Help, I can't get a school summer dress to fit my 9 year old daughter!

[mummyloveslucy]

Hi, my daughter is very tall for her age at 5 foot 1. She is also quite big built and her waist is a 32inch.
Last year she wore an M&S standard age 13. Now it's too small and the biggest they do is an age 13 plus size. The waist is 28.5 in on that one.
Really not sure what to do now. Is there any way of letting them out that isn't obvious? Or are there some makes which go bigger?
Thanks.

Cococha - very harsh post

Harsh? She's in denial, her daughters health is being compromised.

But we're supposed to pretend that it's not?

NHS guidelines for adults state that women's waist size shouldn't exceed 31.7

Coco - I think OP's daughter has a genetic condition of some sort (apologies if I'm thinking of the wrong poster)

Some people claim there is no point in losing weight because "it runs in my family" or "it's in my genes".
While there are some rare genetic conditions that can cause obesity, such as Prader-Willi syndrome, there is no reason why most people cannot lose weight.
It may be true that certain genetic traits inherited from your parents – such as taking longer to burn up calories (having a slow metabolism) or having a large appetite – can make losing weight more difficult, but it certainly does not make it impossible.
Many cases where obesity runs in families may be due to environmental factors, such as poor eating habits learned during childhood.
Medical reasons

Medical conditions that can cause weight gain include:
Cushing's syndrome, a rare disorder that causes the over-production of steroid hormones
an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism), where your thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone
Certain medicines, including some corticosteroids and antidepressants, can also contribute to weight gain. Weight gain can also be a side effect of taking the combined contraceptive pill and from quitting smoking.

One of these conditions?

It's not in the thread and my crystal ball is having an MOT.

It is in the thread because she mentions that she's seen her gp and a consultant so I'm guessing you didn't read the entire thread

And as far as I can see the GP & Constant questioned her diet. Nowhere in the thread is a genetic condition mentioned by the op.

Constant = Consultant.

CocoCha , may i politely suggest you RTFT?
but she is following the top percentile line for both height and weight with no sudden rises. We've spoken to her GP who doesn't seen concerned, nor did her consultant

Her height and weight are in proportion, so where do you get that she is obese from?

She's also 5'1" tall at age 9. Perhaps the OP should do something about that too?

You can not use adult comparisons for a prepubescent child. That's why there are different BMI charts for adults and children.

Sheesh.

I think you jumped the gun a bit there Coco, how many children have a consultant when they don't have additional problems.

No one at 5,1. Should have a 30" waist.

Unless she lifts 200kg regularity I suppose.

And you are very unpleasant.

Well, I'm glad your googling has made you more of an expert on an anonymous child that her own qualified doctor and consultant, who are not concerned.

Just in case you missed that bit.

But a realist. You play your Awww Hun games and suggest the kid makes her own clothes but the reality is a 9 year old has her food selected and chosen by her parents. It's not the child's fault, it's the parent. This country is full of fat people who think that they're not.

I'm doing her a favour, she needs to face re music.

She has a 30 inch waist ffs.

I agree with gertie, very unpleasant!

If you have no direct experience, haven't bothered to read the whole thread or have any useful/constructive advice then I suggest you don't jump into a thread being rather cruel to an op looking for advice

I know several children with large waists & tummies.

One has Down's syndrome & is also short in stature

Some have not yet hit puberty but have developed the tummy that children if that age tend to get before their shadow changes. After puberty the waist slims and they get hips, before puberty the waist tends to be less defined.

The OPs dd has special needs if I remember correctly, I'm not sure exactly what condition she has but it is very harsh to say a child of that age who is 5ft 1 (taller than my 12 year old) is obese.

A girl in dds class at primary school was like the. She was well built, developed early & did look overweight at around the age of 9-10 though she was tall

She is now 12, has hit puberty properly & developed a shape that is very in proportion for her height

None of this helps the OP of course.

You are doing her a favour?
Fucking hell, I guess she's lucky you chanced on this thread then.

Hi MummyLoveLucy - we've chatted many times before.

M&S school dresses are generally a very slim fit so no wonder you are having problems, I can't get school dresses from any where else for my dds because they are so slim.

As well as BHS I think it is Next that do a plus size fit? There is definitely another retailer that does. I found the matalan ones overly generous and the ones from our on-line school uniform shop so they are out there.

I'm sad that the consultant and GP didn't consider that her high centile ranking could be an indicator of something to help with a more specific diaganosis that may help her with her SEN .

My 11 year old now has size 7 feet and is at least 5'3" - she dwarfs me!

Coco I think that was totally unnecessary and you should leave this thread now

OP please ignore CocoCha.
My DD sounds similar to yours but she is younger.
Have you tried next? Their dresses go up to age 14.

BHS Generous Fit and Matalan both cater for age 10+