AboutMary Pat, R.N. Expertise I am happy to answer general non-diagnostic questions on infant & child care, infant & toddler feedings, discipline, illnesses, and how to access resources for the child with special needs.
Experience I am a pediatric R.N. with 40 years experience first as manager of a community hospital pediatric department & 11 years working in a private pediatric practice. I have managed more than 100,000 phone calls from parents in private practice.
Expert: Mary Pat, R.N. Date: 5/10/2008 Subject: Is My three year old Daughter Overweight?
Question I would like to know if My three year step Daughter is in danger of becoming overweight? Right now she is 36.5lbs and 3 feet tall. Her weight seems to be rapidly esculating. Also, she seems to only want to eat the goodies. She is picky. She eats a lot of Macaroni and cheese, eggs drinks a lot of fruit juice, and almost never eats a vegtable and loves sweets, epecially chocolate candy and Brownies. She won't eat a vegtable except lettece and if put a Brownie or cake in front of her world lights up. Why won't she eat healthy? My fear is that her weight is going to continue to rapidly escualte and I fear that she is going to be terribly overweight! Any suggestions?!
Answer Dear Kathleen:
Your step daughter is not yet overweight. Her weight is on target for a three year old as is her height.
I do have suggestions. Your stepdaughter is allowed to rule in the eating department. She does not purchase the foods for the home nor bring into the home, you do. Stop buying juice (empty calories) and fat laden foods. Stop buying junk. Offer only healthy snacks such as some cheese and pieces of fruit. Prepare the dinners to include all food groups, dairy-meat, fish or poultry-starch, pasta, rice or potatoe and finally veggies.
Put those foods in front of her at meal time. Do not make her what you know she will eat nor run a restaurant for her. If she eats the healthier foods make a big fuss. If she doesn't eat it, ignore her whining and tantrums and so be it. No snacks, only water between that meal and the next and maybe even the next. When she is good and hungry she will eat.
You, as a family, have to committ to a healthy way of eating and make the child a part of it.
