..to push a little further for DS4

[loopyapp]

AIBU to be a tad concerned about DS4?
I have an aversion to seeking medical advice following some trauma of my own related to HCPs. This makes it very hard for me to see the wood for the trees sometimes and more so, for me to be assertive.

DS4 is 17mo and has always been smaller than the others following between the 9th and 25th centile for weight. He hasn't been weighed since he turned one so I'm not sure when that began tailing off, however recently we've noticed he is visibly skinny. Ribs, spine and shoulder blades can be seen to varied degree and his limbs have very little fat (no rolls or wrinkles at all).

He is breastfed and I admit freely he will absolutely always chose milk over food but I am by and large very strict in ensuring he has always eaten something before I let him Nurse. He however is nursing 5 or 6 times a night and asking all day long, his food intake is all over the place - a good day being a banana and porridge for breakfast, toast and fruit for snack, good sized cooked lunch (cottage pie, lasagne) crisp puff things for snack and a good portion of whatever we have for tea and then supper. Bad days he will pick at his food, throw most of it on the floor and refuse to engage in it at all.

He has thrush on his tongue almost all the time, I treat it, it goes, within days it's back.

Do I need to be firmer with the HV who is only really interested in referring him for his squint/turning eye.

He looks absolutely normal weight wise. In fact, I'd go as far as to say he looks like he has some cute (and still perfectly normal) puppy fat. By all means get him checked out by the GP for the recurring thrush because they can take a swab and ensure it's being treated correctly, but I genuinely don't think you have anything to worry about regarding his food intake. Do get a second opinion though if you're concerned. I'm a great believer in mother's instinct.

What have you used for the thrush? Just Nystan?

@VanGoSunflowers

Just adding to the posters saying he looks normal. My DS always tracked on the 9th centile when he was a baby. Also breastfed. He is still small for his age but very healthy and active. I wouldn’t be too worried but do get him weighed. Also, I had nipple thrush (it ended the feeding actually when he was about 19mo) don’t use canesten - you can get something called Daktacort (I think) over the counter for nipple thrush. Speak to a pharmacist.

Oh. That's maddening. Its what the gp prescribed me wheni absolutely had it.

I dont think I do now, I have no symptoms and I treat myself and him each Time but if I do need to contact the gp I'll mention it

If you have only used Nystan, use Daktarin. We had the same issue.

My DD2 is 2.5 now and she's on similar percentiles to your DS and looked very similar at his age. She still has visible ribs and shoulder blades (but still a little pot belly!). We also had problems with a persistent white tongue early on in BF. It wouldn't clear up despite treatment for thrush but I'm now fairly certain that it was a really milky tongue because she had a tongue tie and couldn't 'clean' it properly in her mouth. Have you ever had your DS checked for tongue tie?

@HurryUpAndWait23

What have you used for the thrush? Just Nystan?

Daktaran (sp?) Gel he was px it the first time but it can be bought over the counter so I buy it now.

@Katinkak8

My DD2 is 2.5 now and she's on similar percentiles to your DS and looked very similar at his age. She still has visible ribs and shoulder blades (but still a little pot belly!). We also had problems with a persistent white tongue early on in BF. It wouldn't clear up despite treatment for thrush but I'm now fairly certain that it was a really milky tongue because she had a tongue tie and couldn't 'clean' it properly in her mouth. Have you ever had your DS checked for tongue tie?

Yes he was checked because he's had an issue with a very shallow latch his whole life. That was never resolved either as no cause was found.

The stuff on his tongue is thick, yellow/white furry and won't scrape off.

Also - not sure if anyone else notice this but just before DS grows in height, he gets extra chubby… then, after he has grown a little taller he is quite skinny. Then he puts a bit of weight on again and the cycle starts again.

I definitely wouldn't worry. I was expecting to see something like my daughter at 2 months. Drs refused to listen since her birth when I told them she was throwing everything back up. I can't find the side pic where you can literally see her skin just hanging on her ribs. People literally didn't ask to hold her because she looked so frail. Scariest time of my life.

Oh. That's maddening. Its what the gp prescribed me wheni absolutely had it

Yeah, I had read that most babies will happily feed through thrush but my DS wouldn’t. He just refused to nurse when I had it. He was really annoyed the first night and then was just straight over it so perhaps he was nearly ready to stop feeding anyway. I was more upset about it as it felt like such an abrupt end!

Sorry for the de-rail

My DS is 23 months and 25th centile for weight and looks very similar. He's also a boob monster and feeds through the night and gas good days and bad days food wise. I'd say you should weigh him regularly for your own peace of mind to check he's not falling centiles. Also check his height as he could have just grown upwards which could make him look skinnier

I was worried for you at first and then I saw the pictures . He's absolutely fine, much chubbier than my two ever were and they're perfectly healthy. It sounds like you're doing a good job with his diet too - one of mine is seven and has never eaten as much in a day as your son does! I would say it's normal for them to have 'off' days and definitely push for help with the thrush but apart from that it all looks and sounds good.

I honestly cannot thank you all enough for your Patience and support. I feel so much more relaxed!! I'll get some scales tomorrow and update you all.

Really do appreciate everyone's wisdom and kindness

If he is following his centile then he is fine. Some kids are skinnier? Mine were born on 2nd centile and have gone up to between 9 and 25. I’ve always been able to see ribs and definitely no chub. It’s just how they are. But I would weigh him to check he isn’t dropping off the scale, and the thrush sounds strange.

I had 3 chunky DDs then the 4 then 4th despite being born on the 90th centile steadily dropped to be 25th for weight and 80th for height she just remained ridiculous slim until mid teens, still lighter side for height though I think

It might not be thrush as such, candida is in everyone’s mouth and sometimes if you mouth breathe overnight you can get a bit of an overgrowth that is technically thrush but isn’t really if you see what I mean. Giving the tongue a good brush with a toothbrush (not quite sure how in a toddler but anyway…) if it’s not thrush, thrush might help.

I still think you need to have a review by a GP if you are worried but I know when my LO was a baby he had thrush as a newborn and it was all over his mouth not just his tongue and in my professional life if someone came in with “just” white on the tongue it wouldn’t be a source of concern in itself. Again we would see thrush over the whole mouth to be a worry. I am not saying this to dismiss your concerns just to try and reassure you a little bit!

I have B/G twin toddlers. There is nothing like having a direct comparison right next to each other to make you question everything so I have worried about all sorts!
However. my boy is skinny like yours and my girl is more solid. Boy eats more than girl does... and they both go through good days and bad days food wise. I am not really worried though about either of their weights (despite having moments where I do notice the difference and question myself!) as I know that they both have huge amounts of energy, they are both happy and healthy - so they are just made different from each other. Your baby looks fine to me, however if he's dropped from being a chunky baby to being skinnier then it's worth contacting your gp about it if you are worried.

My first son. The health visitor at the time said he was fine, but looking back now I can't believe how skinny he was! My subsequent were chunks. DS1 is now 6 and perfectly fit, healthy and athletic.

Another one saying he looks fine - quite like my DS who is still skinny at 2.5. His little sister, on the other hand, has rolls upon rolls! As long as he’s keeping along his centile, he’s fine.

With my youngest if we hadn't used washable nappies I'm not sure how leggings or trousers of any kind would have stayed up.

He looks completely normal - slim but not skinny. The amount of food he is eating sounds enormous compared to what my own ate at that age! You really have nothing to worry about.

He looks healthy to me, but you are the mother, and if your instincts are worrying you, go ahead and push. The continual bouts of thrush sound annoying at the very least.

Both my children you can see their ribs and bones easily. Ds1 is visibly skinny, but as he is getting older he is building more muscle too! You should be able to see children ribs and bones until they hit puberty!

Oh and my MIL is always going on about how skinny they are. The reality is her other two grandchildren are obese, yet she thinks it's my kids that look wrong!!

Hello. My son is three and fits shorts for age 18m to 2 years. I struggle to find trousers that fit his length bs waist. So I thought he was too skinny. He does eat but doesnt eat for the sake of eating. As a baby he only took small bottles but often.

On his 3rd birthday I compared to red book. 50th percentile for height, 40th for weight. As a baby he followed the 10th for weight.

But until I weighted him I was convinced he was terribly under weight.

We saw a dietician when we was two as his eating was so bad and she recommended multi vits which we do anyway as there can be a link between some vitamin deficiency and appetite.