Weight Loss in 6 Year Old

I second exactly what PP said. It would not be at all unusually for him to have gained only one pound (or no weight) from May to October. It isn't like when they were tiny and packing on the lbs every could of months. To set your mind at ease, take a look at average weights of 6, 7, and 8 year old boys. You'll see they differ very little. Your son will likely only gain a couple of pounds a year moving forward.

He did NOT weigh 59 lbs in October if he was 48 lbs in May. If he did THAT would have been cause for concern. The nurse who put it in his chart WROTE IT WRONG. He probably IS looking thinner, but thinner doesn't equal weight loss for growing kids.

You probably DO want to up his caloric intake and make sure he's getting plenty of protein and limiting the empty junk. My skinny minny son and I both like to have a smoothy in the morning AFTER regular breakfast. It's an easy way to get in any extra couple hundred calories. I add a scoop of soy protein (you can use another protein depending on what you think is healthier for boys/humans), yogurt, frozen berries, a banana, and oj. He drinks about 8oz of that before school and and another something similar in the evening before dinner.

Did the doctor do any bloodworm at his 6 year old check up? If not , I would suggest you ask the doctor to run a few flood tests to check for anemia or other things that would make him tired, especially if he doesn't perk up soon. If he is drinking a lot and urinating a lot, then losing weight and being tired are some of the symptoms of Type 1 diabetes. But I would think that the doctor would have been asking some of those questions when you discussed being concerned about his weight and tiredness.

There is a red flag here, have him checked out with some blood work. The tiredness and weight loss combined can be signs of many things, maybe simple anemia, or malnutrition but could be something much more serious. Do not let this go.
Best wishes.

I think as long as his height is going up I wouldn't worry too much yet.

I know how you feel - my son has ALWAYS been extremely thin. He is now between 6'4 and 6'5; he weighs around 152-154 pounds (he's 16). I'm 5'3" and he weighs less than I do. :(

I'm not convinced being that thin is a good thing either - we are always on the hunt for nutrient dense foods with lots of good fats with the hopes of putting weight on him. We have also done lots of alternative health care and that seemed to improve his overall health quite a bit. He eats constantly. It's like he can't get enough food.

I would keep an eye on it but try to not worry too much.

I would assume that the 59 lbs was a mistake, not an anomaly. Someone probably recorded that number wrong. Your son couldn't have gained 10 lbs from May through October, then lost it all again in the last three months. It's far more likely that he was 49 lbs in October and just hasn't gained weight since.

It's not uncommon at all for kids this age to gain height without gaining weight. His clothes are baggy because his overall body shape has changed, not because he is losing weight.

I would keep an eye on him, just in case, but I really wouldn't worry. There's no way he was actually 59 lbs in October.

I don't think it would be odd for him to be the same weight as last year. They want kids to add on slowly. As for the tiredness, ask your doctor to run some bloodwork to check his hydration and iron levels.

Does he get a daily vitamin? What is his diet like?

Hi N., I can see how you can be concerned.

A couple of things come to mind, how is he eating? Does he make healthy choices, is he drinking lots of water, is he eating what you feel he should be eating?

What about activity levels? You say he is tired, but that could be seasonal. If you were to take him to an activity he loved, maybe like swimming, how would he perform, would he be tired? How about playing with friends? Is he too tired to play?

We moms jump to conclusions very quickly when it comes to our kids, of course, we want the best for them. I recommend to step back and take a look. Start tracking for the next 60 days his nutrition, his sleep and his activity levels. Just get a simple note book and 2 or 3 times a day (I suggest meal times) just jot a bit of info. That way you will have a record of what is really going on.

If the "symptoms" persist, then you can check with your health care provider (which keep in mind does not always mean seeing your MD) for options to help.

I am going to PM you my recommendations when it comes to nutrition for families.

B.