How thin is too thin for an 8yo boy?

[beansmum]

My ds is a lot skinnier than any other boy in his class. You can see every one of his ribs, and he only grows out of clothes because he gets too tall, he could easily fit into 4yo shorts and t shirts still, width ways iyswim. He eats normally (I think, I'm not sure), he is happy, he is growing, he doesn't get ill very often (two days off school since he was 5).

I'm not at all worried about him, but should I be? Anyone know how much he "should" weigh?

Depends how tall he is. Ds is still wearing his tracksuit from reception and is in year 3. He is one of the tallest but very skinny. You can see every one of his ribs too but he eats well and is healthy. Have a look here and that will tell you whether you need to be concerned.

Thanks! I'm not really worried, I just noticed his ribs as he was getting dressed this morning. And then thinking back over what he ate this weekend, it didn't seem like much at all.

My DS is very skinny too - he has a barrel chest which makes his ribs stick straight out so looks quite skeletal bless him. He is near the bottom of the normal range weight wise but he does eat although is not his first priority when he is otherwise occupied.

Your DS sounds fine and very healthy - I do notice a lot of skinny boys around the same age. They are still using up a lot of energy running around etc.

My DS was/is like this. His party piece whilst wearing trunks was to curl up and impersonate Gollum!

On my profile is a pic of him taken at a pool as an early teen - he is only just beginning to fill out now he is 16. Is yours thinner than that??

Some people are just skinny - if he eats and has plenty of energy and doesn't get sick much then it's probably just normal for him. Were you or his dad skinny at that age? Or your father and any brothers?

My DS was like that and is still skinny at 18 - but I've got photos of my dad at that age, and remember what my brother was like then, and you could count the ribs on either of them, they didn't get any width till into their 20s, so I know it's just his genes in his case.

You're supposed to be able to see a childs ribs. This is not a sign of being underweight, in fact if you can't see their ribs they may be overweight.

You could play the xylophone on ds1's ribs. He is just a skinny minnie, narrow of frame and wiry - certainly the thinnest in his class and rugby team but will fill out later.