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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Calling parents of Seriously Skinny Kids!

72 replies

MamaG · 06/02/2009 12:31

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

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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Thrifty · 06/02/2009 13:48

also tall skinny 3yr old ds. i found primark to be a good source of skinny fit jeans and trousers (i guess cos they're cheapskates who dont like to use much material).

fruitful · 06/02/2009 13:58

I have dd (6) and ds1 (nearly 4) who are short, skinny, picky eaters. And ds2 (13mo) who is tall and big and something of a shock!

I am praying that ds1 will have a growth spurt because he is wearing trousers in size 18-24 at the moment - and ds2 is going to need them in a couple of months!

Plus he starts school in September and I don't think anywhere is going to sell school trousers in 18-24, are they?

CuppaTeaJanice · 06/02/2009 13:58

Speaking as an ex-skinny kid, I'd say please make sure you don't keep openly fretting about size, weight etc.

I remember my mum compared me to an Oxfam appeal advert every time I had a bath. All my gran's friends wanted to take me home and fatten me up. Obviously they thought it was acceptable to criticise a child's body. Imagine telling someone else's child they were too fat - clearly unnaceptable, but the same thing. I was even stopped by a Jehovas Witness who gave me a leaflet on anorexia suggesting it might help me!

If you keep on and on about thinness (even as a backhanded compliment because you want to be thinner yourself), you'll make your child insecure about their body and you may even contribute to problems in the teenage years and beyond.

Oh, and there's nothing wrong with buying younger clothes - I still buy kids skirts and t-shirts. Saves a fortune!!!!!

wannabe10 · 06/02/2009 14:11

Hi fruitful. My youngest is just very little and started school in september. I found marks and spencer do great trousers in age three. If not cat me and I will send you a parcel of the ones he has grown out of.

ProfYaffle · 06/02/2009 14:18

BHS do small size uniform too, also have trousers with adjustable waists, great for dd1 who needs the leg length of 5yo but waist of a 4yo.

Heated · 06/02/2009 14:18

If you were skinny as a youngster did your mother try and force Minadex down your throat, or was it just me?

Ds is a xylophone ribs and chunkier dd is now going the same way. I do a lot of sewing of trouser waistbands and buy trousers with belts. Ds won't often fit even standard sizes but I've noticed Next/BHS going in the opposite directions with a wider fitting range for children.

belgo · 06/02/2009 14:20

I wouldn't worry about it.
My three year old DD2 still fits into trousers for my three month old ds, she just wears them as shorts.

LurkerOfTheUniverse · 06/02/2009 14:25

my dd is 'officially' underweight but the doctor said not to worry as she is very active

she does eat like a sparrow though

slug · 06/02/2009 14:28

MIL jokes that she used the same pattern to make DH's trousers from the age of 6 till he was 16. DD has inherited his ability to eat like a horse and still need waistband adjusters.

happymostofthetime · 06/02/2009 14:44

Ive got a skinny too age 8 and wearing 3-4 boxers! eats more than me and anything you put in front of him. Can you still get adjustable waist trousers as they get older or do you just have to use a belt?

Original poster

MamaG · 06/02/2009 14:51

good advice cuppateajanice - I never comment on his shape in front of him (just the odd fret to dh in private "do you think he's ok??") - I'd hate for him to feel conscious about it.

OP posts:

Original poster

MamaG · 06/02/2009 14:52

giantkatestacks i cant see your pics

OP posts:

giantkatestacks · 06/02/2009 15:07

oh hold on...there you go.

snorkle · 06/02/2009 15:09

You can use this site to figure out how badly underweight they are (takes account of both height and age). Dd is second centile, but is the one member of the family who never seems to get sick.

solo · 06/02/2009 15:19

My Ds is 10.6 and very skinny and very tall(about 5'5"). Good fit on affordable clothing is impossible IME.

fruitful · 06/02/2009 15:20

Right, I shall check out M&S and BHS then! I got away with it with dd, she just wore pinafore dresses in Reception.

Original poster

MamaG · 06/02/2009 15:20

Fab pic gks

OP posts:

giantkatestacks · 06/02/2009 15:26

thanks

insertwittynicknameHERE · 06/02/2009 15:29

DD is like this, I have had her to the doctors but have been told not to worry.

She is only 14.5mo and weighs 20lbs 8ounces. She however is as tall as a 2yo she has also been walking since she was 8mo and is extremely active. She does eat but not much TBH. I offer her 3 meals and snacks in the day but she just picks at them. I cant get her to eat much meat or fish but she loves fruit and veg.

It is a worry isn't it. I don't know what to do anymore, I think the doctor just thinks I am an over anxious first time mum.

PuppyMonkey · 06/02/2009 15:31

DD1 is a super skinny 12 year old. Maybe it's because she hardly eats anything at all, she's so picky. But also it's genetics - I was exactly the same (weighed under 7 stone til I was 30 and first had kids). And I ate like a horse.

People always used to think I was an anoroxic as a teen too. The school nurse had me into her office several times because various teachers were concerned. And the more I said I was eating normally, I was fine, the more they didn't believe me!!!

DD1 is going through that self conscious stage about it now, she's getting so tall too. I just hope eventually she'll come out the other side of her teens as a lovely slim butterfly who's proud of her naturally good figure!

solo · 06/02/2009 16:22

Insertwitty, my Dd is now 25 months and up until last year and her having hand, foot and outh she was a fabulous eater. Since then, she eats so little it's scary. Ds though...horse! loves his food

expatinscotland · 06/02/2009 16:25

DD1 is tall AND super skinny. She eats in fits and starts. Right now, she's eating everything in sight. Makes no difference.

She's been getting home and eating: 4 chicken nuggets or a sausage roll, a bag of crisps, two Babybel cheeses, a fairy cake.

Then her tea.

She's 5, a shade over 4ft, 2in. and only 38lbs.

MrsWeasley · 06/02/2009 16:26

MamaG: you are not alone both my DS's are so skinny but both eat well and are healthy! DD1 was the same until she hit 13!

Smee · 06/02/2009 17:14

cuppateajanice, I wish you could tell my Mum that advice. Every time she sees DS she goes on about how skinny he is. He's 99th centile for height, but 40th for weight. Has been on those daft charts since birth, so it's obviously just who he is. He eats more than me and he's only 4. Thank gawd for adjustable trousers I say

plus3 · 07/02/2009 11:12

me too, (well DS 5!!) very skinny, arms and legs like sticks has zero body fat...goes navy at the swimming pool from cold ...actually does anybody else's children do this???

DH was (apparently!)exactly the same. DS has boundless energy, and eats like a horse.

I only feel bad when other mothers like to inform me just how skinny he is

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