From among more than 1 200 children aged 3–48 months of low socio‐economic families living in rural, suburban and urban Lebanon two contrasting groups were selected according to their Index of Thriving for detailed study at home (53 Thriving and 62 Failing to Thrive). Family, socio‐economic, living conditions, health, and dietary data were obtained. Numerous statistically significant differences were found in all categories of data between the two groups, with poorer status invariably shown by the Failing to Thrive families. The implications of the multi‐factorial nature of the causation of failure to thrive are discussed.