A Visit to the Pediatrician...

A week after the viral fever scare and Aiden was still not gaining weight. I could even feel his back bone! That was how skinny he was. And it doesn't help that Aiden refuses to eat bersuap. He prefers to eat all by himself. Using a plate/bowl and a spoon. Which is great, since it shows that he is developing his basic motor skills. But I bet the floor eats more than him. The amount of food that actually ends up in his mouth is far far far less than the amout that Bibik has to kutip from the floor after every meal.

So off we went to Prince Court Medical Centre. Unfortunately, Aiden's usual pediatrician (Dr Padma) wasn't around so I decided to just try my luck with Dr Anthony. And Alhamdulillah, he was as perfect as Dr Padma, if not better!

Aiden is now ngam ngam 10.1 kg. (When he was sick in Singapore, he dropped to 9.9kg! Below the 10kg mark for one year olds!)

Aiden looking curiously, waiting for his cue to scream.

Good boy! He didn't cry at all!

Oooppsss spoke too soon! Aiden absolutely hates being laid vertical. I don't know how Bibik manages to get him into his diapers every single day!

I didn't even know that the Women and Children Centre had a playroom! Maybe because this is the first time that Aiden can finally understand the concept of toys and playing with other toddlers. (Don't ask me how the hell that boy climbed to the top of the house. Hopefully Aiden doesn't replicate the same antics!)

Playing on the see saw.

One... Two...

Threeeeee!!! Check out Aiden's terified face. Despite the months of Gymboree classes, he still hasn't conquered the fear of going down plastic slides.

Oh, did I mention that Aiden is absolutely obsessed with phones? And he finally grasped the idea that phones should be held to the ear. Not behind the head.

Very very obsessed.

He loves holding two phones to his ears. Usually its the house phone and my iPhone. Or two iPhones simultaneously.

And the phone never leaves his ear even when another toy distracts him.

So what did Dr Anthony say? Well even though Aiden popped out as an obese baby (4.1kg remember?), he is now of normal size. I complained to the doctor about Aiden losing his Michelin lines and he answered: "You don't want those Michelin lines! His size is just fine! You don't want an overweight baby". And when I told him about Aiden refusing to eat, insisting on feeding himself, he said that it is good that Aiden is showing interest in spoon feeding himself. Also, it is very important to implement the high chair rule. No feeding snacks in front of the TV. If a toddler can sit in a high chair and knows that it is time to eat (not play or get distracted by anything or worse still, cries), half of the battle is won! About making him more interested in food, his recommendation to cure picky eaters was to:

• Make sure the food in his plate is of multi colours (Mummy put red chilli baru tau!)
• Introduce him to new food everyday. He may like something for a week or so and then decides to like something else after that.
• Try to get him involved in the process of making his food (Okay, from now onwards, Mummy will let you turn the kitchen upside down, Aiden...)
• 3 meals per day - breakfast, lunch and dinner (Aiden always skips breakfast because he loves waking up late, just like Mummy!) And set meal times. And keep to it!
• Not more than 2 snacks per day. Meaning biscuits only during brunch and tea.
• No distractions. TV off, no toys and eat at the high chair and table only.
• Try to get company! The more the merrier!
• And don't lose your patience. It is definitely very challenging to coax a picky eater to eat, but at the end of the day, if he's hungry, he'll eat. Stay calm.

About fattening him up:

• Mix butter in his rice.
• Add a bit of oil in his milk (okay, this one I certainly cannot do!)
• Try cheese. Or chocolates!
• Food requirement: 50% carbohydrates (rice, potatoes, noodles, bread). 30%+ protein (meat, bean curd, nuts, lentils) and the remainder to be oil/fat (butter/olive oil). Fruits and vegetables should be unlimited and for snacks.
• Mixing Milo in his milk is fine. No, he won't get addicted to it. (I asked!)
• If you're really worried, try a full calorie formula milk. He recommended Pediasure (iklan free nie!)
• Keeping his milk bottle away in hope that he would be hungry and start eating, probably wouldn't work. Stubborn picky eaters will just wait it out.

There you go.Free advise for all of you from the doctor himself. I am just playing the middle man here.

So, was I being a bit of an OTT Mummy by dragging Aiden to the doctor just because he felt a bit bony???