Questioning doctors advice.?

Question

At my daughters 15 month check up her doctor brought up that she is only in the 5th percentile for weight. She weighs about 19 lbs. She has always been a thin baby, it wasn't a sudden weight loss. She eats constantly and I feed my children healthy foods. Her Doctor reccomended Pediasure to "bulk her up". As long as shes healthy and is eating and not sick, why? This just feels wrong to me I am just looking for some other opinions. I have always been the type that "doctors know best" but I am starting to question. This is my second child.. my son age 3 was/is a thin child too .. not as thin, but about 25th percentile for weight.

Answer 1

My grandson is and has been from birth, long and thin, just like his daddy was at that age.  The pediatricians and WIC nurses keep thinking he's under-nourished.  He's healthy and growing and developing normally in every way.  He's never been a "good eater" -- he does eat well, but sporadically, not every day.  Some days, he's just not that hungry, and you can not make him eat when he's not hungry.  He doesn't care for milk, even when we put chocolate or other flavorings in it.  But he loves cheese, eggs, and other stuff.  We do try to make sure he gets a vitamin every day, because he's not much on red meat or greens either, although he eats plenty of chicken.  Since they don't live with us anymore, I don't get to go with him to his office visits, so I don't get to tell them how his daddy was -- they look at his mother and assume that she's not feeding him right -- which she hasn't always, but that's a whole 'nother story.

Answer 2

I'm sorry but I also would question the doctor's advice.  As long as this child gets enough to eat and does not appear emaciated or ill, then why build up fat cells to make her obese later in life?  They have supposedly proved that is the cause for so many adults being obese.  Just make sure she has enough to eat when she wants it and she'll be fine.

Answer 3

I would question that as well. As long as she is healthy, I would stick with her normal diet. Pediasure can be good in cartain situations but there is no reason to 'bulk up' a healthy child.

Answer 4

I think the worry is IF your child gets sick. It is better a "normal" weight child stop eating/have diarhea/vomiting than if a little peanut baby (so cute!) gets sick. I think it is just a little preventative medicine. If you don't feel comfortable, by all means shop around for a new doc - they're your babies!

Answer 5

I'm currently going through weight issues with my little man. His weight right now is fine, but he has lost 25% on the growth chart and that is not good. So my response comes from his current issues and our ongoing allergy related food problems.

I wouldn't really question it, but ask for a better explanation. Maybe she's been steadily dropping on the growth chart, or has flat lined. She could be gaining, but not enough to keep up her growth curve.

Kids (people in general) use calories in the order they're needed. First vital organs for life and development, and then for growth. I do agree that pediasure isn't the way to go, but I also agree with Doc on bulking her up. She needs the calories for proper development.

Meet with a registered dietician and he/she can guide you in adding calories and healthy fats.

I know tossing rice and pasta with olive oil is a good idea. You could also add lots of avocados to your kids' diets.

Answer 6

My daughters are the same as yours.  My youngest is still in the 5th percentile and she will be three in october.  My oldest is only in the 10th percentile and she will be 6 in november.  They have both always been skinny.  At one point with my youngest they talked about doing blood tests and a bunch of other stuff and i declined.  she was eating, drinking, going to the bathroom regularly and she was developing just fine in every other way except weight gain.  She was off the charts at that point not even in the 1st percentile.  She finally made it on the chart and the doctor finally realized that is how she is and so is my other daughter. They now hold in that percentile but for them it is normal. I think as a mother you would know if something was wrong.  My daughters are both very healthy, happy and normal children and I never did anything about there weight.  If i thought something was really wrong i would have let them do the test but seeing as my oldest was also little I wasn't to worried.  The only bad part of them being so small is it is hard to find the right fit of clothing:)  good luck and I think everything will be fine.

Answer 7

Get her on meat as soon as possible.

My daughter had mashed potatoes with every meal ,and she is an ideal weight and size .

Answer 8

Pediasure is jsut a drink. It's not like it's a medication. The doctor may be conserned that at the rate children grow that she will soon be too thin, even if she isn't right now. When it comes to little ones it's ok to have a little extra, because they use it up and burn it fast!

Answer 9

If you think her diet is good than no. My daughter weighed 23 lbs at her 2 year check up. She was just small. But very healthy. People are so used to seeing bigger kids that a small kid is automatically called unhealthy. Both of my older two are small. My daughter now weighs 41 lbs at 6 years and my son weighs 32 lbs at 4 years. Just small but healthy kids.

Do what feels right for you. You know her diet and eating habits so if you are not worried than she doesn't need them.

Answer 10

My doctor told me people at the 50th percentile are the most healthy there lungs develop better and they are all around have better health but don't get your children fat because that is not healthy at all!

Answer 11

"As long as shes healthy and is eating and not sick, why?"

Exactly. Somebody has to be in the 5th per centile, somebody healthy.

Pediasure is pretty junky as food goes, too. Sugar and oil does not good nutrition make, no matter how many vitamins are added. It is heavily marketed to pediatricians, though. And pediatricians do not really have any education in nutrition -- otherwise he would've told you to give her a banana smoothie, not Pediasure.

Doctors worry about weight a lot because it's such an easily measured marker of good health. But there are many other ways to judge the health of a 15mo, and if yours is healthy, she does not need to be fattened up with unnecessary junk.

Answer 12

The pediasure will help build stonger bones and is very nutritous. I buy this for my sons. And they love it.

Answer 13

As long as she is getting nutrients from other foods, there is no need for Pediasure.  Save your money and put it towards other healthy foods.  Good luck.

Answer 14

I wouldn't do it. Just give her what you do. Add in cheese and such, but not that drink.

Answer 15

I think mothers ultimatley know whats best for their children. As long as your doctor doesnt suggest the Pediasure  because there is a problem or your daughter is unhealthy, I dont see why you shouldnt go with what feels right to you.

Answer 16

How much underweight is she? If she's more than a couple pounds, you shouldn't worry. I have a daughter and she was 7 lbs at birth, and was always a pound underweight until she was 2. Her doctor kept telling me to feed her more, but she ate just fine, every meal with snacks also, there was no way I could get her to eat more. Then finally, she just started filling out a little more, and now at almost 3, she's at the right weight. If she's a lot underweight, try giving her natural fats, like eggs, salmon, cheese...things like that. I've heard some people suggest butter, but I think it's not a good thing. Butter is a fat with no nutritional value in it.