small as well (and yes I don't like those charts)
But adding sugar? and butter? am worried that she'll develop a sweet tooth etc as she gets older.
Are there any other options to fatten babies up? I don't really think she needs fattening up - I don't have any developmental worries. Should I ask for a referral to a pediatric dietician instead?
sorry for all of my questions, I just can't bring myself to add the sugar to her already sweet foods

[hunkermunker]

Personally I wouldn't add sugar and butter to food. I do use butter in DS's food, but rarely sugar as I don't think it's necessary.

I would say that too much emphasis is placed on centile charts and some babies are just naturally very light and little. If she's developing as she should, I wouldn't worry about it.

[logic]

My ds is right at the bottom of the bottom blue section on the centile chart and he is nearly 3. I was told to put lots of butter in his food too but you can't force them to eat. The district nurse told me that he is healthy and has tons of energy so not to worry.

[Pollyanna]

Hana, my dd1 fell off the bottom of the charts too and i was also told by my hv to feed her butter and chips. I didn't do this as i felt that she was well and healthy and energetic and had a very good healthy diet (she also seemed to eat an adequate amount), and was just slight. She is 4 now and is still very slim. I personally didn't add sugar and fat to my dds diet, but did start avoiding the hv

[Aragon]

hana,

I'll start off by saying I am a HV and not a paediatrician. However, I am NOT a big fan of centile charts as I often feel they are a tool to beat parents with rather than reassure them.

I have only seen one child in the past 4 years with a true "growth disorder" and in that case the Mum noticed before anyone else that something was not right. Centile charts are only ever a guide and you have to look at the whole child and all the other aspects of development.

There is research which looks at growth and makes links to adult disorders, however, alot of that research at the moment involves children who are overweight.

Children who have true eating disorders can be underweight and the only way of adding calories is to give calorie rich food ie: often fatty and sugary food - it's a quick way of adding calories and helping a child to gain weight.

However, at 7 months she's still young and alot can change in 6 months, I'd go with your DD and offer her what you are having (if she wants it), follow on milks for the iron, plenty of fruit and veg etc.
It's still very early days and under current guidelines (weaning to start at 6 months) she's still a beginner - offer calorie rich (rather than specifically sugar and fat rich) foods - bits of Avocado for example are both calorie and nutrient rich and they also have a high number of "good" fats. Mashed banana is good too.
Cheese is okay if your DD likes it (also calorie, fat and nutrient rich) and a sauce over veggies is very palatable to many babies.


I suppose what I am saying is go with your daughter. If your older daughter is small as well then it's likely that they are just that build and that is okay. I have seen families where a baby has followed an older sibling almost to the letter in growth - the first child investigated (and found to be fine) and the second one just seen as a carbon copy of his/her sibling and not worried about (unless the parent's were worried).

Anyway - have banged on too long - I would agree that a paediatric dieticien might be a better bet - they are much more clued up about growth (and infinile better than HVs). It would be worth asking for your DDs growth to be plotted on a thrive line as these seem much more accurate.

[hunkermunker]

I just find it incredible that so much effort is put into fattening children up until they're about school age, then they are told they need to lose weight?!

[jbadgirl]

My ds isnt on the centile and is 9 months. They suggested putting cheese on his food and double cream!!! He is on high calorie milk but is eating loads of solids. Im not too worried as his weight is good for his height he is certainly thriving too.

It may be worth seeing the dietician to see if there are any other options rather than sugar!

hth x

[Aragon]

infinile

Hmm! Meant infinately . Is that the right spelling? or is it "infinately". Yep! Think it's infinitely. Oh God! Spellchecker here I come.

[hana]

thanks everyone for your thoughts. my instincts tell me that she is absolutely fine, but there is a v small faraway thought that is 'what if there is something wrong?' she had blood tests last week, I'll get the results soon
I started weaning her about a week before she was 6 months, and she loves everything so far, have been giving the avocado and banana for the reasons you've mentioned aragon. I'm not going to add anything at this stage, you're all right. I guess I just needed the reassurance , so thanks v much again