Please note: This information was current at the time of publication but now may be out of date. This handout provides a general overview and may not apply to everyone. 

brand logo

Am Fam Physician. 2016;94(4):online

See related article on failure to thrive

What is failure to thrive?

Failure to thrive is used to describe children who weigh a lot less or who are growing much more slowly than most others their age. It is also called weight faltering. Sometimes, children with failure to thrive do not gain enough weight for normal healthy development. A doctor can tell if your child has failure to thrive by looking at weight and height measured over time.

What causes it?

Failure to thrive happens when a child doesn't get enough calories to grow normally. This can be caused by a medical problem, breastfeeding problems, or the child not eating well. Failure to thrive can happen any time during childhood. It is more likely during times of change, like when the child switches from breast milk or formula to table foods, or when there is a change in routine or child care plans.

How is it treated?

Your child's doctor will ask general questions about your child's health and eating habits, examine your child, and look at growth charts. Growth charts map out how your child has grown over time. From this information, he or she can give you a plan to use at home to help your child get more nutritious calories to gain weight. The treatment plan will include follow-up doctor's visits to check on your child's progress. The doctor can also give you information about programs in your community that can help you.

Most children will improve using the treatment plan. If your child doesn't gain weight, the doctor may do lab tests to see what is keeping your child from growing. A hospital stay is usually not needed.

Once failure to thrive is treated, your child can have normal check-ups. The doctor will keep track of your child's growth and developmental milestones at each visit. Be sure to tell the doctor any time you are worried about your child's progress.

Where can I get more information?

Your doctor

HealthyChildren.org

National Library of Medicine

Continue Reading


More in AFP

More in PubMed

Copyright © 2016 by the American Academy of Family Physicians.

This content is owned by the AAFP. A person viewing it online may make one printout of the material and may use that printout only for his or her personal, non-commercial reference. This material may not otherwise be downloaded, copied, printed, stored, transmitted or reproduced in any medium, whether now known or later invented, except as authorized in writing by the AAFP.  See permissions for copyright questions and/or permission requests.