Baby Eating but Not Gaining Weight.

Updated on March 23, 2007
A.E. asks from San Antonio, TX
20 answers

My son is 10 months old and he only weighs 14 lbs. He's very long though, about 26-27 inches. He's true to size as far as onesies and shirts, but I have to put him in 3 mo. pants. The doctor and I are worried about his weight gain. He eats consistently every 2 hours and I alternate between formula and baby food. He's taking 6 oz of formula and 2 jars of baby food. We've tested for cystic fibrosis and other things, but there doesn't seem to be any problem. He eats way too much to not be gaining any weight. Has anyone else experienced this or know what the problem might be?

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J.A.

answers from Amarillo on

Just a suggestion... have you had him genetically tested for dwarfism? This is one of the hardest things for doctors to detect without the testing... several kinds of dwarfs have normal sized bodies with very short legs. You might look into it.

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L.S.

answers from San Antonio on

Just wanted to tell you You are not alone as you can tell.
My daughter is 2 1/2 and weights about 22 pounds. The doctors did lots of tests and I finally told the doctor enough. We went though the whole year doing test on her so we were tired of her going though the test and them finding nothing. If he is happy and active then he maybe just a small child. There is nothing wrong with small children. As they say great things come from small packages. Good luck and let us know how it's going...
L.

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H.P.

answers from San Antonio on

Hi A.:

I have had the EXACT same problem with my daughter, except that she is short too!! :) Her pediatrician has ran all kinds of tests as well... He had me start giving her 1 pediasure a day starting around your sons age. Don't give more than one though, b/c they are really for age 1 and older. The only downside to that is that it's pretty expensive. They're about $10 for a 6 pack of them! And since I have twins, I have to give them to my son also!! But they have worked for my daughter, so I continue to buy them. Ask your doctor if that's safe for your son. That gives a LOT of extra calories, to hopefully help him gain weight. Also, try giving him ANYTHING that is high in calories. That's what I have done with my daughter and she is FINALLY starting to gain weight. Her doctor also recently started her on a vitamin supplement everyday, just to give her a little extra. My daughter is right at 15 months old, and she weighs 17 lbs. 8 oz! She's just as tiny as can be! :) So, I hope this helps. But, try not to worry, b/c I was only like 25 pounds until I was 4 years old, and I'm 23 now, and healthy as can be. Good luck to you, and if you need anything, feel free to email me at: ____@____.com Bless!! H.

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K.C.

answers from Lubbock on

I am having the same problem with my nine month old. My doctor suggested giving him pediasure. He has gained about 6 oz in the last week and a half. Mine is 16 lbs and is wearing 0-3 mth shorts and overalls etc. He also takes 6 oz. of formula with cereal in it and 3-4 jars of food. I don't know if they can actually test for this, but an overactive metabolism runs in my family and the Dr. has said that it is possible that this is also the baby's problem. The pediasure ensures that he is getting his vitamins and plenty of extra fat and protien. Hope this helps and good luck.

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E.P.

answers from El Paso on

My daughter is 7 and weighs 35lbs. She has been small from day one. She was only 5lbs 12oz when she was born and didn't gain weigh like a normal child. The doctor did a bunch of test and more or less said thats the way she was going to be. My daughter eats all the time in fact when she is at school she gets hunger pains because she is hungry all the time. They tell me she just has a high metabolism. She wears like you said clothes that are supose to be her size but in her waist she could wear a size 3t. When I read about your son I thought of my daughter. When she was 14 months she weighed 14lbs. He might be just small.

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L.S.

answers from Odessa on

My oldest daughter was severely underweight until just that last couple of years. Now, she is almost twelve years old, with a figure that any grown woman would envy! We did have her tested for diabetes, because it runs in the family, thyroid, and other issues, but it was clear that she was just going to be a skinny kid. The main concern was her iron level, and we were able to remedy that with peanut butter and vitamins.

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T.P.

answers from Austin on

my one year wasn't gaining weight ethier tell they put him on Neo Sure a formula for pre mature babies and he has gain 3lbs now he is 12 months and ways 17lbs now. He also has a fast metabolism like his father. so takes a 8 oz. bottle about every 2 1/2 to 3 hrs and eats 3 meals and 3 snacks plus little gerber grad fingure foods.

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A.N.

answers from San Antonio on

I am amom of three. They are 9,4 and 1. My youngest is the same. Eats like there is no tomorrow but for months was way under his percentile. The doctorwas very concerned. We did many tests with no results. Since he just turned one we have been on pediasure and the doctor said give him as many fatty foods as possible. Potatoes with lots of butter, cheese, regular yogart ( not lowfat), whole milk, ect...Helikes the chocolate pediasure the best. It seemedto work a little. He is now 16 lbs wearing sixe 6-9monhs instead of 3-6. Since he eats well I try not to be concered. As long as he is meeting his milestone. Good luck, and keep us posted!

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J.V.

answers from Austin on

My girlfriends son just turn 17 months and only weighs 18 lbs. They tested him for a vitamin K defisancy(?) and took him to a specialist and they didn't find anything wrong with him. And she too would have to put size 3 month old pants on him up untill he was about 10months. They said he is just small. I would just suggest that you make sure you doctor is taking you serious and your sons health. Insist that they run tests if he is still not gaining weight just to make sure. Good Luck I know that this is stressful for any mom.

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A.W.

answers from Amarillo on

I wouldn't worry too much about if I were you. AS long as he's consistently gaining, it shouldn't be too serious. I have a 7 month old who wears anything from 0/3 to 6/9 month clothes. He can still wear his 0/3 month pants perfectly and his 6/09 month pants with room to spare. I truly do hope that nothing is wrong with your little boy and he's just a slow gainer.

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A.N.

answers from Odessa on

It sound like his body is not absorbing the food at all. He should gain weight unless he cant absorb it. I don't know what else it could be. I pray that you find the answer soon. Good luck and I hope you find the answer.

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S.D.

answers from El Paso on

Hi A.,

Did they check him for Celiac Disease? Went through alot of testing with my oldest, because of lack of growth, he had other signs as well as the disease progressed. This is a very common Disease without much knowledge from doctors. It took them over 5 months to figure out that was what was causing my sons lack of growth and vomiting. My son has been diagnoised for three years and is doing great now that he is on the gluten free diet.

S.

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S.D.

answers from Austin on

You're not alone. I'm currently experiencing the same problem with my daughter. She's 9 months old and only gaining about 6 ounces a month despite eating really well. She was born 11 weeks early, spent 8 weeks in the NICU and has chronic reflux. She's under the care of a pediatric gastro doc - who's carefully watching the weight gain (or lack of) closely. Right now we don't know what the cause is either.

Does your son have reflux or any symptoms that would indicate it?

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M.O.

answers from Odessa on

My son is doing the same thing. He eats and eats and just when I start see a little belly in a day or two he grows a couple of inches and his weight goes down. As long as he is happy and healthy don't worry so much about the weight. I have a niece that is two and stills wears 12 -18 months clothes. But she eats all the time, the doctor told us that she is underweight and underheight for her age, but she is healthy and we can't find anything wrong with her. Just give him some time.

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T.W.

answers from Killeen on

I am not sure what is wrong, but my oldest daughter has the same problem. Except that not that she is almost 2 she still can wear 6/9 month clothes. All the doctors she has ever been taken to said that it is alright cause she stays right with the 10th percentile line. If you find something else and could share it with me I would appreciate it.
T.

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A.I.

answers from Amarillo on

try to put cereal in each of his bottles or at least every other bottle and that along with the baby food should work. also you can try to up his two jars to three. good luck!

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K.K.

answers from Killeen on

Hey...I am a 36 year old mom of a 9 year-old and twin 2 year-olds... I always joke that I am raising circus midgets due to their slow growth and small sizes. My children all have different eating patterns but one of them eats like a horse, one barely eats, and the oldest was in between with proper spurts like any normal child. All three have the same nominal growth pattern in weight. They seem to grow fairly normally for their size (they are all small for their ages) but weight gain is a struggle. My oldest went through ALL of the tests to be sure there wasn't any ailment causing it, but apparently some children just have high metabolisms and process their food faster than others making weight gain harder. All 3 of my children despite their slow weight gain are healthy and happy children and i get to only purchase clothing 2x per year instead of 3 or more like most of my friends!!! If you're really worried considering your son's previous health issues ABSOLUTELY run the gamut of health teasts for weight gain...but do not be surprised if they turn up nothing...

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S.S.

answers from Wichita Falls on

Has the doctor tested him for a tape worm? I wouldn't be terribly stressed - my three year old wears a 5T to get the pants to fit length wise, but he can put on his brother's 12 month pants and wear them as shorts. He eats well and is healthy as a horse - he's just tall and thin. Wish we were all as lucky. :)

Simultaneously, it's hard not to worry when your doctor is stressing - so maybe add Ensure Plus to his diet, assuming he doesn't have intestinal parasites.

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L.R.

answers from Portland on

My brother gained weight slowly. When he potty trained at 3 years old, Mom had to hunt and hunt to find size 2 underpants (what would fit the average two-year-old). He was small for his age until Mom figured out that he was allergic to a lot of things. Once she quit feeding him all the things he was allergic to, he began to gain weight and now he's 6'10" and I'm not sure how much he weighs, but before he went into the Marines, it was more than he should.

Something else you might want to consider. It could be that his digestive system is overwhelmed. A baby of 10 months should be able to handle longer waits than 2 hours--most newborns can go at least 2 1/2 hours between feedings. My baby is 4 months and she can go anywhere form 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 hours between feedings (usually not more than 4; she only goes more if she's exhausted from a missing part of a nap and sleeps a bit past a feeding time during the next one). And the interesting thing is, she went from feeding every 1-2 hours to feeding every 3 1/2 to 4 hours in a matter of 2 or 3 days. I just learned how to make a routine that works for her. I feed her, keep her awake, and put her down for a nap after wake time--without feeding. When she wakes up, I feed her again. I'm not strict with the times; she lets me know when she's tired and she wakes up when she's hungry. She used to just snack, but now she eats all I've got at each feeding and is content until the next one. And she's gaining fine. So try (for a week, perhaps, to see what happens) stretching the time between feedings and feeding him more at each feeding, so that you get the same amount of food in a day, just in fewer feedings. This will give his tummy a chance to rest between feedings, giving the body energy to do other things, like grow.

And if you do it, and especially if it helps, please drop me a line and let me know.

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K.H.

answers from Abilene on

hello My daughter is 4 1/2 and she doent gain weight either. The dr told me to put her on a vitamins and pediasure. You can get gentric ones too. They have vanilla, choco, and strawberry. My daughter now weighs 29.6 lbs so she is slowly gaining weight. I know where ya coming from. I hope this was helpful for ya. I hope everyhting is going well for you and yyour son. Ya know my daughter is 4 and she wears clothes anywhere from 18 months to 2 t she is small and my 2 yr old stillwear 12 months alos.. I have tiny girls and they were born fullterm over due.. lol But, they will check up with the other girls...... Gl to you and your son.

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