What can I do to help my 3 year old gain some weight?

Question

What can I do to help my 3 year old gain some weight?
She eats but not enough. I always have food for her though. She just doesnt want it. She would rather drink all day... and when I try to make her go awhile without a sippy cup, she THROWS A FIT!!!

Answer 1

talk to your doctor and see what to do before you try anything because it could be dangerous.

Answer 2

First of all -- God Bless you for stepping up to the plate!! Try fats -- add butter (NOT margarine) to the vegis, put it on breads, etc. Get them children's vitamins with iron (for the anemia), but they might get constipated since they are not used to it, just have some apple cider handy (yes cider, not juice, it works better). Introduce them to spaghetti (use macaroni, easier to handle for now). This cannot be 'fixed' overnight, just keep all the good things going into them and nature will take care of the rest. Don't overdo the cookie/cake/stuff as that will cause other problems when they are so underweight. Concentrate on the fats and carbs right now. And the vitamins. Sounds like the vegis and fruits are ok. Good Luck and God Bless! Sorry, just thought of something else -- since he fills up on the vegis, have him eat some of the spaghetti first and then the vegis OR cut the vegis up in the spaghetti sauce -- he will at least get the fat from the sauce if he won't eat the pasta. How about pizzas with meat and vegis?

Answer 3

You should check on her "growth curve" at your pediatricians office. IF she is growing on her curve, she might simply be skinny, but normal for her. IF her growth curve is flattening off or stalling, it could mean a failure to thrive that needs to be evaluated.
In either case, this should just mean a visit to the pediatrician

ALSO... What is in the sippy cup?????? It had better not be juice or another sweet beverage. A child should have no more than about 4ounces of juice per day. If she can drink sweet juice, she will turn down nutritious food that isn't so yummy, she will be malnourished, and then develop obesity later in life. If she has been getting more than 4 ounce of juice, just stop it cold turkey. Give her water or milk only.

Answer 4

She needs to find the solid food interesting.. so maybe encourage her to do baking with you do worry if she says no and wonders off just spend like a whole afternoon making cupcakes and stuff then the icing ...in the end she will want to know what you are doing and start to help.. then try it with other things like salad you prepare everything and she adds what she thinks is pretty and smells nice...

also you could try having set times for the sippy cup. and make it clear with a chart where she puts a sticker on every time she hands it back in to you... those are my suggestions. hope they help.

Answer 5

Sounds like your daughter is thirsty. Give her a drink.
When she's hungry she'll let you know. Make sure she has something she likes to eat.
Start with the essential nutrients - fruit and veg are a good source. Bread sticks are good snacks.
However, most of the world is concerned with obesity, if your daughter is 3 she should be following her instincts, and in the UK will be monitored by the NHS. If you have serious concerns about your daughter's health, your health visitor should be your first serious port of call.

Answer 6

When I was young I was so skinny my mum took me to the doctor who said the best thing for me was milky drinks, I loved hot chocolate and ovaltine etc so it was a pleasure. Sometimes though when children go through a 'growth' spurt they appear to become thin - then they fill out, then grow again - then fill out etc. Also how about vegetable soups and things to get some veg down her? If she is active and thriving then do not worry too much, because if she wasn't getting all she needs then she would be tired and listless.

Answer 7

Sounds like my life re-lived.... With my own ornery 3 year old. She too was skinny minny. And loved her sippy cup... I put carnation instant breakfast drink in it. She loved it!! And gained weight as well. Choose your battles wisely. This is merely a battle.... not the war.

Good Luck

Answer 8

For children old enough to eat solid foods try some of the following:

Add powders such as Carnation Instant Breakfast to milk to increase the calorie content. Cow's milk can be given to a child after age 1.
Add cheese, meats, or sour cream to eggs.
Add peanut butter to starchy foods and vegetables. Peanuts themselves, however, are a choking hazard and should be avoided until 4 years of age.
Mix cheese, avocados, ground beef, or sour cream to refried beans and eat it with chips, crackers, or tortillas.
Make a tuna sandwich with mayonnaise.
Add avocado slices to sandwiches, salads, or chips.
Serve pasta with meat, meatballs or cream sauces.
Add cheese or butter to vegetables. Squash, for example, can be prepared with butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon.
Feed your child more potatoes. French fries, tater tots, mashed potatoes with butter and sour cream will provide many calories.
Make bread or biscuits with butter, honey, cheese, or cream cheese.
Serve dessert. Many desserts have lots of calories. Ice cream with all the fixings is a great way to end a meal. Or give your child an ice cream milkshake. Shakes can be made with yogurt and fruit for additional nutrition and calories

Answer 9

Now, is there other children in your household, do you eat while she is or do you serve her alone. Don't forget in most cases children are like monkeys, there are follower, you have to make ii interesting for them to it and sometime, there are just lazy. I tell you what see what type of food she like the most, clap for her while she is eating, reward her with a treat and she does well and the most importantly tried to feed her while you are eating.

Answer 10

Take her to see a doctor. Ask the doctor to do a test for celiac disease or refer her for one. Don't worry - it's a 1% chance of being positive - but have it done. One in every 100 children are now proving positive. The doctor can check other stuff too.

Answer 11

Put that milk enriched stuff in her sippy cup. I think pedicare makes it instead of straight milk. Leave fingerfoods where she can get it during the day like small veggies, pieces of fruit, crackers and cheese. She will be okay they just get like this at 3.. she will be better after she turns 4.