How can I tell if my preschooler is too skinny?





How will the doctor determine whether my child is underweight?




How can I help my child gain weight?

Assuming your child has no underlying medical concerns, the idea will be to get him to take in more calories. For some children, simply adding foods that are "heart-healthy" sources of fat —such as avocados, nuts, and vegetable oils — provides enough additional calories to meet the demands of growth. Try to plan healthy, calorie-dense meals and snacks for your child so he gets enough to eat.

Whatever you do, don't feed your child "junk food" in an effort to promote weight gain, warns Daniels. Eating habits are ingrained early in life, and they may be difficult to change once they become established.

Make mealtimes pleasant and unrushed. Sit down together whenever you can and enjoy your food and time together. Involve your child in meal planning, shopping (enlist his help picking out fruit at the market and bread at the bakery, for example), and food preparation, to encourage his interest in food and eating. Also, don't let your child get so wrapped up doing something that he skips meals. He needs to be eating frequently if you want him to gain weight.

Here is a list of healthy high-calorie foods that you might offer your child:

Dairy: Whole milk, cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt, ice cream, creamed soups, pudding
Protein: Eggs, peanut butter, bean soups, nuts
Carbohydrates: Bread, macaroni and cheese, pasta, French toast, pancakes, mashed potatoes, hot cereal

If your child is a picky eater and refuses to add new foods to his diet, his doctor may recommend a high-calorie supplement drink. These supplements taste like milkshakes and provide additional vitamins and minerals that your child may be missing out on.

Make sure, though, that your child isn't filling up on beverages — like juices or even milk — so that he's not hungry for meals. Try to limit juice to no more than 1/2 cup a day and milk to no more than two cups a day.

While you'll be eager to check on his progress, don't start subjecting your child to regular weigh-ins at home, because they may make him anxious and self-conscious about his weight. However, your doctor may want to see your child once a month to monitor his progress. Treat these visits like any other to the doctor, and don't make a big deal about the weigh-in process.

What if my child doesn't start gaining weight?

If your child is getting enough calories but still does not seem to be gaining weight appropriately, continue to work with his doctor to discover any underlying conditions. On the other hand, if your child is refusing to eat, there may be a psychological reason that you'll want to discuss with a child therapist. Your child's doctor can provide a referral.

Chances are good, though, that with some patience and some conscientious meal and snack plans, your child will strike a good height/weight balance.