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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not let DS be weighed at school?

294 replies

QueenofKelsingra · 23/09/2014 18:50

DS is in reception. just had the letter home saying the whole year will be weighed and measured for the NHS.

I don't really know why but I don't want him to have this done. DS is a healthy height and weight (75 and 50 centiles respectively) so I'm not 'scared' I will get some snotty letter stating that he is over/under weight. I just don't like the idea of someone else taking his measurements and making comments/statements about him when I haven't asked for it.

DH thinks I'm making a mountain out of a molehill and that it's no big deal. For some reason I just don't like the idea.

So WIBU to refuse to have him weighed and measured? Anyone else do this and why??

OP posts:
sharonthewaspandthewineywall · 23/09/2014 21:42

Well that's quite frankly bollocks,
Down.

sharonthewaspandthewineywall · 23/09/2014 21:45

Fellowes- great, it wasn't a squint so no problem but if it had of been intervention could have been provided. No idea why people moan so much about a problem turning out not to be a problem!

Downamongtherednecks · 23/09/2014 21:49

bollocks? Really? So why did the WHO and Unicef recently have to redo the charts? perhaps you should check before you spout nonsense.

www.unicef.org.uk/BabyFriendly/News-and-Research/News/WHO-publishes-new-growth-charts/

NerfHerder · 23/09/2014 21:49

YANBU.

In the main, I think parents do know whether their child is a healthy weight or not, whether they have sight/hearing issues etc. (whether they want to admit it to themselves, or do something about it is an entirely different matter!).

We opted out of this programme for our children.

DS was YR last year. He is 50th for height, but only 15th for weight. We know this- he has food phobias, and the GP is keeping an eye on him. We certainly don't need anyone highlighting his 'underweightness' to him.
The eyesight test was refused, because he is visually impaired, and had specs since he was 12mo. Hearing test also refused- we'd picked up his hearing issue, and he had grommets fitted at 3yo.
Parents are in the best position to know their children, they really are.

fredfredsausagehead1 · 23/09/2014 21:50

I honestly don't know how to feel about this. I got the letter too and my daughter has a serious medical condition which affects her body mass. Torn between treating her as normal and taking her out of the scheme because I can't face up to them telling me she's heavy. She's 50th for height and 75thfor weight

goinggetstough · 23/09/2014 21:51

But Down the only way those tables in the red books etc can be improved is to increase the amount of babies and children weighed. So by withdrawing your DC IMO makes the problem worse not better.
As some PPs have said it makes me laugh that the OP actually comments that her DC is fine as he is on 50th and 75th percentiles - where does she think this information comes from? I think it is quite short sighted to be happy to use the data but not to contribute to it.....

Downamongtherednecks · 23/09/2014 21:53

Note that this research shows that the charts are not optimal for all races. "Height and weight curves may not be optimal fits in all cases.
The differences between national or ethnic group head circumference means were large enough that using the WHO charts would put many children at risk for misdiagnosis of macrocephaly or microcephaly. Our findings indicate that the use of a single international standard for head circumference is not justified." bmjopen.bmj.com/content/4/1/e003735.full

WorraLiberty · 23/09/2014 21:56

YABU and actually quite selfish I'm afraid.

The government need to know what the NHS will be dealing with regarding the obesity epidemic.

Just because your child doesn't have a weight problem, that's no need to take an 'I'm all rite Jack' attitude.

You're projecting and if you still feel the same way when your child is in year 6 and they repeat the NWM programme, he's no doubt going to wonder what your problem is.

FreudiansSlipper · 23/09/2014 21:56

yanbu

I have never followed any charts. ds certainly would have after 18 months always come up underweight

he is skinny, I was as a child, he father is slim he is healthy, growing well and eats well

Downamongtherednecks · 23/09/2014 21:57

so sharon I am happy for you to produce evidence-based research to contradict WHO, the BMJ and Unicef.

Patienceisapparentlyavirtue · 23/09/2014 21:58

By pulling our children out of school weighings, WE are the ones reinforcing a message that a person's weight is secret and dangerous and worrying.

Would you object the same way if for example they were measuring his foot length? It's a physical measurement.

ExpiredUserName · 23/09/2014 22:00

Surely for those kids who are overweight not being weighed when most other kids are being weighed would potentially single them out for more teasing not less Confused

..although I would hope the teachers would deal with such situations sensitively.

WorraLiberty · 23/09/2014 22:01

We used to have sight and hearing tests in the 70s

It never occurred to my Mum to be offended

ILovePud · 23/09/2014 22:03

You don't get loads of snide, foot length bashing threads on here though.

FreudiansSlipper · 23/09/2014 22:08

as a child if we had been weighed I would have come up underweight, as ds would (he has not been weighed at school was not done at his school)

my friends son came up as being overweight, he is not in the slightest bit overweight he is heavy set and he is stocky, his father is that build but a chart does not take that into account so a letter is sent home saying you child is obese and needs to see a doctor

Original poster
QueenofKelsingra · 23/09/2014 22:10

patience the thing is foot size and height, requirement for glasses and hearing aids are not something that can be controlled or changed. weight is.

I weighed my child to check his weight for the car seat as he has just tipped over into needing 3 point rather than 5 point harness. I then out of curiosity looked where that put him on the charts. I do not use the charts as a rule, I use my eyes on my child.

I do understand the whole 'we need everyone to participate to get accurate info' thing but I think I will have to go with my gut (DH is happy to support this) and refuse permission for DS.

OP posts:
Janethegirl · 23/09/2014 22:10

My dc never had any health checks or immunisations through school as I felt that they should be carried out by the GP. As for the standard of the dental checks, words fail me. Fortunately our dentist was excellent with my dc and they tried to be first in the chair Grin

sharonthewaspandthewineywall · 23/09/2014 22:11

Please quote such evidence about hvs bullying mothers into giving up breastfeeding because of the centile charts before YOU start spouting bollocks Down

Janethegirl · 23/09/2014 22:14

Sharon I think Down has provided very useful links which may be worth you following up.

sharonthewaspandthewineywall · 23/09/2014 22:14

And the WHO haven't recently 'redone' growth charts it's been several years now

WorraLiberty · 23/09/2014 22:17

the thing is foot size and height, requirement for glasses and hearing aids are not something that can be controlled or changed. weight is.

Yes and that's what the government is trying to help the nation to do...and to do that they need to gather statistics and not just from overweight kids either.

To deny them your child's statistics is selfish and unreasonable but of course it's your choice.

Let's just hope they get the funding right for the NHS because if everyone took your attitude, they couldn't possibly know how much funds will be needed.

flowery · 23/09/2014 22:18

Lots of people seem to withdraw their child because they feel their child's health is their responsibility. But how is allowing your child to take part in a national screening programme incompatible with taking responsibility for your own child's health?

Downamongtherednecks · 23/09/2014 22:22

sorry for double post, I am working with patchy technology in the Middle East (for a health NGO). There is evidence that "weighing and plotting being at the core of each clinic visit" can undermine breastfeeding.