Absorbing Nutrients/calories from Food

I have 4 children and my oldest (who is now 14) was always in the 10% for weight or less. I worried about the same exact thing when he was younger. He was always tiny. Now he is just a typical teenager. But my other 3 were much bigger. Even my other daughter who is tiny too was in the 25% and my youngest son was 98%. Nothing was ever wrong with my son, just small... Good luck!

I believe that that is perfectly normal - my baby did the same thing. I think that they say that it is due to a still-developing digestive system. As to food absorption I have no idea, but perhaps a good mix of whole and pureed foods would do the trick. Our baby ate "baby food" puree for a long time after his first birthday, and it didn't hurt him! Blessings!

I seriously doubt he's getting much from the food...our bowel movements sure look different from what goes in our mouths!
Has he had antibiotics that might have wiped out bacteria that help him digest foods? I guess if he is not suffering discomfort (bowel) that would be a good thing, but I'd get a second opinion on the solids...you don't want to irriate your child's intestines...it may cause problems later.

I fyou are worried about nutients, I would suggest getting Reliv Now for children or Shaklee children's powdered vitamins. Both of these companies have scientific studies to back up the value of the nutrients. Both companies do independent testing of all of the ingredients to make sure it meets the highest QA and contains no harmeful additives. Reliv makes the products themselves.

Hi C..
Depending on the type of food, my baby does the same thing. He's teething, too, so he's pretty ginger about "gumming" some foods and getting them down to a digestable size.

Mine does better with softer foods cut into thin slivers or teeny chunks, and "mashing" foods is still a good step up from pureed. A friend of mine also has good things to say about her hand-held food-grinder.

Also, foods that are baked or steamed hold on to a lot more of their nutritional value than boiled foods.

Signs of 'adequate' nutrition (among others) are: appropriate weight-gain and body growth, healthy looking fingernails, healthy gums, hitting develomental milestones, etc. As long as your Ped. and baby-boy are both happy, relax :)

Avoid sales gimmics. {{wink}}
T

if the food is coming out looking the same as it went in then the baby's body isn't digesting it nor getting the nutrients from it very well - it's best to puree harder foods (carrots, apples) and feed softer foods whole (beans, peices of bananas or peaches or plums) - make sure you don't give too many dairy products as they form a mucoid barrier which will harden into a plaque in the intestines and will keep nutrients from absorbing properly as well - lots of fiber (Cheerios, healthy crackers) is good and the little bit of crunchiness will make the baby learn to chew

Hi C. -

Many children have trouble learning how to "chew" when they go from pureed foods to chopped/whole foods. Make it a game for him. Teach him early to count how many times he is chewing his food - ideally - 15 chews for each mouthful. If you are still concerned that he is getting his nutrients, consider adding Spirulina or Chlorella to his foods. These are high density whole foods and have a wide range of vitamins and nutrients in them. As they come in powdered form, they are easily assimilated.

Blessings,

M. M. Ernsberger
Certified Clinical Herbalist

Even though I've seen peas and corn in her diapers before, I was recently surprised when my almost 2 year old passed a whole baby carrot (note: it was soft-cooked):). Yuck! But, it's very normal to find seemingly undigested food in toddler stools. Toddlers often don't have enough teeth to really chew well, and even when they do have the teeth, like my little one, sometimes they would just rather not use them. Additionally, their digestive systems are immature, so the food moves through them quickly and doesn't always get broken down completely. Just feed him a good variety of healthy foods, and he should get what he needs, even if you do find the oddball carrot or pea in his diaper. I personally would include various textures, from purees and yogurts to finger foods, for him to become accustomed to. But, as long as he is thriving, growing, and active you can rest assured that he is getting what he needs.

Dear C.

Make sure your baby is chewing the food... Chewing is very important in the process of digestion....

Farid R.,DC
____@____.com

If he is not chewing foods, they are not being thoroughly digested. If he is not chewing foods, in my humble opinion, I would wonder if he is ready for "whole food". How many teeth does he have? Teeth are more of an indicator if he is ready for food than his age, in my opinion.

C.,
I am so glad that you care enough about your little guys health and are asking these kinds of questions!
I am a mother of 4 and have given my children vitamins since they were done breast feeding.
Now that my kids are in school I took some time to research diet and nutrician. What I have found it that our food isn't what it used to be. When we cook our food it loses nutrician. When our food sits on trucks and in stores for months it loses nutrician. Our soils are depleted and the FDA only requires farmers to replenish some but not all of the vits and minerals!
So, unless we grow organic enriched vegtables and fruits and only eat raw, our food isn't providing us what our bodies need!
We need to suppliment.
I have found a wonderful suppliment for children and add it to their juice, water and or smoothie....it is from Arbonne. I would love to send you a sample. Arbonne's vitamins are worth 23 fruits and veggies! Tastes like a strawberry fruit punch.

To you and your family's health,
T.
www.tesabartell.myarbonne.com

ps I give nutrician talks and would love to invite you :)

Some nutrients are absorbed as food, whether whole or chewed up, passes through the digestive system. It is correct that a toddler's digestive system is not fully developed, and that, along with not chewing fully, is why you see big pieces of food in their stool. Rest assured your son is getting nutrients from his food. Just keep feeding him a good variety of healthy food. Also, things like corn, kidney beans, and raisins are hard to break down and will often appear whole in toddler's stool.