18 month old

[Phoenixs_mom]

I have an 18 month old who has been diagnosed as failure to thrive. He is approximately 26 inches and weighs 23 pounds. He has been in the 5th percintile on the weight chart since birth- he was 5lbs, 2oz. He eats a lot. Some days, he will eat all day. I ensure that he gets 3 vegetable and fruit servings. I give him beans and eggs for protein, because he is not a big meat eater. He seems to be on schedule as far as developing. I have recently relocated to Phildadelphia, so need help with resources, like insurance (to supplement until I can get it through work), WIC, and Early Interention services. If anyone can help me with that, I would greatly appreciate it? He had an early intervention specialist, they were working with him on expressive language. He does everything that 18 month olds should. He even responds to questions and says sentences, although they are not clear. He can sign- more, yes, no, and eat. We are working on help and mom. He picked up signing quickly (withing a week or two). He also says help, up, more (sometimes) and eat. I think that he might say 15 words, but more realistically, he says 11-13 words. And, sometimes he won't speak at all. He points and uses words to describe things (like juice). I know failure to thrive and low weight can be a sign of another health issue. It really worries me. I give him pediasure, when I can afford it, but i have not seen a significant weight gain since he has been born. And, his expressive language is spotty. When should I be worried?


This discussion is related to 18 Month Old Development Behind?.

[momagain59]

Maybe you can get help at one of these locations or maybe they can refer you to where you need to be.

Philadelphia Health Care Center #1
(Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinic and walk-in HIV testing only)
1400 Lombard Street
Broad & Lombard Streets
19146
Tel: [phone]
FAX: [phone]

7:45 am - 7:15 pm Mon and Wed
7:45 am - 4:15 pm Tue, Thu, Fri
Language: English

Note: Walk-in registration may close early when a large number of people are waiting to be seen.

Philadelphia Health Care Center #2
1720 South Broad Street 19145
TEL: Medical [phone]
Dental [phone]
FAX: [phone]

8:00 am - 4:30 pm Mon, Tue, Fri
7:30 am - 4:30 pm Wed
8:00 am - 7:30 pm Thu
8:00 am - 12:00 noon Sat
Languages: English, Cambodian/Khmer, Indonesian, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Spanish
Other languages available through telephone handsets
  
Philadelphia Health Care Center #3
555 South 43rd Street 19104
TEL: Medical [phone]
Dental [phone]
FAX: [phone]

7:30 am - 8:00 pm Mon
7:30 am - 5:00 pm Tue - Fri
Languages: English, French
Other languages available through telephone handsets
  
Philadelphia Health Care Center #4
4400 Haverford Avenue 19104
TEL: Medical [phone]
Dental [phone]
FAX: [phone]

8:00 am - 4:30 pm Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri
8:00 am - 8:00 pm Tue
Languages: English
Other languages available through telephone handsets
  
Philadelphia Health Care Center #5
1920 North 20th Street 19121
TEL: Medical [phone]
Dental [phone]
FAX: [phone]

8:00 am - 4:30 pm Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri
8:00 am - 8:00 pm Tue
Languages: English
Other languages available through telephone handsets
  
Philadelphia Health Care Center #6
321 West Girard Avenue 19123
Tel: Medical [phone]
Dental [phone]
FAX: [phone]

8:00 am - 5:00 pm Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri
8:00 am - 8:00 pm Wed
Languages: English, Spanish, Albanian
Other languages available through telephone handsets
  
  Philadelphia Health Care Center #9
131 East Chelten Avenue 19144
TEL: Medical [phone]
Dental [phone]
FAX: [phone]

8:00 am - 4:30 pm Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri
8:00 am - 8:00 pm Wed
Languages: English, French, Haitian, Creole
Other languages available through telephone handsets

Philadelphia Health Care Center #10
2230 Cottman Avenue 19149
TEL: Medical [phone]
Dental [phone]
FAX: [phone]

8:00 am - 5:00 pm Mon - Fri
5:00 pm - 8:00 pm Wed (Pediatric Clinic/Pregnancy Testing) Languages: English, French, Arabic, Spanish, Russian
Other languages available through telephone handsets

Strawberry Mansion Health Center
2840 Dauphin Street 19132
TEL:Medical [phone]
No Dental Services
FAX: [phone]

8:00 am - 4:30 pm Mon - Fri
8:00 am - 7:30 pm every other Thu
Languages: English
Other languages available through telephone handsets

[caddy118]

i agree that he doesn't sound FTT to me.  my daughter is 18 months old and weighs only 16 pounds 8 oz (as of last monday).  i'm not trying to make a competition out of whose child is "failing" more, but he sounds totally healthy to me.  i wish i could get my daughter to eat anything whereas your son sounds perfectly willing  to try everything.  maybe you should get a second opinion, because doctors all have their days, too, and perhaps when they stuck the "failing" label on your son they weren't entirely on point?  

best of luck to you and try not to worry too much!

[Rachelinpain]

if it makes you feel any better, my daughter is 3 years old and only weighs 23 pounds.  he does not sound like a failure to thrive child to me.  usually FTT kids are 3rd percentile or less.  size of the child will also be indicated by the size of the parents.  if either onle of you is small, he is likely right on track for his size.  if he eats well and is hitting all his milestones (he sounds right on track) then i think you have just been mis informed by your doctor.  someone has to fill the 5th%, some kids are just on the small side.  i do not really understand why you are being told he is FTT.  i have a 2 year old daughter as well who has the same stats as your son and she is average for her age.  have you plotted his numbers yourself? you can get growth charts from the cdc website and track his growth at home.  if you are still concerned i would ask for a referrel to a GI.  this is where we started for FTT investigation.  your son sounds normal to me.  good luck

[Phoenixs_mom]

he also walks on his toes.