At what point do you worry about - your child's weight

lovemy2 wrote: Olivia is 5 1/2 and weighs all of 35 lbs......she eats and she actually eats pretty good - well I should say I don't let her eat junk - I think the big problem is - she doesn't really ever eat a "meal" - she eats every hour or so all day long - cheese sticks, yogurt, cereal, bagels and cream cheese, sandwiches, apples by the dozen....fruit cups - carrots and ranch dressing - chicken, hamburg, pasta galore - but she really never eats a meal - KWIM? I think the reason she stays so skinny is cause she sticks to the diet principles of eating small frequent meals but anyway - I have noticed that she has those dark bags around her eyes - and seriously her ribs show in the front and back - Ped says she is fine - she gains weight steadily - just not alot of weight - I think alot of it comes from when she was a baby - she never took more than 5 or maybe 6 ozs. of anything - formula, milk, etc. so I guess my question would be - would you worry?

My3LilMonkeys replied: As long as she's healthy and does eat, I wouldn't worry. Maybe she's one of the lucky ones who will never have to worry about her weight!

danahas4monkeys replied: She sounds just like my Lexi who is about the same age lol (when is Olivia's bday?) and is about 35lbs lol and is tall and thin lol! Her ped says not to worry that while she is a tiny girl she is consistently growing on the curve, she's on the lower side of normal but no need to worry he says. She eats like crazy but it goes in spurts but she is also very active! I just took her to the ped last month just to check her weight cause I was worried. He said she's fine!

luvmykids replied: My kids are major snackers too, I think as long as she gets the equivalant of what she would get if she ate three hefty meals she's getting enough to eat. Some of it is just that she is so active, and Kylie is the same way, she goes through phases where she's not just skinny, she's outright scrawny

3xsthefun replied: I think long as she is eating and healty is all that matters. Maegan is alittle over 4 years old and only weighs about 30 lbs. She is not a real big eater. She would rather snack also.

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied: The only part of your post that stuck out for me as far as worrying would be the dark bags under her eyes. The weight, not a big deal to me if she is eating. She just sounds really active, plus I think I was 50 or so pounds in like 5th grade and my doc had never mentioned a weight issue. But the dark bags, I would ask her doc if you should be giving her more iron or something. Maybe she is lacking a certain vitamin in her diet which is causing this. Or maybe it's just lack of sleep? Is she a good sleeper? Just a thought.

A&A'smommy replied: The dark bags could also be a sign of allergies.. I wouldn't really worry about her weight because she sounds healthy (she definitely eats better than alyssa who doesn't ever eat and when she does I have to really work on her to eat healthy).

Anthony275 replied: i know a lot of people with bags under their eyes from when they were in 1st grade and they still have them..

Sam & Abby's Mom replied:
Yep - Sammy has allergies and it was the dark circles under his eyes that prompted our pediatrician to look into him having allergies.

kit_kats_mom replied: K is just now hitting 35 lbs and she turned 5 in Sept. I wouldn't worry. She also has the dark bags and does have some environmental allergies but not a ton.

lovemy2 replied: So if she had allergies to something wouldn't she have some symptoms - or are the dark circles under her eyes the symptoms? I have them too - could it be genetic? I have some seasonal allergies but nothing major - she is a great sleeper - always has been - I'm a Nazi I don't think its lack of sleep - but I do wonder about the lack of a vitamin thing - she hasn't always had these dark circles......

Now if Mommy could only catch on to those principles of dieting - small frequent meals

lisar replied: Lexi is TALL and SKINNY. I mean SKINNY!!!!! I was just like that when I was kid. As long as she is heathly and the dr doesnt think anything of it then I wouldnt worry so much about it. We tried everything when I was little to make me gain weight. Ensure etc....... Nothing worked. I was very active and just burned those calories quicker than they could put them in me. And yes as I got older it is starting to catch up with me.

I never broke 100 pounds until I was pg with my first daughter. I was tiny. And I wish I still was.

sparkys2boys replied:
This is exactly what I thoght to when I read the post. Dark circles under the eyes is a sign of a breathing problem such as asthma or allergies to. I would maybe look into that a little more.

lovemy2 replied:
Hmm - really - but if it was a breathing problem is that all that would show up is dark circles under her eyes? I will have to call her Ped and take her in I think - she isn't due for her yearly physical until June....

BAC'sMom replied: As long as she is eating and healthy I would worry about it. MY DD is tiny! I used to worry about it especially when people made a big deal about it. Now I have come to the conclusion that she is just going to be petite. She weighs about 40 pounds and is 8 years old!

All my children get dark circles right before their allergies are going to act up. You might want to check into that.

sparkys2boys replied:
It may not be a breathing problem thouigh it just may be allergies. I would just ask about it when you are there.

lisar replied:
Lexi carries the dark circles under her eyes. She was diagnosed with Hay fever which is what causes them. (in her) She takes a nasal spray every night and no more dark circles and her nose doesnt run all the time now.

coasterqueen replied: My response - I'm a mother.....therefore I'm going to worry no matter what. Gosh, I used to worry that Kylie was getting too fat because she was always off the charts. Now I worry about Megan who is barely on the charts. Now that she's slowly gaining more weight and the doc isn't concerned anymore - I'M STILL CONCERNED. I probably always will be. To me it freaks me out to see a child with their spine clearly visible in their back -- Megan's is like that.

I mean, I could tell you not to worry, there is probably nothing to worry about -- honestly but are you going to worry anyways? Probably. I know I do.

lovemy2 replied:
Yep - and sometimes her spine and ribs shows more than others like right now - it usually corresponds with her pants getting to short - when we had the puke bug I freaked when she got it - she has not an oz. to lose.....but the bags under her eyes weren't always there so that is what worries me - so I will take her in - just to be sure...

Boo&BugsMom replied:
I was going to say the same thing. Red ears are also a sign of allergies.

I wouldn't worry about her weight though. Sounds just like me when I was younger. Now...not so much.