Calling parents of Seriously Skinny Kids!

[MamaG]

DS1 is SO skinny. He put on a pair of pants the other day size 18-24 months and they fit him - he'll be 5 next month. You can clearly see all his vertebrae and his ribs, his arms are thinner than BabyG's arms (he's 13 weeks old!) and his face just looks gaunt.

However - he eats like a horse, almost adult sized portions and snacks in between. I have had him checked over and he's healthy but I do fret about his skinniness.

I know I'm not alone

nope, you are not alone - I have a skinny minny DS too. His legs are getting a bit more muscly now (he's nearly 10) but he used to look like those comic book illustrations of knobbly kneed boys, just two sticks with knees sticking out.
YOu can still see ribs and vertebrae, but his arms are getting a bit more muscly too as he gets older.
My cousin's DS is the same.
Mine eats like a horse too

They are the lucky ones. Will live longer and be healthier. Don't try to fatten them up, just feed them lots of healthy stuff. But you will have to buy them elastic-waisted trousers or good belts.

my ds is the same - and eats like a horse.

He runs everywhere though and I dont drive so he walks/runs to school and back.

Its just their metabolism - are you quite small yourself?

I find it a good excuse to always have puddings and fry ups for breakfast and all sorts.

[whispers]Sometimes I think to myself that they are in fact normal its just that everyone else is bigger...

Is he tall?
I have a very tall 3 yr old (off the centile chart) and he looks very skinny to me.
He could easily wear 18 month size clothes if they were long enough!
BUT he was weighed last year for his 2 year check and he was actually bang on the average line for weight.
I think for one he looks so skinny because he is tall and two he looks skinny because nearly every other toddler we know is a bit podgy!

My son is the same. He never stays still and eats like a horse but often wears my three year olds clothes by mistake and I have to tell him to get changed.
I found gap good for jeans. They do 'skinny' jeans for boys and they fitted him well round the stomach and in the leg.

Another one here - though if you're looking for 'Don't worry, he'll grow out of it', I'm afraid I can't offer that comfort -DS is still incredibly skinny & he's 21 now. But he has always been, and still is, amazingly healthy - he missed exactly 5.5 days in his entire school career, and he is certainly strong and walks for miles. He eats loads, and is always trying to put on weight, but doesn't sleep very much, not sure if it's connected.

wannabe - thats a good tip I'll have a look when theres a sale on in there. Ours fit well in the leg but just fall down.

No, my DS1 isn't tall, is 5th smallest in a class of 19 boys.

I am guilty of trying to fatten him up

I'm only 5 3 whereas DH is over 6 feet tall - but he said he didn't get tall until after he'd left school!

I thin I'm noticing it more now BabyG is here and so big and heavy.

I also think I'm secretly a bit

Yes, I'll look in gap too, thanks! When I said he fit into the pants, I menat underpants, his legs are long and in age 4-5

LOL at the typo in second to last sentenc of my last post

Better thin than fat.

dd1 (10 yo and tall for hre age) can put on her brother trousers on as "cyclist shorts" and he is 4! Like Rusty, I think it is just the way she is built and will stay.

The good thing is that now we often find jeans or school trousers with this elastic+buttons system (like for pregnancy clothes) so she does not look like a clown.

MamaG - that typo is great. I have an 8 month old enormo baby as well - when my dd and ds are together they look daft - theres a pic on my profile.

Oh they are both gorgeous, giantkatestacks!

DS is nearly 7 and still wears the boxer type pants I bought for potty training I find the Gap trousers best for him too. There are a few factory outlet shops where I always stock up. Also M&S do school trousers now with adjustable waist.

He is tall. Never stops moving. Eats constantly. It's genetic. I come from a family of string beans, although I have plumped up a bit since having DCs.

Gorionine - aww thanks...even the one that looks like the marshmallow from Ghostbusters?

Yes, even this one!

Can I join?

DS looks seriously emaciated but eats all I can cram into him.

He was at an indoor play party recently and stripped off because he was too hot. I felt obliged to apologise to other parents for the lack of flesh on his ribs.

He takes after dh's tall, athletic, legs-up- to-your-armpits family

I've got one too! Ds is tall, skinny and very pale. He can eat two adult size meals at tea time followed by half a packet of biscuits!!

I also have a problem with trousers - the adjustable waist one's seem to stop at age 9/10 in most shops.

My eldest Ds and my DD are liek this.....elasticated waists pulled in so tight they have bustles on their bums!
They both eat well, and are active and normally healthy, so I try not to worry.
The only thing is that when they get a tummy bug they lose so much weight they look really ill.
DD is just getting over her first tummy bug in 2 years, and you can see every vertebrae in her spine!

I've got two superskinny (one eats, one doesn't) and one heffalump.

Genetics is weird.

Skinny 9 yr old here and second [or third] the Gap jeans recommendation. They can be hard to find and I couldn't get any in the sale this year. I hate elastic and button arrangements as DD ends up with enormous scrunch of uncomfortable fabric round waist/hips. Unfortuately she is a picky eater too so her mother can fret more!