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Original poster

6 year old very underweight due to illness - what to do!??

51 replies

Coathanger · 28/02/2006 10:10

My DS1 is 6 (7 in May) and has always had a tendancy to be very slight in build, however sfter a number of bugs he is now extremely skinny and underweight. He is as we speak in bed with yet another sickness bug, and he really can't afford to lose anymore weight. I don't dare weigh him as I think I will be very shocked, but I can tell from the bones sticking out of his body that it is severe :(

He isn't a great eater, very fussy, but got by and did have a few healthy food favourites. But he hasn't eaten a proper meal for weeks as he is always poorly.

I am at the end of my tether, and I am scared of my son getting seriously ill.

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zippitippitoes · 28/02/2006 10:15

It sounds as though you might benefit from a referralto a paediatric/dietician

ds (lifelong pooor eater) had post viral syndrome/me at this age and was advised to have Build Up anmd make sure he had snacks between meals

Saggarmakersbottomknocker · 28/02/2006 10:19

Coathanger Sad

What does your GP say?

I've just posted on another thread about fortified drinks that dd has had in the past - Scandishakes and Paedisure. We had them through our dietician so I'm not sure if they are available over the counter. Maybe your GP would prescribe.

Original poster
Coathanger · 28/02/2006 10:21

Going to make appt with GP now so will hopefully get it all sorted out.

I am literally in tears when I see him without clothes - it is pitiful. :( I will weigh him when he is up (asleep at the mo)

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Original poster
Coathanger · 28/02/2006 10:23

DS has appt to see GP at 2.50pm today :) so will let you know how we get on

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Enid · 28/02/2006 10:23

I had a great thread a while ago about how skeletal dd1 was - had some brilliant suggestions. The most successful were: ice cream and peanut butter (whole fat wholefood sort) on toast with chocolate spread.

cant find the thread as I think archiving is off this morning

Original poster
Coathanger · 28/02/2006 10:27

Thanks Enid - I will keep an eye out for it as soon as I am able :)

It just scares me so much. I am far from skinny Blush and although DH is slim, he isn't skinny. DS2 & 3 are well covered too, so seeing DS1 like this breaks my heart. :( I also get embarrased that people might look at him and think I don't feed him. He has healthy food as well as a smattering of the "kids" stuff. What I offer him is a balanced diet but I can't get him to eat it :(

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Enid · 28/02/2006 10:36

the morning after I had posted the thread on here I took dd1 to school and one of the mums said 'look at your daughters legs! Do you not feed her at all?'

she was joking but I was utterly mortified Wink

her appetite has improved massively and I noticed with satisfaction that she even had a little pot belly last night. I wanted to kiss it Smile

kreamkrackers · 28/02/2006 10:39

hi ch. my dd is on nutrini which has 100 calories per 100 mls. there's a milkshake version of it called fortini and that has 150 calories per 100 mls. a dietician will have to put these on to a perscription for you.

Original poster
Coathanger · 28/02/2006 10:46

Aww Enid bless your DD! I would have kissed it too! I would love to see a po belly on DS1 :) I can imagine how you must have felt after that comment. I am getting paranid TBH, especially at the thought of DS having to get changed for PE at school. I keep thinking the teachers will get on my case :(

KK - how is your DD hun?

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kreamkrackers · 28/02/2006 10:52

full of a cold still :( it's not going and she has terrible nappy rash (been using metanium and sudocrem but it's not shifting it) so need to see a gp today. had the humidifier on constantly now and keep rubbing baby vicks on to her vest. will have to ring at dinner for an afternoon appointment as they don't give them out in the mornings and i feel rotten in the mornings at the moment (i'm 10 weeks now, this is when i had my last mc :()

Original poster
Coathanger · 28/02/2006 11:14

okay, sorry to go on, but just weighed DS1 and he is 2 stone 12 pound (18.1kg) and is 6 years 9months and 116cm

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kreamkrackers · 28/02/2006 11:17

:( that sounds very underweight. could you do a web search and look for childrens body mass index? that should give you some kind of calculation you should be able to show your gp.

Original poster
Coathanger · 28/02/2006 11:18

Will try it KK

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Katemum · 28/02/2006 11:18

My ds is 5 1/2 and a skinny one too. Just weighed and measured him. 3st 2lb and 116cms.
Not really worried about him but he has the start of this d&v bug and has caught everything going since mid september.

zippitippitoes · 28/02/2006 11:21

I would also recommend that you get the school involved as should it be suggested that he has bonus nutrition then he be encouraged to take them at break or mid afternoon in school too

ds wasn't able to go to school for a full week due to severe tiredness, is that a problem too?

Original poster
Coathanger · 28/02/2006 11:24

Katemum - your DS is the same height as my DS Grin but over a year younger Grin My boy is a bit shorter than average too

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Katemum · 28/02/2006 11:25

Grin what are we going to do about fattening up the skinny tikes though??

Original poster
Coathanger · 28/02/2006 11:26

Will get school involved too. He has just started school dinners in a vain attempt to get him to eat more in the day. He doesn't eat anything in a sandwich so was having bread and butter for packed lunch with a yoghurt, crisps, and fruit, oh and fruit juice. But he wasn't eating it all. So as DS2 asked for school dinners I though DS1 might try too (and get him to try some new foods too)

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Original poster
Coathanger · 28/02/2006 11:26

Anyway, I will be back later to let you all know how we got on - hopefully some progress

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lucykatie · 28/02/2006 11:37

hi, i too have this very same issue with my dd, who is exactly the same age as your ds....my dd weighs 2 stone 5pound!!!

After being very ill for 3 weeks she looks terrible, my sister hasnt seen her for months and saw her last nigght abd cried, as she says she looks like death!!!! her eyes are sucken into her head and are black and her cheek bones stick out, as do all the other bones in her body.

i too cry at the poor sight of my precious girl, its music to my ears when she says 'i am hungry'.

i have been giving her 'complan', recommended by gp, its a strawberry shake drink, i mix mine with full fat milk, get it from chemist at around 3 pound.

also i give her what she wants to eat when she wants it basically, i am probably gonna get shot on here for seaying that but....whatever, my dd can cope with a little more weight on her.....she is soooooo active its amazing, gymnastics, dance, drama,swimming etc.

let me know how you get on as its very interesting to swap stories.....good luck and remember you are not alone.

someone said to dd yesterday at school....'god, you still look so ill i dont think you will ever get better'.

i just smiled and carried on, it broke my heart but they really didnt mean any harm.

keep posting, i will get back to you.

Original poster
Coathanger · 28/02/2006 11:42

oh Lucykatie :( I know how you are feeling and I promise I will let you know how we get on. I will CAT you so you have my email address and we can stay in touch :)

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kreamkrackers · 28/02/2006 11:43

tips from a booklet i have:

  • add butter of full fat margarine to everything possible
  • add grated cheese (full fat) to vegetables, pasta dishes, etc.
  • add full fat milk to potato, vegetable and pasta dishes and also scrammbled eggs
  • spread margarine or butter liberally when giving bread or toast - also add cheese spreads (full fat), chocolate spreads, jam, etc.
  • encourage full fat yoghurts and fromage frais as high in calorie and protein
  • try to offer milk whenever possible instead of juice as more calories and nutician.
  • if dislikes milk, offer cheese, yoghurts or use more milk in cooking - ie macoroni cheese and milky pudding
  • avoid drinks before meals
  • give small portions of meals, add more if it's all finished
  • consider times of meals - is child too tired? are they hungry yet?
  • don't let your child know you're stressing about what they're eating
lucykatie · 28/02/2006 11:45

coathanger....not very computer friendly, so dont even know what 'cat' means, but hey willing to learn, if you show me!!!

Original poster
Coathanger · 28/02/2006 11:47

Those tips are fab KK only thing is DS doesn't like cheese, pasta, eggs or milk puddings :( I do give him full fat milk and yoghurt, and I always spread butter thick on his toast and bread. But other than that I can't think what else to do:( But those ideas have certainly made me think

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Original poster
Coathanger · 28/02/2006 11:47

CAT = contact another user. You should get an email from me soon Wink

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