Worried About My Youngest Son

Honestly? If the doctor says he's healthy, then just keep doing what you're doing! He may be on the smaller side, but that's just the way he was made :) Don't go making a big deal out of this or you may give him a complex about his size. Does HE seem concerned that he's smaller than his peers? If not, then just leave it be.

Let him be why are mom's so worried on the size of their child he isn't obese the Dr said he is fine he has no health issues.I wouldn't be concerned at the least.My kids take after their dad(GENETICS) in height they have very little fat on them just enough to even them out but height is my goodness they are tall, born tall they aren't obese or have any other health issues they are happy & healthy I cook most of time they eat a variety of fruits & veggies their diets are fair some sweets here & there sometimes over indulge but not daily they are active with TV here & there.My kids at age 3-4 are were out of toddler clothes the fits on them weren't long enough they had to go in to xs then small 4-5 now son is in 1 st grade he wears a meduim comfortably some on the big side but any size lower they are high waters on him long sleeves go above his wrists.
Putting weight on a child will only cause issues later what if his body doesn't handle it very well & he takes off to be obese even eating healthy you will gain weight..He is 4 yrs old let him be a healthy child not thinknig that there is something wrong with him by making him gain weight a child will think of it differently..

If your son is smaller than the other kids becasue the other kids are unhealthy, they why worry about it at all? Is your doctor concerned? Some kids are small, some kids are big, and someone has to be the smallest and someone is the biggest. If he is in the normal range, don't sweat it. The smallest kid I know eats only processed foods and sweets, that might not work on him anyway, maybe he is just small.

M.

Sounds like he is eating healthy, which is great! Put his food on a larger plate and increase his portions. A little at a time.

Leucine (amino acid) is great for muscle which can help him grow. I have a banana flavor protein powder that is great for bulking up. There are no chemicals, steriods etc. Just a great healthy/natural protein product.

A suggestion, with regards to sweets, give him a little. Once he starts going to friends houses (not all parents are as smart as you) he may gorge on sweets, because he doesn't have them at home.

Where does he fall on the growth charts? Even if he's in the 50 percentiles, that means exactly half are bigger than him and exactly half are smaller. My kids always wore the size equivalent to their age (4T at age 4, etc). That's kind of how the sizes were created, although simply as a guide, not a firm and hard rule, so many kids do NOT grow at that same range. However, even though my kids always wore the size matching up with their age, they were always on the larger size. My daughter consistently hit in the 95-97th percentile and my son was always around the 75th. So, if your child is 4 and wearing a 4T, I'd say he sounds perfectly normal. And to back that up, your doctor said he was fine.

Now, your doctor sounded a bit off and judgemental. I can tell you that I run my own mom's group of anywhere from 50-100 moms at any given time, have belonged to other mom's groups, I was on the board for 3 years at my son's preschool, was room mom in my daughter's class, and I lead my daughter's Brownie troop...so I'm meeting lots and lots of moms. I can assure you that the vast majority of them do not raise their kids on a diet of junk food and sweets. I cannot believe he told you that. I'm sure some parents do (we clearly have a problem with childhood obesity, but it's obviously not MOST kids). I'd consider looking around for another doctor.

I wouldn't worry at all about him. Often times, people forget that in order to create a scale of height/weight for children, we need to have children on all ends of that scale (some will be bigger, some will be smaller).

I think it's GREAT that you keep sweets and processed food away from your son. I am the same way with my kids. I will allow my daughter to have a treat now and then but I try to buy things like organic suckers from Trader Joes so that if she's getting sugar, at least it's truly sugar and not some chemical-based sweetner. I'm often shocked when I see what some of the parents of other children in my kids' daycare classes pack for lunches (doritos, cheetos, cookies, etc, and very few fruits or veggies). Even with all the stats on obesity in children, etc, some parents still don't get it.

I would absolutely not worry about your son's size (especially since the doctor is not concerned). Just be happy and content to know that you are doing him a favor by teaching him healthy eating as a child so that it comes naturally when he's an adult. I have a horrible sweet tooth myself so it's a constant struggle to continue to eat healthy. I'm hoping my daughter will not face the same thing and that when she's looking for something to snack on, she'll naturally reach for a piece of fruit or some carrot sticks :)

You cannot make him bigger than he genetically is.
And, many times, a child shoots up in size/height, later.

My friend's son, is real small/short... but he's perfectly fine and healthy. He's not lacking in anything nor friends or social life or ability.
He is just that size.

Putting on weight on a child, who is perfectly fine and healthy, is not the way to go. A kid eats, when they are hungry... and eating healthy is good.
Your kid does not eat junk. That is good.

He is fine. Your Doctor thinks he is fine.
Its okay.

all the best,
Susan

I wouldn't think that processed foods would have any effect on height. I would think only weight would be affected by the excess calories in these foods. As long as you are hitting the caloric goals for his age and he is getting all nutrients (which it sounds like he is) I wouldn't worry about diet as a cause. It is probably genetic. He will have growth spurts I am sure-they happen at all different times. The thing I wouldn't do is let anyone call attention to it or speak in front of him about it to anyone. Since there is nothing you can do about it you don't want him self concious. Also-you don't say what percentile he is-b/c wearing a 4 at age 4 is pretty normal if I remember correctly.

I don't think you should worry. My son is taller than the average 4yr old and I could say he is big, but every child is different. Yours sound normal and if your doc doesn't see a problem, don't worry too much. Your doc was saying your child is healthy because he doesn't eat all the junk processed food the others do. If he is not from a dwarfism genetics, then he will grow in time!

I think your over reacting and I would just leave things be.

B.,

I have to echo many of the responses from other moms, your son most likely is just fine. But, if his growth stays slow and he starts to look malnourished, you might want to have him tested for Celiac's Disease and / or a gluten intolerance.

Celiac's Disease is a disorder in which the chemical gluten - found in wheat, rye, spelt, etc.- attacks the lining of the intestines and makes it difficult for the body to process and then absorb the nutrients needed for the body to work properly. Many of the needed nutrients that are not absorbed properly by the intestines are instead passed through the body causing the patient to become malnourished.

Taking the patient off of all gluten products usually solves the problem over time, but parents need to educate themselves about hidden sources of gluten. Many food companies use gluten in the processing of food, but gluten is not listed in the ingredients because it isn't an ingredient. Case in point - some jelly bean products - food companies sometimes use flour to coat the molds so the beans will pop out easier, but the flour is not an ingredient, just a processing agent. This small amount of gluten coating the candy can be poison to someone who is allergic or intolerant. Another source of hidden gluten can be childrens chewable vitamins.

I'm just providing a bit of information should your son continue to grow slowly. Most likely he is just the right size for his age and his classmates are larger than a healthy child should be. Take a look at some of your elementary class pictures - many of the children look so skinny, but we were all very healthy back then. Our food culture has changed so much and the bodies of children have changed along with all of the nasty fillers in processed foods.

I wouldn't worry too much. My son is very skinny and short too, but both my father and husband were short and skinny as children. My son also has a gluten intolerance, but has been off gluten for over a year. He is healthy and happy even if he is smaller than most of the kids in his class.

C. J.

relax it sounds like your child is healthy. children grow at different times. how tall or short isn't as important as how healthy a child is. you are doing a great job

As long as you stay away from things you know aren't healthy...or restrict them any how, then you should stop fretting. Be thankful that your child is not over weight and unhealthy. He does not need to gain weight unless the doc says so. My children are all very slim...because I don't make food an issue around here. I never make them eat when they are not hungry, I offer good choices and when there is a treat I don't make an issue I just let my child enjoy it with the other kids. They have candy from trick or treating and I let them have a little every day until it's gone. No big speeches about how bad candy is for you.

4 is a very young age and I am sure your doctor would tell you if there was a medical concern. At 4 a child will not purposely starve themselves. Try to relax.

Just remember we all come in different shapes and sizes. My kids are both on the smaller side. I get so tired of the "he sure is smaller" or "what a peanut" comments. They are pretty much in clothes that are the same size as their age, and always have been. No need to worry, there isnt anything that can change it and he will just sense your worry. He will probably hit a growth spurt at some point anyways. If he isnt concerned, then you shouldnt be either.

I can completely understand where you're coming from....every time I see my son with kids his own age, I quickly recognize that he's much shorter AND not nearly as "filled out" as they are. My son is five (about to be six in February) and he can still fit 3T pajamas and 4T blue jeans. He eats constantly, but never really seems to gain weight. I checked with his pediatrician about it (because I was THAT concerned--and yep, I'm THAT mom LOL) and she indicated that he likely just has a very high metabolism. She also asked about his eating habits vs his activity levels. He eats pretty normally, though he's not a big meat eater. However, he's not a "sit in front of the TV/Computer" kinda kid. He's ALWAYS on the move, whether indoors or outside. My pediatrician said much the same as yours did.....so many kids these days are SO inactive that they LOOK much larger because of it. So maybe take just take comfort in the fact that because your son eats relatively healthy and stays active, he's more "on target" in his growth that you suspect.

Hi B.---If he is eating a healthy diet and a broad range of different kinds of foods, he is fine. His height and weight will be what it is supposed to be. Kids still have the inborn ability to stop eating when they are full. The instinctively know what is right for them in terms of calories. An optimal diets consists of mostly plants; fresh fruits, veggies, whole grains, legumes/beans, nuts and seeds. Minimize animal protein, and that includes milk, as those contain mostly saturated fat and calories, and too much animal protein is known to be a risk factor for degenerative disease. Please explore www.pcrm.org, enter dairy into the search box, and read The China Study by T Colin Campbell, www.chinastudy.com.

I am taking a series of wellness classes taught by a Naturopath who has her PhD in Nutrition. My passion is sharing the benefits of a plant based diet for optimal health and disease prevention. I have a couple of great charts that show how many servings are appropriate for children of different ages. I'd be happy to share those with you if you'd like.

You are right to avoid processed foods. They do not contain the nutrients needed for the body to be able to fight disease. Yes, they are ususally fortified, but nutrients from fortification DO NOT have the same effect in the body as do those from fresh fruits and veggies. Those are not so much food as they are food products. Sweets, or any treat for that matter, can be part of a healthy diet, but they need to be recongized as just that, treats. I can not have them in the house. If I do, they call my name from the kitchen and I am weak and all to ready to answer that call.

Just look at you and your husband's families. It will be very apparent on how big your kids will be...and as others have suggested, growth spurts happen differently for different people. If I can be of any additional help, please feel free to call. I have all kinds of great info that I am most happy to share. Be well, D.

PS. Through the unfortunate need for autopsies on little ones, they have found plaque deposits in kids as young as 2. A mother's diet has an impact on a baby even before it is born. If a 12 yr old complains of chest pain, you'd better take him to the ER as, yest, kids today are getting old people's diseases at younger and younger ages. It IS a shame...and I'm not here to blame anyone. It's just they way the standard american diet is today...we don't know what we don't know. I read an article once that stated food manufacturers produce about 3500 calories of food each day for every single American. That is why it is my mission to share the dangers of processed foods. So sorry about the soapbox...but it is that important to get the word out.

My son was always on the small side, too. If the doc says he's OK, I would let it go. Kids (unlike adults!) know when they are hungry and know when they are full. I never made my son feel like he had to enter the "Clean Plate Club." Feed him healthy, non-processed foods and let him be. In between my son's 6 and 7 yo well child checks, he grew 3.5 inches! You never know when a growth spurt will hit. Now he's taller than or as tall as most of the kids in his grade. Healthy is more important than "size" and there's really nothing you can do to force the issue. Genetics also play a role. Neither my husband nor I are very tall so he probably won't be either.

My son has always been smaller than his friends - from Pre-K to now in 9th grade. In fact, his best friend is almost a foot taller than him. It used to bother him but since I am not tall and his father is average height he is never going to be 6 foot tall. LOL His legs are longer proportionally than his waist is around so he is always in pants one size too big to meet the length.

As long as your son's height and weight are in proportion to each other he is fine. Look at your and his father's family....are they super tall, average, thin, heavy...that genetic background will help you see his size in "relation" to his family.

Please be careful about making comments in front of your son about his being "too small" or "too skinny" - if he his healthy and happy that is all that matters.

As to putting weight on a 4 year old - just encourage him to eat more of the healthy foods that you already feed him. My son did go through a phase in 3rd grade were he wanted to gain weight so he added Carnation Instant Breakfast to his milk with his breakfast and dinner. Um, it didn't work. :)

Avocados and cheese.