DD seems underweight - should I take her to HV?

[HairyToe]

DD1 (nearly 4) fussy with her food and has got worse recently.

She looks really skinny (I can see her ribs) and I've weighed her tonight - she always used to be between 75th and 91st centile - now she is nearer 50th.

My question is should I go and see HV. The reason I'm debating this is when DD1 was a baby she often refused to eat (right from weaning) and her when she did not seem to be putting on enough weight I felt like the HVs were giving me a hard time and made it much more of an isse than it actually was. Hence I'm nervous about making the 'problem' worse IYKWIM.

By the way she is generally full of beans and really healthy (althoug at the moment she does have a throat infection).

I know this kind of thing has been posted before but am genuinely looking for advice

My children were both quite slight at that age (DD still is), inspite of being really good eaters. My wise old mum used to say if they have that much energy, there can't be anything wrong with them. And they were never ill.
I'd focus on addressing the eating issue, rather than her weight. Fix the eating issue, and the weight will rectify itself (which is easier said than done). Loads of advice about fussy eaters on MN recently....
However, if you continue to be concerned, I think you need to talk to a professional.

what centile is her height?

BTW I wouldn't go to the health visitor! If she has a throat infection it could be enough that her weight is down this week anyway?

My slender dd has weight about 60th centile and height 98th but it's just her build.

You'll note I said professional, not HV (not wanting to offend any good HVs who happen to be MNetters!!)

I just went to check ( measured her last week but not graphed). SHe is 75th for height so not wildly different to her weight. She just looks so flippin skinny though - I notice whenever I'm bathing her. Maybe I'm just comparing her to me (!).

I am aware that my worrying about her eating (i have posted on various fussy eater threads) may be making me especially sensitive to noticing her body shape. Trying hard each mealtime to pretend not to give a toss what she eats whilst secretly grinding my teeth.

Aren't most little kids skinny? I can certainly see the ribs of both of mine (although not so little any more at 6 and 8). I'd go on energy and alertness as your guide as to whether there is a problem, and it certainly doesn't sound like there is. ds is really just skin and bones, but that's very much how me and dh were at his age (it's worth thinking about how you/your dh were when little as a comparator) so it's never been something I've worried about. Of course he does also eat like a horse which helps I guess, although I suppose I could worry that he had worms or something

Dear Mums

I have a 15-month old son who stopped gaining weight around his first birthday and has since gone down to 21 lbs and back up to 22, where he was in April. He had his first round of antibiotics for a chest virus in March, and since then his father has been recording his weight on an almost daily basis. I am a single mother who shares care with AD's Dad, and although things are usually amicable, he is convinced his son is not being fed properly, either by me or at creche (full-time daycare Monday to Friday, meals included). The boy is full of beans and a great sleeper; my mum who had six children believes there's nothing wrong; two GPS and a paediatrican have been consulted and conclude nothing serious is wrong: plus after a barrage of hospital tests and a six-week course of iron, his levels for iron, white blood cells and thyroid function are all within normal ranges. So my quesion is twofold: has anyone else out there got/had a child of this age who has plateau'ed weight-wise? And how can I deal with the other parent's conviction that our son is not getting enough nutrition? This is my first time with mumsnet and I can't understand why I didn't try it before: am really looking forward to hearing your views.

Dear Mums

I have a 15-month old son who stopped gaining weight around his first birthday and has since gone down to 21 lbs and back up to 22, where he was in April. He had his first round of antibiotics for a chest virus in March, and since then his father has been recording his weight on an almost daily basis. I am a single mother who shares care with AD's Dad, and although things are usually amicable, he is convinced his son is not being fed properly, either by me or at creche (full-time daycare Monday to Friday, meals included). The boy is full of beans walking since April, running every chance he gets; very alert; great appetite most of the time; starting to talk and a great sleeper; my mum who had six children believes there's nothing wrong; two GPS and a paediatrican have been consulted and conclude nothing serious is wrong: plus after a barrage of hospital tests and a six-week course of iron, his levels for iron, white blood cells and thyroid function are all within normal ranges. And our HV is supportive and says I'm a great Mum... My question is twofold: has anyone else out there got/had a child of this age who has plateau'ed weight-wise? And how can I deal with the other parent's conviction that our son is not getting enough nutrition? Not to mention that I work in Health Promotion and know a thing or two about food... This is my first time trying to get info using mumsnet and I am really looking forward to hearing your views.