Help - 17 month old underweight!

[libbysmummy]

Hi
Hoping someone can help with some ideas for "bulking" up my 17 month old daughter.
She only weighs 9kg (20lbs) and the Heath Centre are talking about referring her to a dietician. (plus I am having a nightmare getting her clothes that fit as she is normal height but incredibly skinny!)
She is not a fussy eater in any way, just has no appetite. She is full of energy, very happy and sleeps through the night so I am not worried that she is sick or anything.
I am just after some ideas of what i can give her to fill her out a bit .....
Hope you can help...
Sarah

if she's happy and healthy, then just stop going to get her weighed. if she's not a fussy eater then being referred to a dietician isn't really going to make much difference. some babies are just small, there have been lots of threads on this subject with mums being worried sick by their hv. my ds is small, even his sister was bigger than him at the same age, he's nearly 16mths, on the 9th centile, but he's happy and he eats fine generally.

from memory, there was a thread started by enid with some ideas for high calorie food for one of her dd's, things suggested were ice cream, lots of cheese, i'll have a look in the archives and see if i can find it for you.

this might help

Have to say, neither of my older two ever made it onto the centile charts (well, DD did, just!). They are healthy, happy with lots of energy. Feeding them on high calorie foods made no difference at all. They are just small kids.

As long as she is healthy with lots of energy I wouldnt worry. Just enjoy her. Some kids just dont have appetites. DS1 doesnt, DD does. (DS2 is huge compared to the other two LOL - although he is only on the 50th centile).

These centile charts are just guides. Sounds like your DD is just on the smaller side. You might just have to get your needle and thread out to adjust all her clothes

hi I bet my DD1 didn't weigh 20lbs at 17 months either, she weighs 22lbs now (at 2.2y) she's a very picky eater but does drink a pint of milk a day. I try not to fret about it, some children are just tiny. She's just under the 9th centile for weight but between the 25th and 50th for height so I know what you mean about clothes. It gets worse as DD1 is potty trained so without a nappy on trousers just hang off her.

To make matters worse DD2 is nearly 8mo and 20lbs.

dd was around the same . Now 5 and just under 14kg . Fit, bright healthy and active ! Were you and dh petite as tots ?

Hi
Yeah me and DH were both on the smaller side, so i guess most of it is hereditary! Thanks for all you messages - you have made me feel much better and not so worried. My HV just put the fear of god into me today!
Like you all said, she is happy and energetic and that is the most important thing!

hi
even my daughter is 7.8 at 15 months. she too is active,sleeps well, but little bit fussy about eating. u have given me re assurance that its fine to be underwegiht as long as they are happy and active. thanks