Is my little girls weight something I should be concerned about??

[FawnW1978]

I have 2 beautiful littel girls, 7&9....My oldest(DD#1) is tall, lanky a size 10 and apx 70lbs...my youngest(DD#2) is short and stocky, a size 14 (for her waist size only) and apx 85lbs....they are 2 completely different kids and body styles....when DD#2 was almost 5 years old I noticed her starting to gain a little extra weight....she HAD been growing properly and along the same sizes as DD#1 at her age.  We took DD#2 to the doctor to have her checked for thyroid issues and diabetes, along with alopecia due to me noticing 3 small spots of hair missing on her head....everything came back normal, the Dr said the alopecia was probably temporary and her hair would grow back (it eventually did).  They said that DD#2 would have a growing spurt and be fine.....Now, 2 years later, she has outgrown her older sister as far as clothing size, not height. 

I am a working mom, and DH works as well, we are up at 5am to get ready for the day and out the door no later than 6:30 to get the kids to daycare and to work by 7am.  We usually don't get home from work and daycare until apx 5pm...the girls are in bed by 7:30pm, so we don't really have the time for after school activities.  The girls eat the same portions and DD#1 usually asks for seconds where DD#2 doesn't.  We limit sweets/deserts to 2 days a week(Wednesday and Saturdays) unless there is a birthday or special occasion. 

I have also limited their grandmothers' visits due to her continuously calling DD#2 "Chubby".  I don't need my 7 year old to have a complex and turn out having an eating disorder....

The doctors don't seem concerned about DD#2's weight.....I know kids grow differently and at different weights/heights...but, should I consult a specialist??  Or am I over reacting?  Or, should I just wait another year or so and hope for that growing spurt the doctors keep saying she will have?

I just want another mothers opinion, DH isn't concerned like I am....Thanks a bunch!

My girls are the 2 younger ones in the blue and pink

[VarelaClan]

I would need to see a picture and know how tall she is. My daughter will be 13 in July. She weighs around 70lbs, is close to 5', and wears size 10/12. My kids are all super skinny though.

[Onemiracle]

Working from the data makes it easier, the Center for Disease Control has a BMI calculator specifically for children:

http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/

This gives you an idea of where a child's BMI falls in the curve - then you can decide if it is a concern.  

Time and very small changes in your daughter routine will probably help her body work at its best...  particularly if grandma (or other people?) are mentioning her weight.  

[iamcafemom83]

It sounds like maybe more activity is needed. You could eat right all week, but if no effort for getting out and moving is made, change is hard to come by:(
Make time for family bike rides or going to the park after picking them up. Even if you did this a couple times a week, it could help.
Now that you know that there isn't a medical condition (thank goodness!) I am more than sure it can be handled by moving around since you seem to have what they eat under control:)

[bpryce]

I would be concerned. If it were my child....no more sweets in the home period. (she has plenty of opportunities for sweets outside of the home) that also means nothing with added sugars, the only sugar in my house would be those found in fruits. And then I'd be getting her involved in some activity to keep her moving, even if its just a pool pass at the local rec center or ymca, and id make sure she was active for at least 30min 3x a week, id shoot for more but that would be my minimum.

[LetoLiebe]

This is tricky. I went through phases when young. Normal baby, muscular and very wiry little girl, chubby tween then leaned muscled teen/adult. I think you should keep both the girls on a healthy diet as you have been and wait for the possible growth spurt. It does happen, but I would get both the girls involved in a sport. If time is the main issue opt for the YMCA if you can afford it. You could go as a family on weekends and maybe twice duringthe week , even if spent. You and your DH can work out while the girls do there thing and you will all feel really good about it. Its best to do it as a whole family, it becomes a very positive part of there life that way, not a separate task. If one of them is shy there are the more independent sports like swimming or running later on. No matter what the out come physically as long as both daughters stick to the healthiest diet possible and exercise regularly then you all have done your part. Genes may just have there own plans despite all efforts. My daughter eats non stop, but her weight is very healthy, she is pretty tall, not a shorty like me, lucky thing! Good luck and as long as she knows she's loved and beautiful no matter what, every thing is good:)

[coolmommy2x]

They sound like great solutions!

Quoting FawnW1978:

Without getting into detail about our financial situation, we wouldn't be able to qualify for any financial aid...both hubby and I work and make too much money to qualify, yet we live paycheck to paycheck....and, we are trying to get out of debt that we got ourselves into before we had kids...such is life huh? But, we did find that they have ice scaring lessons once a week for the girls to do that can fit our available times and budget...that won't start until march, but it's something. Also, I've made it so the girls can't play any video games on their wii that they can just sit and pay, they have to do dancing or sports games if they want to play during the week. My husbands family is very large and Hispanic and there is always a function to go to on the weekends and I swear it is always a function that has massive amounts of food around....thank you for your advice!

[norahsmommy]

Gaining 20 lbs in a year isn't normal unless you are a newborn. Don't stress too much mama! This can easily be changed. Just get the whole family out for more activity, do yoga or other healthful family activity together at home ( because its good for everyone, don't make it about your youngest). Look up and start cooking recipies with more veggies, protein and fewer carbs, grains and sugar but don't cut back on fat. Try to get carbs from veggie sources like sweet potatoes and squashes instead of grains. Water to drink, don't drink calories unless its a special occasion. Change what the whole house eats, not just dd.

Marks daily apple is a really good site for recipies and info.

Quoting FawnW1978:

I can't remember what they said her height was, but she is 50% for her height and 115% for her weight....she gained about 20lbs in 1 year...usually it's about 5-6lbs....I'd say she is about 3 1/2 feet apx...her dad is a bigger guy..5'11" and about 300 lbs, but he is stocky too...me, until I had kids, I was apx 5'4" and 135....trying still to get the weight off from the 2 kiddos, I'm a little heavy at 180ish, but don't feel I'm fat....Dd#1 is spitting image of me and DD#2 is spitting image of DH....

[jhslove]

That does seem like a large spread between her height and weight. If she's eating healthy foods and reasonable portions, it seems like physical activity would be the next step.

If money is an issue for sports, have you checked into financial help? Many kids' sports organizations will help for families who can't afford it. And on weekends, how about going for bike rides, long walks, etc. Even just two days a week is better than nothing.

Do they get PE in school?

[pinkfairy0206]

Well my opinion is that all kids r different,we all r. I have 4 kids 3 being girls. My 10 yr old is almost 5" and her weight was a bit high so i cut out junk and no eating after 7. This has been about 5 weeks now and Ican c a differnce in her body and the way the clothes fit. She feels great too which is all thatmatters. Oh and boys bodies r differnt then girls,so they can't b compared!

[MyBigFam6]

Eh I wouldnt sweat it but you could talk to the daycare about her activity level and also throw a walk in after dinner. I was a size ten in fifth grade and I was chuncky. My problem is lack of physical activity. Even though I did what my friends did I needed extra bc thats how my body is. Maybe she particularly needs more or a different type of excersize. I new a six year old who was chuncky. She would run around her trailor while her mom sat outside to smoke. Thats the only thing she changed and lost alot. Mom stoped smoking out side eventuallu and life took its course. Shes now 18 and really large. Her mother is to. So just keep that in mind. Family will influence.