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Preteens

Parenting a preteen can be a minefield. Find support here.

Growth concerns

3 replies

mirandaspanda · 26/10/2018 22:28

I really don't know where to start with this. Dd is 10 and she's pretty small but not tiny. She was born well over the 50th - maybe the 75th centile and remained there until she was 8 months old and was quite ill. After this she put no weight on until she was over a year old. At some point she put weight back on but height wise remained just below average. But she hasn't grown in the last year - her feet are the same size and her age 8 clothes still fit comfortably.
Now she's the shortest in the year. The problem is she's a swimmer and she thinks it's holding her back. God knows I've told her you can't fight nature, you get what you're given. But given DH and I are both 5'10, she's really quite small. Neither of us were that small as children.
Due to the amount of exercise she gets, she needs to eat a lot. She eats well but will always pick fruit and veg over anything else including protein and carbs (unlike her brothers.) She's also worried about getting fat (she's verging on underweight). Her coach has told me she needs to eat more.
I can't help but think her super healthy diet isn't helping. The coaching team have told me she needs to 3-4k calories a day!!!!
I'm trying to find a way to support her so she doesn't feel down about being small. It's very noticable at swimming where her competitors are so much taller and broader than her.
Any ideas - and please feel free to be blunt.

OP posts:
SassitudeandSparkle · 26/10/2018 22:32

She's also worried about getting fat

This jumped out to me, especially with the fruit and veg preference.

mirandaspanda · 26/10/2018 22:35

That's what I'm most afraid of. EDs run in my family - my mother definitely has one (she doesn't see my kids though), my sister was anorexic but very tall, and I had one as a teen. I've also been hyper self critical until about a year ago when I realised what I was doing and stopped. Thank you for replying

OP posts:
SassitudeandSparkle · 27/10/2018 12:16

Could you speak to your GP for some advice? Her eating habits do sound a little worrying tbh.

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