Think of FTT as a mismatch between how much food a baby takes in and the nutrition they need to grow. But others are subtle, and some might be surprising. Some reasons are obvious, like when a baby isn't getting enough food. There are thousands of different reasons why a baby might not gain weight.
Something may not be right if a baby isn’t gaining weight and also has any of the following symptoms:Ī delay in meeting developmental milestones Symptoms of failure to thrive in a babyīecause many different circumstances can cause FTT, it’s hard to pin down a standard set of symptoms that babies with FTT might show. By the time they’re a couple of weeks old, most breastfeeding babies begin to gain weight. Newborn babies who are first learning how to breastfeed often lose weight for 1 to 2 days. Weight loss in very young breastfeeding babies can be normal That means their weight is below the fifth percentile, or it’s dropping down across the growth chart over time. Usually a FTT diagnosis occurs when a baby’s weight is at the bottom of a standard growth chart. Other medical conditions a baby might have Growth patterns of other people in a baby’s genetic family Instead, medical professionals look at different measurements, including:Ī child’s gestational age (if they were born before their due date) It’s simply a way of stating that a child is not growing at a typical pace.Įvery baby is different, so there isn’t one single definition for FTT. But the diagnosis of FTT is not a judgment or a prediction. And they might make a parent feel as if they, or their child, did something wrong. The words “failure to thrive” can sound frightening. How do providers diagnose failure to thrive? So we’ll walk you through what to expect, including possible tests and treatments. The road to a FTT diagnosis can be long and stressful.
So the goal is to find the underlying problem - and fix it - before there’s permanent harm. Babies and children with FTT can be at risk for a variety of problems over time. Instead, it’s a call for medical detective work. After all, many situations and conditions can cause FTT. This diagnosis doesn’t clear up why they aren’t growing. When a baby isn’t growing as well as expected, a healthcare provider may diagnose failure to thrive (FTT). So even a small setback in feeding, or a small increase in how many calories a baby needs, can cause big nutritional gaps for a baby. Although they aren’t very big, babies need a lot of calories to keep up with all of the growth that takes place in the first weeks, months, and years of life. Your child does not begin to thrive as expected.A baby’s main job is to eat - and grow.When should you call for help?Ĭall 911 or other emergency services immediately if: Your child may be able to develop at a normal rate if the period of failure to thrive has been short. Your doctor may recommend that your child receive nutritional therapy in the hospital. If your child has emotional problems or has been affected by conditions at home, treatment may need to include counselling and improving the home situation. That may be enough to help your child begin to gain weight at a normal rate. If your child's failure to thrive is caused by a medical condition, your doctor may be able to treat the condition. Failure to thrive may point to caregiver depression or another mental health problem that makes it hard for the caregiver to interpret or respond to the child's needs.
Not getting enough nutrients is the immediate cause of failure to thrive, but the ultimate cause may be complicated and hard to determine. A child who has poor eating habits may also have stunted growth. Some children do not thrive as expected because they do not get enough to eat or they have emotional problems. What causes it?įailure to thrive can be caused by medical conditions, such as anemia or thyroid problems. Slow growth also can lead to delays in mental and social skills. A baby who has failed to thrive may seem slow to develop physical skills, such as rolling over, standing, and walking. Condition Basics What is failure to thrive?įailure to thrive is a term used to describe a child who seems to be gaining weight or height more slowly than other children of their age and sex.
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