Getting underweight toddler to eat?

[♥Jacob's♥Mommy♥]

My niece is 16 months old, 30", and weighs just about 17 pounds. She gained less than a pound between her 12 month and 15 month checkup. Her pediatrician is concerned and has her coming back for a weight check in a few weeks. My sister (her mother) isn't that concerned and doesn't exert any effort to get her to eat better. Her diet primarily consists of a bottle of milk offered all day, pretzels, fruit, chips/doritoes/cheetos, and pasta with hamburger and tomato. I watch my niece every day while my sister works I'm a little concerned with her eating habits. She would be happy with her bottle and a pretzel all day, but I just don't think that's the right thing to be doing....I've bought the Pediasure for her (my sister won't buy it for her house, as she's not concerned, so my niece isn't having it consitently offered to her) but she won't drink it. I offer all the food I have in my house, but she refuses everything and just throws it on the floor (which is increasing my grocery bill and I can't really afford that....terrible, I know, but true....)

What should I be doing? Is this weight/eating issue really a concern, or am I "making too big a deal of it", as my sister tells me when I bring up my concerns. What can I do to get her to eat more/better? Any foods she can eat that are fattening, but not unhealthy?

Also, I have my 16 month old son to care for along with my niece, so I'm not comfortable with offering the snacky foods like chips/doritoes/cheetos that my sister requests I feed her - I don't want my son having those types of food yet - I don't even have it in my house, and can't really afford to be buying it at this point in my financial situation....(I'm a SAHM, and I'm helping my sister out by watching my niece free of charge....we can pretty much jus make it now, and I have my second baby due in 6 weeks, so money is very tight...I feel like a b*tch for putting my money woes in front of my neice's health, but I don't know what to do...my sister doesn't bring any food or milk for her....)

Thanks in advance!!

 

[Ethan's Mommy]

Children come in all shapes and sizes, and being tiny *may* be the right size for your niece. However, *if* her diet is as limited as you say it is, there very well may be a problem.
Unfortunately, there is very little that you can do without the support of her mother. If she was in your care 24/7 I would suggest taking away the junk completely, and offering her a variety of healthy foods. Unfortunately that probably won't work in your situation. She will just go home to the same diet that is causing the issues in the first place.

My only advice is to try to get through to her mother.



I agree with the other poster that the constant bottle may be contributing to the problem. Keep a drink at the table that she is free to drink from at any time, but she *must* only drink it at the table. This will help to limit the amount she drinks while still allowing her to be in control.