By: Cristina Moreno, Bilingual Outreach Specialist, Penfield Children’s Center
Reviewed by: Natalie Alcaraz, Health Project Coordinator and Registered Dietitian for the City of Milwaukee Health Department WIC Program
As parents and caregivers, we love seeing our children grow. Watching the ruler stretch and the scale go up at each doctor’s visit reassures us that we are doing a good job of giving our kids what they need to get bigger and stronger. We may feel concerned when we see that their weight gain, which seemed to have shot up during the first 9 months or so, suddenly begins to slow and starts increasing by ounces instead of pounds.
My son’s pediatrician informed me that as babies become more mobile and active, it is normal for weight gain to slow. They are perfectly fine and healthy as long as their growth stays on track on their growth chart.
Despite this reassurance, I can understand why this change can feel alarming to many parents and you may feel the need to overcompensate for the low weight gain or picky eating by giving your child more and more food or supplementing with high-calorie drinks, like Pediasure.
You probably already know it is a good idea to limit high-sugar and junk foods because they do not offer much in terms of nutrients. However, here are a few things to keep in mind when teaching your child healthy eating habits and ensuring they are getting the calories they need.
Culture Can Impact Our Perceptions of “Healthy” Weight
Some cultures, including mine, may have a misperception of what a healthy weight looks like. They may see a plump child as being healthy and a child who may be at a perfectly fine weight as being undernourished. In cultures where food equals love, you do not want people telling you your child is looking thin.
I came across this quite often as a medical interpreter. Many times, concerned parents would ask their pediatrician how they could get their child to gain more weight. More often than not, the answer was that the child was not underweight at all and additional weight gain was not necessary, and may even be unhealthy.
Giving in to Picky Eating Isn’t Always a Good Thing
I also often heard cases in which a child was such a picky eater that the parents would let them have whatever it was they could convince them to eat, even if their choices in food were less than nutritious.
As a parent myself, I am no stranger to the extreme frustration of when a child refuses to eat anything and you must resort to letting him have whatever it is he wants as long as he eats!
Whether this happens due to pickiness, teething, or feeling under the weather, this habit of giving them what they are willing to eat, even if it means macaroni and cheese for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, can be a slippery slope that may contribute to even more picky eating.
Calories From Drinks Count
Milk and fruit juice are often believed to be healthy for kids, so it may come as a surprise if you’re told your child is drinking too much.
However, you may find that once your little one stops drinking extra calories, they are willing to eat more food during meal times.
Juice
Even if you give your child 100% natural fruit juice, that juice contains a lot of sugar and calories. You may think there’s nothing wrong with giving your child a cup of juice at lunch and dinner, but the problem is we often serve too much.
Pediatricians and nutrition experts generally recommend no more than 4 ounces of juice per day for children. If you give your child even two “small” cups of juice a day, they may be drinking up to 4 times the recommended amount!
If you do want to offer your child some juice, you can make those 4 ounces stretch by watering it down. They probably will not even notice.
Milk
Milk is important for healthy teeth, bones, and brain development, but there can be too much of a good thing.
The recommended amount of milk for most children over the age of one year is about 16 ounces per day. Children over one year of age should drink whole milk because they need that extra fat to help their brains develop, but usually by age two they should switch to a milk that is lower in fat.
This can be a difficult transition if your child is accustomed to drinking a lot of milk, but you can gradually decrease the milk you offer each day over the course of a few weeks until you reach the recommended amount.
Your Child Will Eat When They Are Hungry
When your child pushes away food after food, it can be very frustrating. If it continues to happen regularly it can become worrisome. This is often when we fall into the trap of letting them eat whatever it is they want as long as they eat something. Try to avoid falling into that trap!
It may take some time and patience, but keep giving healthy options and get creative with the way you present food. Instead of giving your little one pudding for dinner because they refused anything you offered at breakfast and lunchtime, try some yogurt with bits of fruit instead.
It may take some problem-solving to figure out the best way to get your child to eat what you give them, but patience and persistence will pay off in the long run. In the meantime, you can repeat the words of my coworker, “They will not let themselves starve.”
My son really had me on edge for a while because he refused to eat anything I gave him. The more I offered him different foods, the more I realized that the issue was not that he did not want to eat. Rather, he did not want to be fed. As soon as I started putting finger foods on his tray that he could grab and eat on his own, I was surprised by the variety of foods he would happily eat without making a fuss!
Pediasure Can Do More Harm Than Good
If you have a child who is a really picky eater or who truly is losing some weight because they do not want to eat what you are offering them, it can be very tempting to give them meal replacement supplements like Pediasure.
While these products are good for children who are severely underweight or malnourished, offering them to a picky eater or a child who has thinned out a little but is still healthy can lead to worse eating habits.
Natalie Alcaraz, Health Project Coordinator and Registered Dietitian for the City of Milwaukee Health Department WIC Program, helps us understand why Pediasure and other supplements can be a problem.
“These kinds of drinks contain a lot of sugar and can cause a child’s taste to adapt a preference for sweeter beverages,” she said. “It can also lead to a child drinking a large amount of his calories, which further limits the amount of food he eats and encourages more reliance on these types of products.”
It is better to first try to find ways to add in foods that are higher in healthy fats, such as avocado for babies or snacks like apples with nut butters for older children.
If you feel like your child is too thin or not gaining weight properly, discuss the issue with your pediatrician or a nutritionist before offering nutrition shakes or supplements.
How to Help If Your Child Isn’t Gaining Weight
Picky eating and slow weight gain can definitely feel scary and frustrating at times. While it’s not always a big concern, it never hurts to ask questions or request some additional help. You know your child best!
If you do have concerns about your child’s weight or eating habits, there are steps you can take to get answers and support.
Talk to Your Pediatrician
Your first stop should be your child’s doctor. They can review your child’s growth chart, ask about feeding patterns, and address any underlying concerns.
We recommend using an app or keeping a journal to track feedings, diaper changes, and any noticeable symptoms so you can take it to your child’s appointments. This information can make it easier to spot concerning health trends and lead to an accurate diagnosis.
Ask About an Early Intervention Referral
While picky eating and slower weight gain isn’t always a cause for concern, sometimes it can indicate bigger developmental issues. If your child is under age 3, you can request a free evaluation through your local Early Intervention (EI) program. No diagnosis or doctor’s referral is required in most states.
These programs offer support from professionals like nutritionists, occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists who specialize in infant and toddler development.
Support Your Child’s Growth With Confidence
Remember, many families and little ones go through eating and nutritional challenges. Making informed decisions and getting support early can make a big difference for your child’s health and development.
The experienced early childhood specialists at Penfield Children’s Center are here to help you every step of the way as you navigate the ups and downs. Check out these health and nutrition-focused resources to learn more about supporting good eating habits and routines for infants and toddlers.
