Follow the health care provider's instructions for care. The necessary treatment and home care is as varied as the number of reasons for failure to thrive.

For slow weight gain in a child caused by malnourishment, try feeding the child on demand and increasing the sucking time. Also, prepare formula exactly according to directions. Do not dilute ready-to-feed formula, and try increasing the amount offered to the child.

Provide as much love and support as possible for the child no matter what the diagnosis. Examine feelings and behavior toward the child. If feelings toward the child are not what they should be, arrange for psychological counseling.

• There is vomiting in an infant (0 to 6 months) after feedings or the weight gain is slow.
• There is any concern about whether the child is growing and gaining weight properly.

A thorough history will be obtained from the parents, and a physical examination of the child will be performed.

Medical history questions documenting delayed growth in detail may include:

• Has the child always been on the low end of the growth charts?
• Was the child growing normally and then the growth slowed down?
• Is the child developing normal social skills and physical skills?
• Does the child eat well?
• What type of feeding schedule is used?
• Is the infant fed by breast or bottle?
• If breast-fed, what medications does the mother take?
• If bottle-fed:
  • What kind of formula is used?
  • How is the formula mixed?
• What kinds of food is the child eating (toddlers)?
• What medications does the child take?
• What other symptoms are also present?

There may also be questions about parenting habits, social interaction with the child, and similar questions.

Repeated measurements of height, weight, and head circumference will be performed.

The number of possible tests for failure to thrive is large, but usually only a few are necessary. The tests actually done will be determined by the diagnosis the physician is considering. Some of the more common tests are listed below:

• Blood tests (such as a CBC or blood differential, hemoglobin electrophoresis)
• Hormone studies
• Stool studies (to check for malabsorption)
• X-rays to determine bone age (X-rays of the hands and wrists as a measure of growth)
• X-rays of the long bones to look for new or old fractures