Tammie 03/30/2010
Question:
My DS is 4 1/2 years old and has always been small for his age, though he has hardly ever been sick a day in his life — he’s very healthy and active. But I have a hard time trying to get him to sit down to a meal. I'm currently trying healthy snack trays. My pediatrician says that even though he is in a very low percentile for his age, he is fine. We give him daily gummy vitamins, as well as Pediasure.
I'm also in WIC (the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children), and they say that he is too small and needs to see a dietician. It makes me nervous. He weighs 31.8 pounds and is 39.2 inches tall. As a health care professional, what do you think?
Dr. Deirdre Bernard-Pearl responds:
Encouraging children to eat family meals is a healthy goal for all of us. When families eat together (not while watching TV!), there are so many wonderful opportunities for conversation, role-modeling of slow and healthy eating, and decreasing stress related to meals. When a child can relax, he or she will usually eat better. If mealtimes at the table are fun and children are listened to, they will want to be there.
Seeing a dietician or nutritionist can be very helpful too. You may be told that his size and growth are fine — just as your pediatrician has said. But a visit to a specialist may give you some great tips about healthy cooking, food presentation and mealtimes.