My 3 year old daughter dropped off the growth chart. Anyone else familiar with small stature children.?

Question

My daughter has been small since birth and has always kept a nice curve on the growth charts. She was around 10-15 % for height and 20% for weight. Now at her 3 year well child visit she dropped off the charts and is below 0% for both height and weight. Besides being tiny she is a normal child and seems healthy. She has a pretty good appetite and even likes her vegetables. However, she always seems to have soft to runny stools. Doctor said to try soy milk for a week but otherwise didn't seem to concerned. On the other hand, I am very concerned. She only gained 2 pounds in a whole year. Any ideas on what could cause this? Why would the dr. suggest soy milk? Is he thinking maybe she's lactose intolerant? If so, shouldn't I cut out cheese and ice cream too?

Answer 1

I am in the same situation, though I havn't been to my daughters 3yr well baby yet, it's in a couple of weeks. When she was 1 she was only like 19 lbs, so my doctor starter her on Carnation instant breakfast in her milk. We did that for a year, when she was 2 she was only like 22 lbs and my doctor said that she must just be small. Otherwise very healthy she eats quite a bit and likes veggies. He told me just to keep feeding her a well rounded diet and she'll be fine. It's been another year and she has only gained about 1 or 2 lbs. I know 8month old babies that weigh more than her. I think that some kids are just small. I don't worry about her at all, though I have had people say that I need to feed her more and stuff like that, I know that she's getting what she needs. I also started her on a multi vitamin last year.  

Answer 2

I am 13 years old and I have alwya sbeen very tiny I am lactose intolerant but that has never bothered my weight ... She might have a disoder that my friends little sister has.. She is 5 and is the size of a two year old . but she is ok she is just under weight and short but the disoder is a thing that is kinda weird you dont grow as fast and she is under weight its where you dont get enough protein and not to sound gross but it all goes right through you and just comes out .... but idk talk to your doc about it  

Answer 3

Ok here's the thing. Being lactose intolerant doesn't make you short. It might help, but i mean really, some people are just short. It doesn't make them have health problems or something like that. you are probably concerned because she should be growing more because she is only three. Once, when i was a kid, i weighed 72 pds when i was ten and 70 when i was eleven. I turned out fine. Another thing: soy milk in this country is definitely not like soy milk in japan or countriess because in the US they alter it. You don't want to try to feed her too much extra because chances are, you will just increase her metabolism. If you have any more questions, email me at [e-mail]

Answer 4

In my country, it would be a sign of malnutrition or an underlying sign of a nutritional disorder. I'm not a doctor, but as a parent always go with your gut feel and intuition. No one knows your child better than you, if you can go see a pediatric specialist, if you think the sudden drop in the charts is extreme. Maybe she needs a special diet rich in certain foods.



It could also be genetic, like growing up at that age were you of the same height and weight as her?