Kids low BMI

[imamearcat]

DD6 is very tall and very skinny. I've just calculated her BMI on NHS website and she's 5th percentile, so still 'healthy' but quite borderline.

I wouldn't really say she's thin, she's just a very slight frame. She's it's ok but not a massive foody. Normal active child. No health concerns.

I just wondered if other parents would actively encourage weight gain (e.g. use higher calorie content foods etc) or just leave her be?

It depends if she has lost weight or moved BMI - if always been slight/bmi there then I would not worry.

Plot it on the red book if you have it or you can find them online and see if she has changed centiles recently.

Is she growing? If no other concerns would review in a few months.

if she is active, keeping up with daily life, not pale or unusually tired I would leave it be.

If she is following her growth curve near enough then leave her be.

Honestly leave her be, at this age it’s perfect territory to develop an unhealthy relationship with food.
As long as she has three meals a day and snacks and is eating well then leave her too it.
My DS is same age, I’ve just had a look on nhs and he is 4th centile, he was born on 2nd-9th centile so he’s exactly where he should b

I have similar concerns - DS8 is very skinny and dropping towards the bottom of the centile charts (he has been all over them - almost dropped off the bottom as a baby due to feeding problems, jumped up above 75th as a toddler, hovered around the 50th for a couple of years and is now sliding right down again). He just isn’t very interested in food.

However he’s healthy, never ill, plenty of energy?

Growing loads shes 90th centile for height, always has been.

She does normally have plenty of energy but I have noticed if she doesn't eat much then she will become very drained and goes a bit pale. DS who is more of an average weight seems to be able to power through.

Try and keep a good diary to reassure yourself, I bet they eat more than you think. If they seem happy and healthy and there have been no sudden changes, I wouldn't be worried.
I've always been very slim and I am quite tall. People, health care professionals included, have always worry about my weight despite it being very consistent. I eat well and have a good relationship with food. My Nan used to pester my mum about my size and weight and she'd get concerned HV'ers worrying her as well but the GP suggest keeping a food diary to see and I ate more than my mum did!

I wouldn't offer reduced fat foods at all, full fat everything if they aren't big eaters but don't worry about it too much x