Has Anyone Ever Used Polycose for a Child in Need of Extra Calories?

Hi F.,

I have not used this or something similar with my kids in the past, but I found this information that might be helpful for you.

Polycose Powder Information
Glucose Polymers for increasing Caloric Intake
(= Rapid Increased Energy)
Polycose Polymers is a readily digestible carbohydrate intended for persons with increased energy need or those who are unable to meet their caloric requirements with their normal diet.Polycose provides 3.8 calories per gm. of powder. Polycose solutions have an osmolality approximately one-fifth that of pure glucose solutions of similar concentration. This feature reduces the potential for osmotic diarrhea. Polycose is minimally sweet and mixes readily with most foods and beverages.
Instructions for Use
Polycose is designed to be added directly to foods and beverages in amounts determined by caloric requirements, tolerance and taste.
FOR MIXING WITH LIQUIDS. - For best results , pour desired amount of water or beverage into an appropriate sized container, then stir in Polycose with a spoon.
** For my 30 lb. Kerry Blues, I use a rounded teaspoon of Polycose in about 4 ounces of cold milk with a teaspoon of brandy added.
STORAGE - Store the powder in a cool dry place but not the refrigerator. Dissolved powder must be refrigerated and discarded with 24 hours if not used.
PRECAUTIONS - Polycose is nutritionally incomplete and should not be used as the sole source of nutrition.
For infant use, one gram of Polycose Powder added to each ounce of infant feeding increases the caloric concentration by approximately 3.8 cal/fl.oz.
COMPOSITION - Glucose Polymers derived from controlled hydrolysis of Cornstarch.
NUTRIENTS per 100 grams
Carbohydrate 94 g
Water 6 g
Calcium ...does not exceed 30 mg
Sodium...does not exceed 110 mg
Potassium...does not exceed 10 mg
Chloride...does not exceed 223 mg
Phosphorous...does not exceed 5 mg
Calories 380
EQUIVALENTS
1 level teaspoon (2 gm)= 8 calories
1 level tablespoon (6 gm)= 23 calories
1/4 cup (25 gm)= 95 calories
1/3 cup (33 gm) = 125 calories
1/2 cup (50 gm) = 190 calories
1 cup (100gm) = 380 calories

I hope any other mom can help you with a similar experience like yours. Good luck.

A.

Just be careful. My son was tiny and the doc wanted to put him on weight gainer. We looked into it and found horror stories from other parents. Of course there were success stories also. And so many things have been improved over the past 6 yrs (since we were looking into it). Just be careful and really do your research! I haven't heard of Polycose- so I know nothing about it. But my son is almost 6 and weighs 29 lbs. He's completely healthy though- so our doc isn't concerned. He eats well and has regular bowel movements. You may want to even get a 2nd opinion...

if your child is eating well then she will be ok. My son was very little for his age. He did weigh 7 lbs when he was born but didn't grow at a fast pace. He hardly ever hit the growth chart and when he did his highest was 5% and he usually didn't stay there very long. He was a good eater though and finally after so many doctor appointments checking his growing progress the doctors determined genetics. I am 5'2 and hubby is 5'6. His mom is 5' and my parents are both 5'6. He ate well and I even kept mixing formula with his milk until he was at least 16 months old which is when all our formula stash ran out to give him more calories. The doctors didn't think he would be taller than 5'4. He was always the shortest in his class until 10th grade. He wore a size 2T in Kindergarten. He is now in 11th grade, 16 years old, is 5'7" and is still very skinny and weighs 120 lbs. He is a good eater and has never been picky other than he won't eat cold food if it's supposed to be hot and won't reheat leftovers but other than that he eats very well and loves fruits and all of the veggies. So I wouldn't be too worried as long as your little one is eating well and looks healthy. My other 2 kids were usually in the 50-75% range and now at 13 and 10 are big for their age and have to watch what they eat more so I think the ones higher on the growth chart are going to have more problems later with maintaining a healthy weight and struggle more with their weight. And so many kids are being classified as obese and think that chart is based on the average which the babies over 50% are usually chubby babies.

I agree with the other moms with petite kiddos out there...my daughter is 50% in height and 3% in weight...always has been. There are so many overweight kids these days that as long as she is staying on the same curve, is active, and intelligent, I don't worry about it. My daughter turns 3 on Sat., keeps up with the 4 year olds at daycare mentally and physically so I'm not worried about her nutrition. Why mess with thier metabolisms at such an early age if there isn't really a reason to? I think it is horribly sad that petite kids are treated like they have a health problem when there are so many kids that really are overweight but considered "healthy", "stocky", "solid", etc. I can't imagine what is going to become of some of them.

I would worry that it will spike her sugar levels since it's a corn derivative. According to the breakdown the prior poster put up, it doesn't seem like all that much calories. Is your ped worried about her? My son has always been thin and under the 10% until this year he bounced to the 25%, but since he was always gaining, never losing - my ped said he was just following his own curve. I really wouldn't worry much unless she's not eating/losing weight. Then, I would try a more natural approach. If your daughter likes eating maybe just try to add a snack or 2. For the 23 calories a T. polycose has you'd be better off with peanut butter, cheese and crackers or a part of a bagel. This is only my opinion, I am certainly no doctor! =) Best of luck to you!

Is there some specific reason that they want to do this instead of something like pediasure? From what the other mom posted, it sounds like this is basically a bunch of sugar that you add to food or drinks. Pediasure has lots of nutrients as well as the extra calories. I would be afraid of giving my kid a sugar high and having bad side effects. I also agrees with the other moms that doctors make too many moms paranoid about children that are just built small. Ignore those stupid height vs weight charts and look at your daughters over all health. Ask yourself, is she eating good food regularly, is she active, and most of all, is she growing. If the answer is yes then don't worry so much about her. If she is not growing and not active then there is reason to be concerned but just cuz she is in the 4% does not mean that she is unhealthy. My niece fell off the charts for a while and there is absolutely nothing wrong with her, she is just small. My SIL still regrets listening to the dr when he told her to feed her whatever she wanted. You know your child best so don't let some "expert" bully you into something that you don't really need to do.

F., I know exactly where you are coming from and I worried more than I needed to. Like most the women said, if their kids are small yet still gaining at their own pace, then they are fine. My son has always been 3% BELOW the charts, they sent us to Children's Mercy to a nutritionist and she just recommended adding more calories to his diet. Like more creams, butters, cheeses. If we have mashed potatoes, I add butter, cheese and sour cream to his portion. We also give him Boost or Carnation mixed with whole milk to add calories. He is still off the charts but he is consistantly the same so I've decided not to worry anymore. He'll eat when he wants to, and when that time comes I make sure there are pleanty of regular extra calories added, not anything like they are telling you to do. I'm sure it's cheaper in the long run to use higher calorie foods that is already in your fridge. Best of luck!

My daughter was always in the 5th perc. for weight when she was little. She is 12 now and a perfectly healthy size, not overweight at all but definately not skin and bones. One doctor was always having her tested to see if she was anemic, she was not, just low birth weight and not a big girl. I would definately talk to someone else before making a drastic decision like that. Personally, I think there are just so many big kids out there right now that the charts really allow for petite ones. That's just my opinion I've based on talking to some other mom's with small children and my own experience.