3 Things to Do When You’re Worried about Your Child Not Gaining Weight

Not every child grows at the same rate, of course, and growth charts may not tell the whole story. If you suspect that your child is not meeting normal growth curves for age and sex, or maybe you’ve noticed that they aren’t outgrowing their clothes/shoes as often, it may be a good time to check-in with your pediatrician or pediatric dietitian.  

On occasion, children may follow a slightly different pattern of growth than what we think of as “normal.” When a child has not been able to gain weight for several months in a row, they may also stop growing taller. Your child’s doctor or dietitian will assess your child’s growth charts and diet history with you to determine if any lack of weight gain is due to an underlying issue. If your child is having trouble gaining weight or is having difficulty consuming enough calories, talk to your pediatrician about your concerns to develop a plan forward. Depending on your child's health status or condition, your doctor may recommend additional tests or visits with other specialists. There's a possibility that your doctor might bring up concerns around malnutrition or failure to thrive, which they will be able to guide you toward next steps.  

Solving the problem sounds simple: Get your child to eat more! But odds are you’ve been at your wits end trying to do just that. Planning and help from your pediatrician or health care team will help you select meals and snacks to support better eating and higher calorie and nutrient intake for healthy growth and development.    

Here are three steps to take. 

1. Make an appointment with your child’s primary care physician or pediatrician. 

Share your concerns and questions with them and ask them to review your child’s growth charts alongside you. An evaluation of these charts may include age, overall health, medical background, the seriousness of symptoms, and your child's response to different medications and therapeutic approaches. This comprehensive evaluation will guide you toward the most suitable course of action. Afterwards, you may realize that there isn't an underlying issue to worry about!

2. Ask for a referral for a pediatric dietitian to find easy ways to add nutrient dense foods alongside calorie dense foods to your child’s diet.  

When dietary changes or prescriptions are appropriate, doctors may recommend you find ways to add calories to your child’s diet. “The needed calorie increase may be subtle: as little as a 5 to 10 percent increase of daily calories. That said, if a child requires catch-up growth, your doctor or dietitian may recommend 20 to 50 percent more calories per day from baseline,” says Vanessa Millovich, DCN, MS, RDN, CNSC, a registered dietitian with Kate Farms. 

3. Don’t immediately spring for any high-calorie food like chips or cookies.  

Having these one to two times a day can be helpful to add necessary calories. However, equally as important are the other nutrient-dense foods that contain good sources or protein, carbohydrate, fiber, healthy fats, and a balance of vitamins and minerals. Ultra-processed foods, like packaged chips, candy, cookies, and frozen meals are typically high in calories, but they can also have negative health effects. High-quality, calorie -dense foods can provide the concentrated energy needed. Depending on your child’s dietary restrictions, these foods include good sources of protein, may include avocado, yogurt, butter, oil, oats, hummus, nut and seed butter, and nutritional shakes.  Nutritional shakes and oral nutrition formulas may be a good addition as these are designed to provide the necessary nutrients in an effective dose.  

When to talk to your child's doctor or dietitian. 

Social and mental skills may be impacted by malnutrition and failure to thrive. And lack of nutrition can affect a child’s disposition and ability to focus or learn. Without a good quality diet to support growth, a child may also experience fatigue and irritability. Check with your doctor if you notice any of the indicators above. 

 We’re here to help. 

If you're concerned about your child not meeting their nutritional needs, discuss their nutrition options with a healthcare professional. If you’re considering using Kate Farms as supplemental nutrition to help your child consume more essential nutrients and would like to discuss options with your doctor, show them Kate Farms plant-based, high-quality shakes to see if they could be right for you.  

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