Because we had some serious concerns about Buster not getting enough/the right nutrition since he's started eating solid foods and no purees, we went for an appointment with a Registered Dietitian. We found a great one with the help of Buster's GI doctor and she specializes in pediatric patients. I fully expected to be read the riot act. As it turns out, we're doing a decent job of getting food into the kid! Let's hear it for obsessive parenting!!!! YEAH, I'M A HELICOPTER...I ADMIT IT.
We had to keep a food diary for three days prior to our appointment. On paper, it REALLY felt like it wasn't enough food. I've read a number of articles on the subject and knew that for his size, Buster should probably be eating around 1,100 calories a day. I do try to keep track and we're usually in the ball park but never really exceeding expectations.
I was very curious to see his weight. I do weigh him at home but I'm always suspicious of my bathroom scale. Why I think it weighs me too heavy and him to light, I can't explain, I just do. But I digress...he weighed in at a whopping 26.7 pounds. He's been sitting in that neighborhood for awhile but I was happy to know he isn't losing. He's between the 5th & 10th percentile for weight and around the 25th for height. If he were calculated at his "adjusted age" he's a little higher on the charts. Long story short, he's on the chart and he's not "failing to thrive". WOOOHOOO!
So, my questions were basically this:
Am I a horrible parent and is my child lacking important nutrients? Am I causing him harm?
Answer: No, no and no.
WOOOOHOOOO AGAIN!
What do I need to do differently?
Answer: Nothing but I have some tips to help him gain weight.
REALLY?!
Am I a total neurotic freak?
Answer: Yes.
Okay, I didn't really ask this last one but let's be honest...I am.
She was very kind and full of good information. It was ABSOLUTELY worth the trip and she had some wonderful information. I wanted some sort of guideline for this sweet faced, curly blonde haired little boy. What do I need to make sure he's eating? How can I get him to gain some weight?
Buster is on a high calorie, high protein diet. Which means, basically what we were already doing. Full fat everything. Butter and oils? Bring 'em on! Cream? Throw it in there! The first thing to pay attention to on any food label is calories. Yes, without a doubt making sure he's getting enough essential vitamins and minerals out of his foods is IMPORTANT but if he's not getting enough calories into his body he's never going to gain weight. So, if he wants a cookie, he gets a cookie. (Oh how I wish this were my diet too.) We're keeping his morning Pediasure bottle though someday when he's more willing to eat real food first thing the morning, a big stack of pancakes would be great for him. He drinks whole milk after his nap. We're now adding about 90 calories worth of cream or dry powdered milk into that cup of milk to bump up the calories. He likes eating vegetables but they are low in calories and fat. So, I'm putting butter on everything.
The goal is to get 1300 calories into him a day. We weren't terribly far from that so we just need to add a few things to what he's already eating as opposed to adding more volume. He's not ready for more volume. So, butter on the vegetables and anything else we can possibly get it in. Cream cheese in the mac & cheese. Duocal in anything we can dissolve it in...yogurt, applesauce, whatever. This is a new product for us but I've been using the samples we were given and it's really easy to order either online or through your pharmacy. No prescription. I just called up our Walgreens and I should have a case of it in the next week.
Three meals a day plus two snacks. We are not good at getting a snack in between breakfast and lunch. He has NO interest. So, we will work on it. In the meantime, I just have to make sure we get the calories in the other meals/snack.
In order to continue our never ending pursuit of moving up the growth chart, he should be gaining about 1/2 a pound a month. That's a little more than is recommended for a child his age of normal size.
Below are some of the information sheets we were given. I think they have some great information.
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