No height and weight growth. What to do?

Nutrition is very important for children especially during their growing years. You need to give her more nutrient dense, calorie rich foods to maintain her weight.  Some suggestions to improve her appetite: - Try to give 5-6 small meals in a day instead of giving large meals. - Include healthy fats such as almonds, walnuts, ghee, nut butters and cheese (in moderation) in her diet to increase calories.  - You can make an energy-rich smoothie out of fruits such as bananas, mangoes, chickoo, or dates with milk. - Try adding pureed or grated vegetables into dals, parathas, chillas or idlis, so that she can gain the nutrients without seeing them.  - You can give her soft paneer wraps or parathas, soyabean paratha, boiled eggs or omelettes, chicken soups or patties to increase protein intake. - For snacks, you can try roasted chana, peanuts or makhanas, or or laddoo's made with nuts and jaggery in order to provide healthy calories. - You can also try to make meals more colourful or attractive to her or try to get engaged in small cooking activities to develop her interest in food.

If you need further help, you can connect with us for a personalized meal plan designed to meet her daily nutrient requirements.

Hii what is the current weight of your child ?

Hi! I can completely understand your concern — as parents, it can be very worrying when your child does not gain weight or show expected growth despite your best efforts. From what you describe, there are two key issues: Poor appetite / no hunger cues Limited food acceptance (picky eating, avoiding vegetables, prolonged meal time) Some important points to consider: Growth assessment – First, it is essential to check your daughter’s growth on a pediatric growth chart (height, weight, BMI for age). Sometimes children look thin compared to peers but still fall within a healthy range. A pediatrician can guide you if she is truly underweight or has a growth disorder. Medical evaluation – Since she had good birth weight but lost growth momentum, it’s important to rule out underlying causes such as: Thyroid disorder Celiac disease or malabsorption Vitamin/mineral deficiencies (Iron, Vitamin D, B12, Zinc) Chronic infections or gut-related issues A pediatrician can advise basic tests to rule out these conditions. Improving appetite naturally Give small, frequent meals (every 2–3 hours) instead of large meals. Include energy-dense foods like nuts paste, ghee, cheese, banana shake, dry fruits, smoothies. Avoid force-feeding — instead, make food enjoyable (colorful plate, small portions, fun presentation). Limit milk to 2 small cups/day, as excess milk reduces appetite. Feeding behavior – At 9 years, she should be encouraged to eat independently. Prolonged spoon-feeding or force-feeding can worsen food aversion. Try positive reinforcement (praise, rewards for finishing meals) and involve her in choosing/cooking simple foods. Supplements – Sometimes, doctors prescribe appetite stimulants or multivitamins if needed. Please discuss this with your pediatrician before starting anything.

My suggestion: Since she is already on a diet plan, please combine it with a pediatric evaluation to rule out medical reasons for poor growth. Alongside, work on behavioral feeding therapy to gradually expand her food acceptance.

You are doing your best as parents — but with the right medical checks and a step-by-step approach, her growth can improve.

Hi Please consult a paediatrician to assess any underlying issues. Contact me through my website for a free 15 minute call to get a complete history.

Consult a paediatrician. Get all pathology lab tests done. We will have to check her nutrition deficiencies. On that basis doctor will prescribe nutrient supplements. Loss of appetite or less appetite may have underlying cause. Also due to malnutrition, other possibilities of nutritional deficiency must be checked. You have not mentioned her present weight and height so we can’t compare with normal weight and height for her age.

Consult the paediatrician urgently. Malnutrition itself is not a disease but it is a condition. We have to first find the cause and that can be done only after a few tests. Dryness and muscle wasting is a sign of protein deficiency. If she tolerates dal, eggs etc let her eat till we get reports of any deficiency or food intolerance etc.

Do not force her to eat food. Continue with the food she can tolerate well which do not create any problems after eating. Without doctor’s advice do not give any supplements. Also do not experiment much with her food.

Healthy evening Your daughter needs a nutrient dense, easy to digest diet that support growth, immunity, energy without overloading the stomach Foods includes: Protein : Eggs, chicken, fish, milk, curd, paneer , cheese , dal , soy nuggets, peanut butter Carbohydrates: Rice, chapati either ghee , oats, potatoes, sweet potatoes, poha , idli, dosa Healthy fats : Ghee, butter, nuts ( almond, walnuts, cashew) and seeds ( pumpkin, sunflower, sesame ) Fruits : Bananas, mango , Chikoo , apple, orange Vegetables: Spinach , carrots, pumpkin, beet roots, bottle gourd Snacks : Milkshake, smoothie with nuts , homemade ladoo Nutrition tips : Add ghee and butter to dal , rice, chapati Eggs daily Avoid packaged, junk , fried foods

There could be multiple reason for it Kindly connect over consultation so i can help you better

You may contact for a personalized diet advice. Follow my YouTube▶️ channel for healthy tips https://youtube.com/@moumitadutta9588 (Dietitian Moumita Dutta)

Good evening, Kindly consult a paediatrician for any underlying cause. Contact personally for a customized well balanced diet chart.  Mini Thomas Clinical dietician