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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.

OP posts:
Enid · 28/02/2006 11:48

dd1 weighed 2 stone 6lbs when she was very skinny (she was 6)

she is also amazingly active and Ithink that helps to build up their bone mass

LIZS · 28/02/2006 11:49

ds is almost 8 , 122cm ush tall and only 20kg so probably they are not dissimilar in build. Were you skinny as a child - both dh and I were but you wouldn't know it now Blush. Have you tried probiotics to help stimulate his digestion and help him recover more quickly from the tummy bugs. ds doesn't eat much dairy but has got into Ambrosia Rice pots.

zippitippitoes · 28/02/2006 11:50

I think you are right about the bone mass I was going to say weight bearing exercise (I think that's what it's called)

I also used to make my own bread with nturiotnal extras in

Enid · 28/02/2006 11:51

peanut butter and ice cream!

not together though Wink

colditz · 28/02/2006 11:52

Jersey milk has more fat and calories in than full fat - I think you can also just add a couple of spoons of cream to full fat milk.

Cake and chocolate are very calorific snacks, you don't need to eat much to get the calories in you!

zippitippitoes · 28/02/2006 11:57

I think you can use the build up shake stuff in cake making too

also moist fruit cake, yogurt cake, banana cake and carrot cake if he'll eat any of those..use wholwheat flour half and half

also rice mix whole grain and white

Original poster
Coathanger · 28/02/2006 12:24

You lot are fab! What great ideas. Thank you so much for all your help with this. You are stars xxxx

OP posts:
Original poster
Coathanger · 28/02/2006 13:39

\link{http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=1700&threadid=150735&stamp=060228133821\my DS1}

OP posts:
singersgirl · 28/02/2006 13:42

Sorry, didn't see original thread when I posted on picture, so didn't realise your DS had been ill. My DS, differently, always looks like this.

Original poster
Coathanger · 28/02/2006 16:11

Well, been to see GP. DS has got to have a series of blood tests. GP wants to find out if his weight loss is due to illness, or the illness is due to weight loss, if that makes sense. She spoke to him about eating and he said he just doesn't feel hungry very often.

Oh well we will see what happens with the blood results.

Thanks for all you help with this today, you have been very helpful and have helped put my mind at ease. Thanks :)

OP posts:
lucykatie · 28/02/2006 16:14

hi, glad to hear gp is listening to you.....i give my dd 'actimel' every morning and have started her on vitamins.

lucykatie · 28/02/2006 16:16

also had a look at your photo of your ds.....just the same as my dd.

not recieved a e mail from you yet....if i am doing it right!!!!

give ds pancakes this evening.....i am going to let dd help me so she may be tempted to eat them....i know i am tempted but cant....diet!!!

blueteddy · 28/02/2006 16:20

Oh, your poor DS1, CH.Sad I wondered why he wasn't in school today.
He has only recently recovered from the flu, hasn't he?

kreamkrackers · 28/02/2006 16:20

ch - glad your gp is listening to you. when is he having the blood taken and how long is it until you get the results?

Original poster
Coathanger · 28/02/2006 16:21

Wish DS would eat a pancake (even though I enphasise the cake part!)

GP was great and saw that it was an issue. I took DS's red book with me so GP could see he had lost weight.

your email might take a little while as it goes via MN :)

OP posts:
Original poster
Coathanger · 28/02/2006 16:22

Blueted - Yeah he has only just got over flu :( He hasn't been proper well since before Xmas. I did ring school - was message passed on?

KK - blood test results will take about a fortnight as he is havig TFTs done aswell.

OP posts:
blueteddy · 28/02/2006 16:26

Not sure if message was passed on, as his handwriting book was out in his place when I walked in this morning.
We had a couple away today, so there is obviously something going round atm.
Your poor DS1 has barely had time to recover from his last illness though has he?

blueteddy · 28/02/2006 16:28

Has he stopped being sick now?

rummum · 28/02/2006 16:33

my son is 7 (8 in May) he is tall and slim and I find it really hard to fatten him up due to his allergies to dairy, eggs, and nuts....

He saw a dietition when he was younger who gave us some powder to add to his food, which was something like 50 calories per teaspoon,

forgot to add drinking chocolate with full fat milk is full of calories as well...

Original poster
Coathanger · 28/02/2006 16:45

Rummum - Grin bought DS some malted choccie drink whilst out at doctors. He has never had it before but promised to try it - plan to make it with full milk and a bit of cream too!

Blueted - yeah he has stopped being sick but is still not eating :(

OP posts:
blueteddy · 28/02/2006 16:54

Hope he is feeling better soon, CH.
Are the other 2 okay?

Original poster
Coathanger · 28/02/2006 16:57

Yeah they are fine BT! DS3 has made a full recovery and DS2 yet again so far (touch wood) has escaped! DS1 seems to take forever to recovery from everything he catches though so I don't expect him to be at school tomorrow either :( Thats dinner money wasted!

OP posts:
blueteddy · 28/02/2006 17:02

Has DS3 already had the bug?
Mine had it before Christmas & it was awful.
You are advised to keep them off school for 48 hours after last vomit.
Hope he is on the mend very soon. Sounds like the poor little chap has had his fair share of illnesses this winter.
It is horrible to see them so poorly, isn't it?Sad

lucykatie · 02/03/2006 10:08

hi coathanger just wondering how things are??

Enid · 02/03/2006 10:15

just waiting for archives to be switched back on so I can link you my thread that had some fabbo suggestions on it