Small Infant

[AnythingsPossible]

So I have a little in care that is small for their age. At last dr appointment, mom tells me that the dr told her to start putting butter in his vegetables to increase his calories. I have never heard such a thing in 14 years of childcare. Has anyone else? I believe there are healthier ways to increase his caloric intake rather then melting butter to put in his baby food.
I have concerns that mom wants the little one to chub up, as she adores the chubby babies.
What would you do? I don't want to go against what mom has asked, but don't feel it is a healthy option.

[Blackcat31]

I have a 3 yr old (he'll be 4 in Sept.) who barely scratches 20lbs. VERY active and completely normal in every other way except he is tiny...Mom told me Dr told her the same thing about the butter. Put it on toast, veggie, ad it anywhere you can. I had never heard this either...ever.

I didn't get a special diet statement slip so I opted to forego the butter and fill him up with good hearty foods instead..oatmeal, whole wheat pancakes, whole wheat pasta, mashed sweet potatoes etc. Mom can add all the butter she wants but I just don't feel right doing it without some more info (which I have never gotten so....)

[bice99]

Our girls are tiny. 9 year old finally made it to 50 pounds last month. 6 year old is 43. I still give them whole milk all of the time. They did the normal transition to 2% at 2, but when I opened my childcare and had to keep whole milk on hand, it was a pain to have 3 types of milk. They love whole milk.

[Country Kids]

Nothing surprises me anymore. My husbands Dr. told him to keep his cholesterol level down if he didn't want to take the meds is to drink 2 beers a night or two shots of everclear! We are none drinkers and have taught are children to be none drinkers, so we weren't even going to start the well is ok if Dr. says. I just see that as a disaster especially since the Dr. doesn't know how a person may handle the alcohol.

[nannyde]

age? please

[Jenjo]

I have two of my own children that were very small but the doctors usually just had me give them whole milk for longer and maybe add some instant carnation or pediasure to there diets. I did those things and now my kids won't drink plain milk. I have never heard of butter though.

[AnythingsPossible]

One year old, but was 4 weeks premature. Not starting whole milk until actual due date, so still on formula. Currently the size of your average 6 to 7 month old. Not walking but does pull to stand, and will stand un assisted for very short periods of time. Siblings are all average size, though oldest is on the heavy side.

[daycare]

my 3.5 yeal olf weights 22lbs. He is tiny. Not sure why hes so small.... Im tall my husband is tall and he was 8lbs at birth. The doc was not too concerned because he said that everything else is falling into place development wise.

He did say that we could give him pedia-sure, but never the mention of unhealthy food like butter.... That sounds crazy...

The doc even took him off of whole milk when he turned 2.

Unless this babies ribs are sticking out or mom comes with a note from the doc stating so, I would just fed the child as you normally do.

[SilverSabre25]

Yes, I have heard of this...from docs who don't like to see anyone making up the lower end of the percentiles. But, duh...someone's gotta be tiny, just like someone's gotta be huge. It's called "math" and a scary number of docs seem to get out of med school without even a basic grasp of it.

Okay, taking off my cynical hat (it's been that kind of a day...)

What are his stats, exactly? height and weight.

There are better ways to boost healthy fats than "add butter"--cooking things in olive oil, giving him avocados (mmm, avocado...), once he's old enough, nuts and nut butters...sunflower seed butter...whole milk, full fat yogurt, stuff like that.

I have even heard of doctors recommending giving small toddlers/babies/preschoolers ice cream every day, just to fatten them up !

[KEG123]

Yes, avocado!! Definitely put that in his food. YUM!

[PeanutsGalore]

Yes, I have heard of this...from docs who don't like to see anyone making up the lower end of the percentiles. But, duh...someone's gotta be tiny, just like someone's gotta be huge. It's called "math" and a scary number of docs seem to get out of med school without even a basic grasp of it.

Okay, taking off my cynical hat (it's been that kind of a day...)

What are his stats, exactly? height and weight.

There are better ways to boost healthy fats than "add butter"--cooking things in olive oil, giving him avocados (mmm, avocado...), once he's old enough, nuts and nut butters...sunflower seed butter...whole milk, full fat yogurt, stuff like that.

I have even heard of doctors recommending giving small toddlers/babies/preschoolers ice cream every day, just to fatten them up !

My son is a small one and once he started walking and eating, I was concerned that he didn't have enough reserves to live on if he ever got sick and wasn't taking in enough food to maintain his weight. I used coconut milk to fatten him up. I also packed as many calories into every meal as possible--bottles weren't just milk, but I added pureed veggies and fruit, and a little bit of coconut milk of course. Bananas are a good fruit; they pack a lot of calories. It was enough to keep him at his same percentile weight once he needed extra calories (10%). I wasn't trying to turn him into a chubster, which isn't natural for his frame, but just wanted to keep him from losing. Avocados are also a healthy fat. Believe it or not, they taste really good blended with bananas.

I'm a buttah-lover, but I wouldn't use that to fatten up my kid. It's butter, for crying out loud!

[meganlavonnesmommy]

My daughter's dr said the same thing, and more. But I never did.

She is 9, and just hit 50 pounds recently, and she is 90th percentile for
height, wears size 6x pants. She's super tall and skinny.

One Dr told me to put butter on everything, like when I make a PB sandwich, to put butter on both sides of the bread, then PB. All sorts of other unhealthy stuff too. I ignored him. I do still have her on whole milk tho, and she has usually one pedisure milk drink per day.

My husbands family is naturally tall and thin, its just how they are.