Poor Weight Gain/Failure to Thrive (FTT)
Child & Teen Poor Weight Gain / Failure to Thrive (FTT)
Has your child been told they aren't gaining weight as expected or received a diagnosis of Failure to Thrive (FTT)?
Maybe your pediatrician has expressed concern about your child's growth, you've noticed clothes fitting longer than expected, or feeding has become a constant source of worry. Perhaps meals take a long time, your child has a very small appetite, refuses many foods, or has a medical condition that's making it difficult to grow and thrive.
If this sounds familiar, I want you to know you're not alone.
Hearing that your child isn't growing as expected can feel overwhelming and frightening. Many parents wonder if they're doing something wrong or worry about their child's long-term health and development. The truth is that poor weight gain and Failure to Thrive can happen for many different reasons, and understanding the underlying cause is one of the most important steps toward helping your child grow.
Poor weight gain may be related to medical conditions, feeding difficulties, food allergies, gastrointestinal disorders, increased calorie needs, oral motor challenges, sensory sensitivities, neurodevelopmental conditions, medications, or simply not consuming enough calories to meet growth needs. Every child is different, which is why nutrition care should always be individualized.
At Kendra's Kustom Nutrition, my goal is to understand the whole picture—not just the number on the growth chart. I take time to learn about your child's medical history, feeding routine, eating habits, growth pattern, developmental stage, activity level, and family lifestyle before creating a personalized nutrition plan designed to support healthy growth and development.
Together, we may work on:
- Identifying potential causes contributing to poor weight gain
- Increasing calories and protein in age-appropriate, realistic ways
- Supporting healthy weight gain while meeting nutrient needs
- Addressing picky eating, feeding difficulties, or sensory challenges that may impact growth
- Optimizing meal and snack schedules to encourage adequate intake
- Identifying and correcting nutrient deficiencies
- Monitoring growth trends and adjusting nutrition recommendations as your child grows
- Developing practical strategies that fit your family's daily routine
Because poor growth is often influenced by more than nutrition alone, we'll also look at the bigger picture. Medical conditions, gastrointestinal concerns, food allergies, medications, developmental differences, sleep, physical activity, and feeding skills can all influence growth. When appropriate, I'm happy to review laboratory results and collaborate with your child's pediatrician, pediatric gastroenterologist, speech-language pathologist, occupational therapist, feeding therapist, endocrinologist, or other members of their healthcare team to ensure everyone is working toward the same goals.
I also recognize that worrying about your child's growth can place a tremendous emotional burden on parents. Many families spend months—or even years—trying to encourage "just one more bite" while questioning whether their child is getting enough nutrition. My goal is to replace that uncertainty with education, practical guidance, and a plan that helps you feel confident supporting your child's growth at home.
Healthy growth looks different for every child. Rather than comparing your child to someone else's, we'll focus on helping them reach their own growth potential while creating positive, sustainable feeding habits that support long-term health.
Whether your child has recently been diagnosed with Failure to Thrive or has experienced slow weight gain for years, they deserve individualized, compassionate nutrition care. Together, we'll create a personalized plan that supports healthy growth, builds confidence around feeding, and helps your child thrive while making mealtimes feel less stressful for your entire family.
