In a message dated 2/9/2004 6:12:43 PM Eastern Standard Time, [log in to unmask] writes:

> A mom contacted me today with a 13 mo with severe food allergies, BUT is
> thankfully still BF 3-4 times during the day and then sleeps in the
> family bed and BF during the night several times...
> Child only gained 1# between 9 month and 12 month check up, came back at
> 13 mo and had LOST 6 oz.  He is "eager to eat", as per mom.  Eats beans
> (kidney beans, black beans), fruit, avocado, veg, olive oil added to lots
> of things for calories, turkey, bison (buffalo).  Brother allergic to
> corn, so reluctant to try anything with corn syrup.  What can she add to
> his diet to add calories?
>
> Are there are refs she can use to continue BF? (she has no doubt herself,
> but wants to be armed if specialists want her to wean, very savvy mom)
>

Why would/do specialists make this non-BF-related issue into one? (I'll never figure this out and I'm going to try to be optimistic that this won't become that kind of situation.) Sounds as if baby gained fine during earlier infancy when on mom's milk alone. My first suggestion is that she develop a sound byte to remind (broken record if needed) that this is not a BF issue. Then I'd remind them how well he's doing with other acceptable foods.

Was there any variation in how he was weighed last time re: 6 oz loss -- was the scale the same, did he dress/undress the same, etc.? Had he been ill at any time between the last two weights?

How's his development beyond his weight? Is he WNL for age?

Is he a candidate for a consultation with a RD/LD specializing in pediatrics, e.g re: a "feeding team" at a children's hospital?

Is there any premature panicking when his weight just needs to be monitored over the next several months?

Sheesh, there's so many obese kids in our culture, but then there's often a perceived/real sense of panic conveyed to parents when their child doesn't gain X amount in some proscribed time period -- even when said child is eating well and developing on par or better. Another example of how too often the culture is reading the book rather than the toddler.

Karen G

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