Because I Said So!
Dear Susan,
My son is 8 and I think he’s much too thin. He was a premie and I’ve been trying hard to get him “caught up” but he’s still not there. His doctor doesn’t seem concerned. It’s becoming exhausting trying to get him to eat “one more bite” and now I’m afraid I’ve created a power struggle where food is concerned. What can I do to get him to eat more and me to stress less?
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Worried in East Lake
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Dear Worried,
Food concerns top today’s parental worry list and parents of premature children are no exception. The trick is to relax in spite of your anxiety about his premature birth.
First, I recommend that you trust your son’s pediatrician (or, if your gut tells you, find one you do trust). Your son’s early arrival has likely caused a host of anxieties for you. It is very likely that you see mountains where there are only molehills.
To make my point, I’ll share a story that happened to me recently when I took my two girls for their annual visit. There was a poster on the wall showing children at a healthy weight and obese children. The obese children looked a little chubbier than what I assumed would be normal and the children of normal weight looked quite scrawny. The doctor pointed out that today’s child obesity epidemic is changing the way we think “healthy” looks in children. The “scrawny” children were actually the healthier ones!
My second recommendation is to focus on fostering healthy habits for your entire family including, perhaps, some anxiety management. Modeling healthy behavior can go a long way!
Good luck!
Susan
Susan Eppley
