Dylans lost weight....

DillsMommy wrote: Dylan has lost 3lbs. since school started. I'm really worried about him. He hasn't been a good eater lately.

grapfruit replied: Is something bugging him? Does he act like something's wrong or is he just playing really hard and "worked" it off??

DillsMommy replied: I fight with him every morning to eat breafast. He's not normally a big breakfast eater, but I try to get him to atleast eat some before school. And at lunch they only have 20 mins. I'm not sure if he spends it talking, but he is a slow eater, so that could be the problem too. He comes home with everything I packed him, except half a sandwich. I didn't even realize he was losing weight until my mom said the other day that she thought he looked a little thin.

MyBabeMaddie replied: Maybe Its just a phase! I hope he gets his appetite back soon!

CantWait replied: 20 minutes for lunch, that hardly seems like enough for a child that young. I would talk to the school and see if he is doddling around at lunch time, or if he really needs more time.

amynicole21 replied: Can you start giving him some of those instant breakfast shakes in the morning along with his breakfast? Pretend it's chocolate milk. They will offer some additional calories for him. Other than that, I agree with talking to the school to ensure that he is getting adequate time to eat.

Kirstenmumof3 replied: I wouldn't worry, he's probably loosing weight because he is more active and playing outside with his friends and then theres Gym.

DillsMommy replied: I do want to get some of those breakfast shakes, I think that would help. DH also had the idea to make a "breakfast menu" so that he knows what he's getting in the morning. He likes to complain about whatever I make him in the mornings and spends 90% of the time complaining about it instead of eating. Very frustrating! I'll also start giving him whole milk instead of 2% for the extra calories.

A&A'smommy replied: Oh goodness.. I would definitely try to add those extra calories wherever you can and find out whats going on at school!!

Calimama replied: I agree 20 minutes doesn't sound long enough.

boyohboyohboy replied: my son also uses the carnation instant shakes, he likes the french vanilla, he says the choc. taste funny..
but he loves them and has been taking them for years..and it helps.
i think you are also doing the right thing with the whole milk. do you know how much he weighs?

DillsMommy replied: Stacey~ Do you know if they make a strawberry flavored one? He's LOVES strawberry milk, so he would probably drink that one the best.
He did weigh 46 lbs. now he's down to 43.

gr33n3y3z replied:
Thats all they get at our school also and I see many kids throw away so much food bc they just talk to much and not eat
But for the serious slow eaters they are allowed extra time to eat

Anthony275 replied: 20 minutes? yo in 1st through 5th grade it was 35-45 minutes long at least, then 6th-12th its 43 minutes, thats crazy for a 20 minute lunch

Boo&BugsMom replied:
I agree. That is how long Tanner has to eat as well at school.

Mandy, does he take a bag lunch or hot lunch? When Tanner has hot lunch he eats less, and when he has me pack a cold lunch he eats more because there is more that he likes. At home he was also use to me somewhat making him eat his lunches before he was done (a certain portion of it), whereas at school I can't monitor how much he eats. Just something to think about if that may be the case.

Cece00 replied: He sounds JUST like my oldest. With the complaining about the food & a slow eater & not eating much.

Although Ross seems like he's gained lately, but I think he's about to shoot up in height...

I'd try to get him to eat in the AM & replace some of his lower calorie stuff & see if that helps.

maestra replied:
But that is 35-45 minutes including recess time. They usually allow a 20 minute recess, which leaves about 15-25 minutes according to your times.

luvmykids replied:
Same at the twins' school...if they're truly trying to eat, and not just messing around, they get to miss the 15 min recess that follows lunch in order to finish. I've started trying to pack high cal, high energy "snacks" in their lunch instead of a traditional lunch...it seems to help that they can eat it quick and get a good bang out of it. Peanut butter and apple slices, brownies, etc...not always the most healthy but if they can't eat much it needs to count and we just make sure the other stuff that day at home is healthier

Anthony275 replied:
nope...recess was different, 15-20 minutes

DillsMommy replied:
He takes a bag lunch. I usually pack him a sandwich, juice box and two sides. I don't really expect him to ALL of that, but more than half a sandwich, KWIM?

And I definitely agree-- 20 mins. is NOT long enough, especially for kindergartners.

Boo&BugsMom replied:
At least you know he's got enough packed then for him. Those hot lunches sometimes don't offer enough. Well, at least for Tanner they don't.

Have you talked to his teacher yet? I would do that, and ask her/him if he has been eating or talking, or if he has been able to finish what he wants to eat at lunch.

boyohboyohboy replied:
I dont know if it comes in strawberry or not, but if not, i think it would still taste good if you got the french vanilla and added strawberry quick to it, and it might add even more calories..

Kaitlin'smom replied: I know they have stawberry in the power ones where you add the milk but not sure if they come ready to drink in strawberry.

DillsMommy replied: good idea, I didn't think of that.

We did mention it to his teacher at conferences, about a month ago--that he wasn't eating much. But that was before he started losing weight. I will say something to her again if I can't get him to fatten up. Or do you all think I should say something now?

boyohboyohboy replied: i think i would mention it now, just in case she isnt aware of exactly what is going on and she can them pay more attention and see if there is a problem.

Boo&BugsMom replied: Mandy, I would also ask who is with the kids at lunch. Many times it's the aides who take them to the cafeteria while the teachers take their lunch breaks so she would have to talk to whoever is with him at lunchtime.

MotherForever2043 replied: I agree, I think you should contact his teacher as soon as you can. Also, may I recommend (sp?) Pediasure? I'm not sure if that's in his age range.

MotherForever2043 replied: I agree, I think you should contact his teacher as soon as you can. Also, may I recommend (sp?) Pediasure? I'm not sure if that's in his age range.