Growth and Nutrition Archive Questions

Below are Growth and Nutrition Experts’s answers to Growth and Nutrition questions
received through the Ask the Expert feature.

This content is provided for informational purposes only, and is not intended
to be a substitute for individual medical advice in diagnosing or treating a
health problem. Please consult with your physician about your specific health
care concerns.



Now displaying records 1 to 14 of 14.

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Q : 1 07/14/2010	Some menu ideas for a finicky 3-year-old child? Most toddlers grow out of finickiness. Be sure to keep mealtimes pleasant without excessive pressure or stress. A few suggestions: 1. Eat with your child so she can model from you. 2. Stay with a regular routine so child is used to mealtimes and does not get excessively hungry. 3. Give "interesting" foods the child can feed herself (grilled cheese sandwiches cut into shapes). 4. Praise the child for what she eats. 5. Keep meal to 20-30 min. 6. If she does not eat, end the meal and do not stress. Stay positive. Offer the next meal in about 2 hours. 7. Involve child in preparing the meal (mixing, putting napkins on the table, etc.). Do not inadvertently "reward" the child for finickiness by giving lots of attention for not eating and giving extra snacks after the uneaten meal.
Q : 2 05/31/2010	Why is it not recommended to feed babies honey? Babies under one year of age should not be given honey because honey can carry C. botulinum spores. Babies' immune systems are not well enough developed to tolerate botulism. Although infant botulism is rarely fatal, there are many very serious possible effects, including flacid paralysis. Babies should not be given honey in any form.
Q : 3 05/11/2010	Can my baby feel or get any symptoms from me being upset, angry or depressed while I'm breastfeeding? With changing hormone levels, lack of sleep, and adjustment to the demands of early parenting, many women experience stressful emotions following child birth. Some strategies to help with these feelings include: · Avoid stressful encounters (e.g., limit contact with people or situations where you feel anxious or under pressure). · Connect with other new mothers (e.g., friends or parenting groups). · Focus on the most necessary priorities (e.g., caring for yourself and your baby). · Look at problems in new ways (e.g., try to let go of impossible situations or look for alternative solutions). · Recruit help ( e.g., ask family members to take on household duties, look for easy meals, ask a trusted person to watch the baby while you attend to issues you need to resolve). · Find time to care for yourself ( e.g., sleep when your baby naps, build routines for eating healthy meals on a regular schedule and getting physical activity). Sometimes, stress, depression, and anxiety may continue despite these efforts. If this is the case, help from a therapist is warranted. Babies are very sensitive to their mother's emotions. Ongoing exposure to maternal stress, depression, or anxiety can result in the infant having difficulty with their own emotional and behavioral regulation. The good news is that therapy and social support can be very effective in helping mothers adjust to this new phase in life.
Q : 4 04/24/2010	How can I help my baby fall asleep better and what are the best foods for a child under 2 years? Children vary in the amount of time it takes to fall asleep as well as duration of sleep. Strategies to make bedtime easier include setting up a bedtime routine that is predictable and calming. Examples include dimming the lights, talking quietly and engaging in calm activities like reading, singing, or bath time, followed by putting your child down to sleep when they are drowsy, but awake. For specific guidelines on nutrition, developmental expectations, and behavioral issues, the American Academy of Pediatrics has developed a new website which you may find helpful: http://www.healthychildren.org/english/ages-stages/Pages/. Similarly, children's nutritional demands vary based on their age, so knowing whether the child is an infant or toddler is key in developing an appropriate diet. The American Dietetic Association provides dietary guidelines for infants and toddlers at http://www.eatright.org/Public/content.aspx?id=5529.
Q : 5 04/10/2010	My 2 1/2 month old daughter used to drink 6oz of formula when she wasn't receiving breast milk, and 4 to 5oz when she was. Now the baby is only drinking 2 to 3oz and is much sleepier. Is this normal? Why the change in feeding habit? Congratulations on your choice to breastfeed. If your infant is relatively content after nursing and is having wet and dirty diapers, she is likely getting enough to eat. Babies vary the frequency and duration with which they nurse around growth spurts, developmental progress, and at certain ages. As they get older, babies change their feedings by becoming faster/more efficient at nursing and lengthening the time between feeds. Around 3 months of age, the frequency of breastfeeding changes. During this time, the mother's production responds to demand and the frequency of breastfeeding, keeping pace with the baby's appetite and caloric needs. If a baby is provided a bottle rather than breastfed, and the mother does not pump at that time, milk production will decrease. Sleepiness also varies with age and developmental progress. However, if your child's sleepiness persists or if you have other concerns, it is best to discuss with your pediatrician. Your pediatrician should see your baby to ensure normal growth and progress on the growth chart.
Q : 6 03/09/2010	Does it matter if an infant begins to walk before they ever crawl? Crawling is not a necessary precursor to walking. Many babies do not crawl, especially now with the Back-To-Sleep Campaign to prevent SIDS, babies sleep on their back, and often spend very little time on their stomach. However, many babies do crawl. There are many individual differences in children's development that are well within normal expectations. If you have questions about your child's development, it is best to check with your pediatrician.
Q : 7 02/24/2010	At what age should a child be able to propel a swing by using their legs? There is variability in the time at which children meet developmental milestones. For more detailed information on child development, you can visit the American Academy of Pediatrics website at http://www.aap.org/.
Q : 8 01/19/2010	My concern is my son's growth. He's now 16 years old (will be 17 this March)and 5'2" in height. I'm his Father and I have always been small at only 5'4", but his mom is 43 years old and 5'6". I was reading this article in the Reader's Digest where a parent was concerned about her son's size and discovered from her Doctor that the son's pituitary gland did not produce enough hormones to allow him to grow at a normal rate. My son's cousins are a couple of years younger than him and they are at least 5'6" or 5'7". I'm wondering if I should have my son's pituitary gland checked out? There are many factors that determine final height. These include the age at which puberty starts, height of parents, nutrition, and medical problems. This young man is genetically likely to reach 5 foot, 7 inches. However, we do not know about the other factors which may alter this. Problems with the pituitary gland are unlikely if his rate of growth has been normal all along. Your son's doctor is best able to assist with your question. The doctor will use charts showing your son's growth over many years, as well as information obtained from physical exam.
Q : 9 01/11/2010	If the mother can't keep food down the first 3 months, will this effect the growth of the baby and the gestational age of the baby via sonogram? Frequent vomiting and nausea is common in pregnancy. Mothers usually have minimal, if any, weight gain in the first trimester when the fetus if forming. As long as a pregnant woman's weight gain is adequate in the second and third trimesters, vomiting early on is generally of no consequence.
Q : 10 01/02/2010	My baby's head circumference is 44 1/2 cm at 10 months.The health visitor says this is too small. My baby seems well and responds to us and his older brother (3yrs) with laughs and chatter although he just about crawls in a fashion and doesn't attempt to pull himself up on the furniture yet. What is the reason for a small head please and what can be done? Your child's head measurement plots out between the 10th and 25th centiles on the U.S. standard growth chart for boys under 3 years of age. On the WHO charts,the growth is similar. This means that your baby's head may be perfectly normal. What is more important is how the head is growing over time. A head that is growing slower than usual can occur for many reasons. Sometimes, the bones of the skull can fuse sooner than usual. As long as your child is achieving normal developmental milestones, there may be no problem at all. A health provider will be able to give you more information by an examination of the head and a review of the growth chart.
Q : 11 12/07/2009	I am the mother of an almost three year old. I'm searching online trying to gain insight as to whom I might turn to for a national expert on pediatric gastric issues/failure to thrive. I see a specialist locally and they are now at a loss with the lack of growth (22lbs)and many efforts and every test imaginable done over his young years -- this all began with reflux. Do you know of the best way to go about finding information or an individual that might be worth researching? I'd like a consult or just the ability to read what others do in these situations. We're in a real time sensitive situation now. Thanks. Weve compiled a list of a couple of resources near you that you may find to be helpful. --Miami Childrens Hospital outpatient feeding program. Miami, FL. 305-666-6511 ext. 2975. --Stacy Carmichael, Ph.D. Clearwater, FL. 727-725-8820. www.CentralFloridaPsychologist.com. --The Marcus Institute Pediatric Feeding Disorders Program offers several levels of therapy for feeding issues, outlined on their website at http://www.marcus.org/default.aspx?id=37. Atlanta, GA. 404-785-9437. --All Childrens Hospital, Happy Mealtimes hospital-based feeding program. St. Petersburg, FL. 1-800-456-4543 / 727-767-4141.
Q : 12 12/01/2009	Does my diabetic condition have anything to do with my child's poor growth? She is 7.73 Kg at 11 months. The answer depends on what happened in-utero and at birth. Most babies born to mothers with diabetes are large at birth, although they will achieve growth in the normal ranges. However, some babies born to diabetic mothers with poor sugar control may be very small at birth, and have difficulty catching up. Your baby's weight-for-age is at approximately the 5th percentile, meaning that of 100 babies born the same day, 95 would weigh more than your baby and 5 would weigh less. However, your baby's growth can not be evaluated without more information, including birth weight, gestational age, current length, and health history. Your pediatrician can help determine the next course of action. There are also interdisciplinary specialty clinics, such as the Growth and Nutrition Clinic, for babies with poor growth.
Q : 13 11/23/2009	Why shouldn't we give too much carrots to infants after six months of age in their vegetable soup, apart from carotinaemia? Is it related to its phosphate content? The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Dietetic Association have a wealth of information on infant nutrition. "The primary concern is with home-prepared infant food in areas using well water. Because the intake of naturally occurring nitrates from foods such as green beans, carrots, squash, spinach, and beets can be as high as or higher than that from well water, these foods should be avoided before 3 months of age. Infants fed commercially prepared infant foods generally are not at risk of nitrate poisoning. However, home-prepared infant foods from vegetables (eg, spinach, beets, green beans, squash, carrots) should be avoided until infants are 3 months or older, although there is no nutritional indication to add complementary foods to the diet of the healthy term infant before 4 to 6 months of age." American Academy of Pediatrics - Nitrate Statement The following website warns about giving 6-12 month old babies raw carrots due to possible choking. http://www.aap.org/family/6to12mo.htm
Q : 14 11/05/2009	My son just turned 2, he is 32 inches and 23 lbs. From the begining his height and weight has increased very slowly, but just over the limits to draw a red flag. Mentally, he is developing perfectly and is a happy kid. Recently he was diagnosed with Morning Glory Syndrome in one eye (his vision doesn't seem to be impaired) but I have heard this syndrome to be linked with slow growth. His MRI showed no issues with his pituitary gland and his blood work seemed to be normal. But I am still concerned that he is not growing normally. My pediatrician suggested a GI or Endocrine doctor. I just need a little guidance on what direction to take. His birth weight was 6.7 oz and 19 inches and he was breastfeed for 6 weeks but didn't gain any weight so we had to put him on formula Enfamil. Thanks Your child currently is in the 25% weight for height, which is very good, although he is growing slowly. There are many possible reasons for this growth rate (genetic predisposition for short stature, behavioral problems with feeding, etc). Given the problem with the eye, there may be an additional medical problem. Your pediatrician's suggestion of consultation with an endocrine and/or GI doctor is appropriate. You may ask your doctor to first obtain a bone age x-ray, which is a simple x-ray indicating growth rate.

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