Weight Issue~3 Yr Old Toddler

My doctor does not follow a graph any more, just watches for normal changes and growth. Every child is on a different path in height and weight. I had WIC when my older kids were infants. They told me that my girls were too heavy and i needed to watch them and see if they eat too much. They were only a few months old. One was not even 10 lbs. I take info from WIC with a grain of salt because some of the reps get too much "by the book" and really push it. Th program is great and really helps those that need help but some times they can be over zealous. If you are worried, talk to the doc but if he is not concerned, I wouldn't worry about it.

I think they are over reacting. Some kids are just smaller than others. As long as you know she is eating enough, and she's old enough to tell you when she's full, then she's fine. I would just make sure you are offering her 3 meals plus at least two snacks a day. If she eats, she's hungry, if she doesn't, she's not. But I would also make sure you aren't feeding her low fat anything. Any dairy should be full fat as she needs that fat for her devoloping brain. Plus low fat foods really aren't good for our bodies.

I can sympathize with you. When I was on WIC I was told the same thing; that my daughter was underweight as well. I spoke to her doctor about it on several occasions. My doctor assured me that her weight was fine. The doctor based her opinion on her growth chart trends rather than her actual weight and height. When my daughter was born she was in the 50th percentile for her weight. At a year, she was in the 25th percentile. I think by the time she was 2 years old she was in the 5th percentile. She literally only gained a few pounds in a year. The doctor continued to reassure me that her weight was fine. Sure enough she started trending back toward the 25th percentile, then the 50th percentile. WIC uses general guidelines, but does not take the Child's growth history into account. Consult with your doctor if you are concerned. I would not worry as much about what WIC says. I personally think they are surprised when children are not heavy enough since they are giving out such calorie rich foods every month like milk, cheese, juice, cereal and beans. Kids should be overweight with the limited selection of food they provide.

It sounds like they just weighed her and plotted her on the graph. It's more important that she follows her own curve. If she always is at x percentile, then she is fine. That's her normal. If she falls off her curve and hasn't recently been sick (you don't eat as much when you are sick), that's a problem. For example if she is at the 5%, that means 5% of the kids are on that line. Someone has to be there. So find out if she is where she always is. There are different weight charts. So if you are comparing the pediatrician's growth curve to WIC's they need to be the same growth curve.

My son is 14 years old, 5'3" and weights 103 pounds - at his check up last week his doctor told us he is could stand to gain a few pounds. Honestly, I just shrugged - his Father is 5'10" and at his heaviest weighed 150. I am 5'2" and was always thin. My grandfather was a slight man, as was my Father.

So it is genetic. My son will never be a bulky guy - he will be long legged and thin - just like all the men in his family tree.

He eats healthy - lots of fresh food, veggies, fruits - limited snacks, no sodas etc.

Not every child conforms to the height and weight charts and as long as your daughter is healthy that is all that matters. She takes after you and her Dad. Sometimes our doctors and Wic, etc. get to focused on the charts and fail to look at family traits.

Don't worry about it - she sounds in line with her genetic history.

My grand daughter is 3 1/2. She was born with chubby cheeks and thighs and as she grew she got taller and taller and slimmed down and we never considered her fat. She had an appointment a few months ago and our daughter came home so upset. They had measured her height and commented on her being in the 98% for height. There isn't much anyone can do to change what height a child will be and they all seemed pleased to see her so tall. Then they weighed her and started the lecture about keeping her off snacks and treats due to her weight. She was in the 75% for weight and they tried telling us she is fat! But when questioned they said for a 3 year old she is too heavy, but they never took into account that for a 3 year old she is extremely tall too! Her weight for her height is on the low side and she is NOT fat! You can see her ribs, and shoulder blades and is not fat. She still has chubby cheeks and a family trait of a more full bottom and thigh but for the height she is, she is not over weight. I don't think they looked at the big picture, just some chart that says what's average and they jumped all over my daughter about her toddlers weight when they should have said, "for her height, her weight is fine".. So, we don't much care for their charts, or comments. We know she doesn't eat a lot of junk and is the most active 3 year old we have ever seen. Shes healthy and beautiful. Don't worry about what they say when you can look for yourself and see your child isn't starving and is happy, healthy and growing.