Blending food for a two year old!!! A HV's advice!!

[FourJays]

My sis has just come back from HV. My niece is almost 2 and petit, only on 2nd centile. Sis feed her well, but it's hot, she teething and not hungry.

Well, HV said it was very worrying and that she needs to start blending her food again and put her back onto follow on milk, at least 1 pint a day. Sis is horrified at putting her daughter back onto "baby food" after almost a year of eating what rest of family eat. Also that milk suppresses appetite for food. Sis told HV this who told her that niece needs iron and went on to explain where it comes from (durrh!) She wants her to go back in one month and see a nutritionist if niece hasn't put on weight. Sis feeds whole family v healthy food and says that if she let em eat junk they'd probably be bigger but not as healthy.

Sis feels p*ed off and totally patronised. I think she should complain about her. What does anyone else think?

[FourJays]

DN always around 10th centile, so yes, tiny! Sis was just a bit taken aback. She is not concerned about her, only got her weighed cos she was there with baby. DN never sits still either - always busy so will burn up lots of calories.
Think sis just cross - she knows it's poor advice and to ignore but others may follow HV advice as if gospel.

[LIZS]

dd also hovers around the lowest areas of the growth curves , and is probably way off it by now - almost 5 and 13kg ! Agree the extra milk will suppress any appetite for solids , dd's noticeably increased when she dropped her bottles.

Has your dn always been petite ? Has she actually lost weight, or not gained much, and is otherwise energetic and well? I doubt dd would have put on a measurable amount in a month at that age. When ds was about that age he similarly wouldn't eat much due to teeth and heat so I bought the occasional jar from Boots containing fennel which he loved and gave him fruit, which your sis could chill to help sore gums and serve with yoghurt. He did prefer softer foods for a while so the HV may have a point there , but probably no need to actually puree. Also the vitamin c will help digest any iron rich foods - such as cereal or red meat - more easily.

I'm not sure a complaint will do much as someone else said it is only advice which she can choose to ignore. However if she is concerned herself , by-pass the HV and go to the gp direct.

[handlemecarefully]

I sounds like unconventional advice and advice that I would be suspiscious of and disinclined to follow...however, I would hesitate before reporting the HV - perhaps she has been quoting the latest evidence based research (and we are just not aware of it??). Perhaps see the GP and ask for a dietetic referral.

Did your sister not think to openly challenge the hv when she was discussing it (given that she feels so strongly about it?)

[colditz]

No, I don't think a complaint should be made. All the HV has done is give advice. And, depending on what the rest of the family eat, their diet may be wonderful for an adult but appalling for a 2 year old.

[dizzybint]

would a dietician be more helpful than a health visitor? however, if your sis isn't concerned then what's the problem? she knows her child best after all.