While certain children simply are smaller than others, kids who are diagnosed as underweight generally aren't consuming or absorbing enough nutrients. If you think your child is underweight, schedule a full checkup at his doctor's office. This should help you determine if--and how--you should help him gain weight.
Diagnosis
You can't fully determine whether your child is underweight just by putting her on a scale. Mention your concerns to your pediatrician. She will insert your child's weight and height into a body mass index, or BMI, formula and plot the resulting BMI number on a growth chart for children of the same age and gender. If your child is under the 5th percentile for her age and gender, she is considered underweight, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The doctor may perform more assessments to get a better idea of your child's health.
Considerations
If a child has always been on the thin side, or either one of his parents are slender, he may not be underweight, according to BabyCenter. A pediatrician might only express concern about your child's weight if he suddenly stops gaining weight or if he starts losing weight. If your child experiences a growth spurt, it may take time for his weight to catch up, according to BabyCenter. His pediatrician will take these factors into consideration before he diagnoses your child with a weight problem.
Causes
Conditions that can cause underweight issues include stress, an underlying illness, growth spurts, not eating enough, excessive exercise and indifference to food, according to the Virginia Cooperative Extension. Children who aren't interested in eating may suffer from a food allergy that results in pain after eating, a high caffeine intake, anxiety, fear of being overweight or an eating disorder.
Effects
If your child is underweight because she isn't getting enough nourishment, she's at a greater risk of becoming ill. Symptoms of an undernourished child include weakness, fatigue, trouble concentrating and delayed or stunted growth, according to the Virginia Cooperative Extension. An undernourished child also may avoid making eye contact and exhibit irritability and a disinterest in her surroundings, according to KidsHealth, a part of the Nemours Foundation.
Tips
Encourage your child to eat healthy fats. Avocados, vegetable oils and nuts are full of calories in small portions; they're also packed with fats that are good for your child's heart, according to BabyCenter. Feed your child such high-calorie snacks as peanut butter with crackers or celery. Toss cheese onto soups and potatoes, and spread butter on his bread, recommends "Parenting" magazine. Limit your child's juice intake; it can fill him up so he doesn't eat enough calories, or it may even cause him to have diarrhea and lose more weight, according to "Parenting" magazine.
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