Author’s practical guidance
Weight or growth has flattened out between checkups
Source named in the book: AAP guidance on growth monitoring
Growth in early childhood is not a straight line either — it moves in spurts and plateaus that are normal on their own.
Say this now
“We're keeping an eye on how you're growing, together with the doctor.”
Frames it as ongoing care, not a crisis.
“Eating well helps your body do its job.”
Simple and true, without turning food into medicine.
Do this
- Ask for the actual growth curve at each visit, not just a single weight number.
- Offer regular meals and snacks on a schedule, consistency supports intake more than pressure.
- Add calorie-dense foods within what they accept, butter, cheese, avocado, rather than new battles.
- Call between visits if the drop feels sudden, no need to wait for the next appointment.
- Track energy, sleep and mood alongside eating.
Avoid this
- Restricting portions "to be safe" without medical guidance — the opposite of what a slowing curve usually calls for.
- Adding pressure to eat more at every meal — rarely changes the trend and often backfires on appetite.
- Waiting for the next scheduled checkup if something feels off now — growth concerns are worth an earlier call.
TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR IF
- The growth curve has flattened or dropped across two checkups.
- Clothes or diaper sizes haven't changed in longer than expected.
- Low energy or excessive sleepiness comes with reduced eating.
- No recent illness or stressful change explains the shift.
Why the book suggests this
Growth in early childhood is not a straight line either — it moves in spurts and plateaus that are normal on their own. A pediatrician tracks this over months on a growth curve, which shows far more than one worried moment on the bathroom scale.
What matters between visits isn't the number but the trend: a child who was climbing steadily and then flattens or drops is telling you something worth checking, even if they still act like themselves day to day.
From this collection
Same Words: At the Table
45 prepared situations in this family area.