How I gave a good start to my son…

I was a typical go-by-the-book kind of a mom starting from ‘What To Expect When You Are Expecting’ and reading up any parenting blog that came my way. And not just that – I would attend all possible parenting workshops and seminars. And all I gathered from these is that, I was not alone; all moms had the same common concern –  the child’s growth! How to reach that elusive golden mark in the growth chart?   
 

I started early (well…I was anxious from the very start!). From pureed spinach to mashed sweet potatoes and the traditional time-tested daal ka paani – I gave it all to my baby son. By the time, he turned three, I started making avocado shake (milk powder and avocado pulp); Avocado as we all know helps children gain weight. Around the same time, I joined a mommy group where moms got together, to chat around and discuss their child’s concerns. And it was here that I realized that my avocado shakes were not enough. So I moved to traditional stuff like raagi khichdi and suji kheer. he irony is that though I had left nothing undone, my son appeared ‘little’ in front of other children his age. He was a small eater – yes, but somehow his body seemed to deny all the nutrition I pumped into his body in small portions.  
 

The more I read about growth milestones, the more panic stricken I got! As we struggled out of the toddler years, things started getting more and more difficult. Weight gain remained an issue. By the  time we moved over to his fifth year, I realised all my efforts were in vain. My son was still underweight and his height, according to the doctor was below average. People asked him if he was 3-years old, and that after having celebrated his fifth birthday. Soon I realized, that his physical being had started affecting his psychological as well as sociological wellbeing. Children are very sensitive about their age. He cried to me, "I'm not a baby why do they say I am 3?" And quite suddenly, he refused to go and play outdoors. I think he was trying to hide his physical dimensions from the world. He started creating his own world with Minecraft. I would often complain about the menace of Minecraft, how every child these days is hooked to it and it’s so difficult to separate this generation from gadgets. But somewhere deep down, I understood my son’s inner fears and battle. This was it! “No more panic, Pallavi. It’s never too late” – I told myself. And so I made a strong resolve to get to a solution. I decided I would stop following tips from self-proclaimed doctors in my family and neighbourhood and go all-out for a real solution.  
 

As they say, when you are truly looking up for an answer, the universe does drop a solution in your lap! While checking online resources, I came across Horlicks. Now we know Horlicks is a household name and needs no introduction, there was something that made me take notice – this was Horlicks Growth Plus, a specially designed nourishing drink to help children catch up on lost growth. I read about the product and made an impulsive online purchase on Amazon – after all, it promised “clinically proven visible growth in six months!” While the product was still on its way, I checked with a couple of paediatricians and when they advised me to go ahead, I started giving it to my six-year-old as an advanced nutrition supplement.  
 

Fortunately, my son loves the delicious chocolate flavour and gulps it down in one go – to my delight! It’s only been a few weeks but he is already looking more fit; seems to have put on some weight too – his cheeks are more full! Fingers crossed! Something is working for sure. He has re-joined swimming and is enjoying his tennis classes, and has made quite a few friends of his age in just a few weeks. For now, I can say that the golden mark in the growth chart is not that elusive anymore.  He still plays Minecraft, but he can’t wait for the evening to go out and play with his friends. The point is – he doesn’t want to hide away anymore. As for me, I am now the chirpiest mom in the mommy get togethers!    

Disclaimer: The views, opinions and recommendations expressed in this article are solely those of the author and intended as an educational aid. This is an awareness drive powered by Horlicks Growth Plus to help your child catch up on lost growth. Horlicks Growth plus is clinically proven to show visible signs of growth in six months. You are encouraged to obtain professional advice concerning specific health / medical matters.