Small Babies?

If you want to know how much food he's taking at a feeding from your breast, lactation consultants can measure before and after a feeding... at least with newborns they can, to tell how many ounces they're getting from the breast. Maybe a 9-month ld would wander off the scale!

Our son hovered at the 5th-10th percentile for age until almost age 2, and it really was that he weighed so little he could be more active (lie jumping with both feet off the ground at 15 months). He's healthy as can be and has come to 25th% for weight. (Height was always 50th%).

Good luck with whatever decision you make. Don't second-guess yourself; don't let others judge you for the decisions you make. We could all drive ourselves mad that way!

hi - i didnt read the previous responses so forgive me if i repeat anything...my son is now 13 months and has never gone above 10% for weight...he's just 20 lbs. now - He is a slim baby. i nursed him until 1 week ago, also supplemented with formula starting at 6 months and started him on table food. He east soo much now and is so active - i wouldnt worry about it! just make sure you feed him protein, chicken/pork/beans and lots of veggies! i wouldnt worry so much...as long as he is a healthy and happy baby, you are a lucky girl!

Hi R., It is very normal to worry especially when we are new at being a mom. You said your baby is small. Are the mom and dad small people? Even so, if the doctor is not worried then you can rest and just keep on being the great mom you are. Your baby knows when he has had enough. They are very smart, only small. He will grow at his own pace. Many Blessings, Grandma Mary

My daughter has always been tiny too.... But, you have to look at how big you and your husband are... if neither of you is big, or if one of you is small, then your son could be taking after you.
My daughter will be 10 yrs old in november but is the size of a 5 to 6 year old. When we looked at the charts to compare her to other kids her age, she was always 'too little' compared to them. But she created her own 'curve' on the charts and it was consistant.
By the time she was 4 years old, she wasn't even on the charts anymore, she was still on the 2 year old charts. My husband is a very small man (130 lbs) and I am very short....so she gets it naturally.

My doctors told me that as long as she kept her own curve (like the charts show) and it is consistant, not to worry about her size. She's just a small girl.

Yes, I had the exact same situation with my daughter. All during my pregnancy she was the 75% to 80% percentile. She was 7lbs 11oz born, 19.5 inches long. A perfectly good size, and she was born 10 days early. So, I think that is a decent sized baby. She lost a little in the hospital, as all babies do, and then gained a bit of it back. But, then really wasn't gaining much more of it back. It took her all month to get back to her birth weight. I was a wreck! Breastfeeding was also not going well. She'd latch on (after 20 minutes) and eat for a while and either fall asleep or scream and cry at the breast. Wake up 10 minutes later, and want more feeding. I couldn't keep her awake to feed her. I started seeing lactation consultants, and we learned her latch was pretty weak. I was there for 45 minutes while my daughter was nursing, they weighed her and she only gained 1.5 oz. So, she was barely sucking my milk out. I had plenty too. My lactation consultant said I just had to let her keep nursing as long and as frequently as she wanted to. Well, 45 or 1.5 hours a clip? I was already a walking zombie! I tried, I did, but ended up supplementing. also, she had reflux. So, we took some medication for that too. After a couple weeks, things started to get better. But, she's always staying in the 10-20% percentile for weight, and 80% for height. It's just her frame. She still isn't a big eater. She prefers to eat lots of little meals, just as she did as an infant. BTW, she's 21 months now. She is healthy, active, alert... it's just her way. I know it's hard. But, really try to focus on how he behaves physically. You can also try to introduce one more bottle in his day...and extra snack...to get a few more calories in.

My advice would be, if your baby is hitting all his milestones, RELAX! Try not to compare him to what you think he should be doing(weighing) and just enjoy him...your peditrican is'nt worried...that's a really good sign...if he were tiny and not meeting milestones that would be a red flag but he sounds fine to me! Good luck and enjoy him!

I also have a small boy. He was exclusively breastfed until 12- 13mo before he would even touch solid food. As long as he doesn't seem hungry, your ped isn't worried and he's growing you shouldn't be too concerned. The growth charts used by peds are normed on formula fed babies who tend to be chubbier. My little guy has been off the weight chart since he was a newborn but I found that he is steadily in the 10-25 percentile on the WHO (World Health Organization) growth charts. The WHO growth charts are normed on breast fed babies. Here's the link: http://www.who.int/childgrowth/standards/en/

Hi R.,
I had the same issue with my son who is now 2 and still very low on the weight charts. My son in very active, eats well and is just a thin child. As long as your son in active, healthy and happy there is nothing to worry about. Since he is eating solids now, that and nursing should be plenty for him. If he doesn't want to take the formula it is ok. Children know when they are full and will stop eating. If you feel low on milk, then he may just be self weaning. My son stopped nursing at 9 months and I gave him 2 bottles of formula a day until he could go on milk at 12 months.

Please don't stop breastfeeding over this. I know exactly how you feel--had the same problem, only my doctor kept telling me my son was too small, that I needed to get more calories into him, etc. My son is in the 5th percentile for both height and weight! Same thing--he's always been small, but very active. I thought that giving him solids would finally make him gain. Then I thought that once I introduced cow's milk, he would gain. I thought I was making skim milk, because I saw so many other off-the-charts, big breastfed babies! Well, I finally decided to let go of my expectations, and I realized that he is who he is. He's a small guy--doesn't mean he always will be, but genetically, my husband's side of the family is slighter and on the shorter side. Small doesn't equal bad, abnormal or unhealthy. It's just hard to remember that when everybody loves a big baby!

Oh, and I ditched my pediatrician. I toook my son to another pediatrician for a second opinion-- this doctor took one look at him and said he's perfectly fine and healthy. (My former pediatrician had been pushing for invasive testing and extensive bloodwork, nutritionists, GI doctors, etc.) This new pediatrician does not rely on the charts, because he said the biggest indicator is genetics, and the charts do not take genetics into account! He said my son is healthy and active, and that there is nothing to worry about--no need to supplement anything, or increase calories, etc.

So please take it from me--take your mind off the charts, relax, enjoy your beautiful, healthy and happy baby. And keep breastfeeding because it's the best thing you can do! (Someone mentioned he is only nursing for comfort, not nutrition. That isn't true. He may be nursing for comfort, and doesn't need to rely solely on your milk at this point, but he will ALWAYS benefit nutritionally from your milk no matter why he is nursing or how old he is.) Good luck to you.

It really sounds like you are doing everything right. If your baby isn't crying because he is hungry, then don't worry yourself sick about it. Although easy to say, not so much to do - I still worry and I am on my third kid. What also helps is that he is on solids, so although you are still nursing him he is getting a lot of nutrients from the solids as well as you. Then he might not need as much nursing or formula (think of it like a drink with your dinner). Do what you are comfortable with. There will come a time (each baby is different) where you will be able to tell if the nursing is really just the comfort of being close to you rather than a main food source.
That fact that your boy is growing well but not reaching some of the things on the charts - like weight and so on would be something to watch but if he appears happy and healthy, go with your instincts. Every baby is different and so what if he doesn't meet the average statistics of babies his age. I wasn't a very chubby baby according to my mom and almost off the charts for being underweight in comparison to my height - I was always very tall and extremely active - and through life until I had kids and my metabolism changed. Interestingly enough all of my kids have been almost off the chart in the other direction for height and weight (yet all are very healthy and slim, and active). So keep doing what your doing, trust yourself and stay aware of how your son is changing and growing (and relax enough to enjoy it). Good luck!

I breastfed both my kids exclusively and they were both underweight according to the charts. As long as he is growing and the Doctor is not worried I would not worry. The growth chart is a wide scale and not every kid goes exactly like the chart. If he isn't crying to eat and he isn't eating the formula, you are giving him enough milk and I would continue to nurse him. My kids are almost 4 and 6 and they are still tall and underweight according to the charts. They eat a lot but just are on the skinner side. That is their body makeup. I wouldn't worry.
P.

Hi Rpz,

If your pediatrician isn't worried then you shouldn't. My daughter just turned 13 months and I breastfed her exclusively. She wasn't even 18 pounds at her 12 month check up. She's in the 5th percentile for weight. She's constantly on the go, she crawls everywhere. My doctor told me the same thing. I think it's pretty normal. Most of my friends have kids who weren't on the chart at all when it came to weight. I know it can be hard because as a mom you feel like you're doing something wrong - not offering the right food, formula feeding vs. breastfeeding, not offering food often enough, offering too much...there's way too much to worry about if you let it! If your son is healthy and happy and the doc is not worried, I would just try to relax and enjoy your baby. The time flies by! It sounds like you're doing a great job!

B.

Hi R.!! Keep nursing that little guy!!!!!! It's important to you, your son is fine and your ped. isn't worried PLUS it's the best thing you can give him!! You had other good suggestions here as well to check out the other chart made for breastfed babies. Don't worry...if you notice a change in his behavior, if he stops playing as much or anything weird, then that would raise concern and I'd bring him back to see the doctor. Otherwise, don't worry. :)

I can totally relate with you. My son is 16 months and has been non existent on the weight chart since about 9 months. He is very active and is a pretty good eater. He started walking at 11 months and has never stopped moving since! My doctor has recommended offering him food all the time just help keep his calorie intake high and offer lots of high fat foods (a little extra butter here and there). He is happy and developing so there seems to be no need to worry. He has been formula fed as we had major breastfeeding issues early on.

Just try to enjoy him and do not worry.

Breastfeeding him should not really affect his weight. I breastfed both my kids and they gained weight accordingly. It could be genetic. Were you or your husband tiny as infants? I agree with another poster too....do you feed your child any food? At this point he should be eating baby food and starting table food. If he's only drinking, that could be the reason for not gaining weight.
Don't stress...they all catch up eventually.

I wouldn't worry one bit! Some babies are small just as some adults are, plus he sounds very active. My baby loves mashed avocado and I add egg yolks to her morning cereal 3 to 4 days a week. You could try those kinds of things for added healthy fats and calories.

Breastfeeding is a wonderful benefit for both you and your baby. Continue as long as you can and supplement if you feel it's necessary. If he's hungry you'll know it!

Well, you're worring because you are a parent and that goes with the territory (awful isn't it?). If your doctor is not concerned and baby is happy, everything is (most likely) fine. Someone else out there is probably worrying the opposite of you: Will my baby ever crawl and be active? My baby is so chubby (& cute), do I need to restrict his eating?

My son (18mo) is in the 3-5% for height and weight and is thriving. It's very cute to see an 18mo old walking and running around in his 9-12 mo size clothes. Strangers seem to *love* it!

Kids won't let themselves starve. As I've been reminded many times! He's going to start "real" food more and more and will maybe go through my son's five day phase of "I only eat bananas" Feeding was one of my big hot button concerns. You aren't doing anything wrong, I enjoyed "Child of Mine: Feeding with Love and Good Sense" by Ellyn Satter and actually am entering a new phase and may check it out from the library again.

Also, what is the range on those charts anyway? 1%=xlbs and 99% = x+5lbs or is it x+15? It's just general information and only guide. And a way to make parents crazy and competitive.

My son is 6 months and I have the same issue. I stopped breast feeding thinking that would help and it has not. I wish I did not stop because formula is so expensive, time consuming and breast feeding is so much better for the baby.

Listen to your pediatrician and ignore anyone thats says your baby is skinny. Thin is good!!!Fat is BAD!!!!My biological babies were good eaters and healthy looking, but not fat. Then I got a 1 y/o foster child that was downright puny. I obsessed over his weight for a long time and then decided to listen to his doctor who said if he isnt sick and is active dont worry. That was 21 years ago and I eventually adopted that puny kid and he is now a very athletic and muscular 5' 9" adult. He has never had more than a cold and is still very active.

Hi There,
I am in the same situation with my 2 year, 8 month old daughter. She has just re-entered falling on the charts after she slipped off after 2 mos of age. She currently weighs 23 lbs. and at 9 mos. only weighed about 14 lbs and a few oz. My almost 6 month old son weighed that a month ago! So, each child is different. My daughter has always been active and developing on target physically and cognitively, so the Dr. never worried. She was crawling at 7 mos, and walking at 11 mos. As long as your baby is developing normally and not acting hungry, I am sure he is fine. A young child will let you know if he is hungry.
One thing I did was to mix formula with cereal rather than water. Her pediatrician also said that once they start finger foods like pasta, add healthy fats like olive oil to it, and put butter on toast etc. At his age he may also like the yo-baby yogurt, but ask your pediatrician because he may still be young for that. Just read your babies cues and as long as he is happy and developing normally, he is fine. My daughter is still tiny, but is doing just fine (and she eats a healthy diet).

Good Luck!

I wouldn't worry about his weight if your doctor isn't. My daughter just turned 2 this month and is still 23 pounds. She has been this weight for about 6 months. She is just very active. My doctor just tells me that give her food when she wants something. Some kids just have a fast metabolism. As long as her is healthy you have nothing to worry about.
Jenn

R.,

I have nursed 4 babies...exclusively nursing, and all of them were different sizes. My girls are very small, but my boys are average, and all of them nursed the same. I don't think nursing has anything to do with it. Our society is so concerned about size, but the truth it, there is a great deal of variation, and size is not always and indicator of health. My last baby weaned at 17 months, ate solid foods from 6 months and was eating very healthy at that, but she still is around the 5th percentile for height and weight. Her brothers were always between 80 and 90 percentile, and her sister is only a little bigger than her at 10th percentile. I'm not worried, and I don't think you should be either. It is possible to be over or under the charts. My daughter's head is way off the top of the charts even though her height and weight are very low...does she have a brain problem...no...only a genetically large head she inherited from her father, poor girl!! Oh, but she is not freakish looking at all...just wears adult sized hats already at age 3!! My point is that there are incredible size variations between all people, especially as babies and children, and that is nothing to worry about.

As for nursing...I am a huge advocate of it and would never suggest someone stop nursing. It is a simple situation of supply and demand. Let your baby demand more...nurse more often...and your supply will follow. Be sure you are drinking plenty of fluids and don't worry about ounces. He could just be small...and that is OK!!

Oh, and any doctor who suggests formula supplementation is uneducated about nursing. Our bodies are designed to make everything our babies need. This supplementation can actually hurt your supply. Of course I'm not a doctor and don't know you or your baby's history, but I would not listen to that kind of advice!!

D.

Hi R., I did have a similar situation. Our first was breast fed for 6 months then bottle (formula) fed for 9 months. She was always 50% or above in weight. Our second has been excusivly breast fed for a year and she's only in the 5th % for weight. I believe the formula made the difference. Even though our second started table food almost two months sooner than our first she's still smaller than her sister was at the same age. To try to increase the calories in my breast milk to fatten up my second daughter I drank one to two Ensures a day. And I drink a whey protien shake made with whole milk once a day if I don't have the second Ensure. And believe it or not I haven't gained weight myself from it. Now that she's one and we're weening our ped gave us the ok to give her some healthy but high calorie substitutes; shakes made with ice cream and Carnation instant breakfast, one to two Pediasures a day, whole milk and cheese, a cookie every now and then and real butter on noodles and veggies. 9 months is a little too young for that but it's something to try in a few months. Plus it sounds like he burns a lot of calories with how active he is. I know it's hard to give up breast feeding, I've been there, but maybe some more formula wouldn't be a bad idea. Good luck.

C. R

I have 2 little boys who were exactly the same way - 1-5th percentile. Breastfed babies are smaller than formula fed babies, and I'll bet you and your husband are thin as well. If your pediatrition isn't worried, then you shouldn't be. My 1 year old is still in the 1st percentile still but I'm confident that he'll follow in my 3-year olds footsteps and soon be in the 10th like he is.

I don't think you have anything to worry about. He's not gaining weight because he's burning it up too fast! Your son is lucky to have a high energy level and good metabolism. If he's getting taller, his bones (and everything else) are growing well. Believe me - if he were hungry or malnourished at all, he'd let you know, and he certainly wouldn't have the energy to be moving around constantly!

My son is the same way. He is 6 months old and 14 lbs, 7 oz and 25 3/4 in tall. He has always been small. He is between the 5th and 10th percentile for weight and 25 for height. He only gains about a pound a month. My doctor is not concerned because he has always been small and he is also very active and is growing consistently. He is breastfed and we just started solids last week. He also has a bit of a cows milk protein allergy and does not take a bottle so I was not able to give any regular formula. I also don't eat dairy because of his allergy. (I'm assuming that is your reason for the alimentum so remember that the milk and other dairy products that you consume pass into your milk and if he has a milk protein allergy it can cause diarrhea and other problems for him that will decrease his weight.) You should definitely keep breastfeeding. Also remember that your baby can get out more milk than you are able to pump, so just because you are not able to pump very much does not mean that you don't have enough milk. Your body will increase production with increased demand. So if you started breastfeeding him more often and decreasing the formula, then your body would respond by making more milk. I'm sure you have enough milk. Does he have enough wet diapers? As long as he has enough wet diapers then you know he is getting enough. I would not increase the formula. Some kids are just naturally smaller. Since he is growing taller and gaining weight, he is getting enough food. Another thing to think about is that those growth charts include all kids and breastfed kids are naturally smaller, because they are able to self-regulate the amount of milk they take in. in the first few minutes of breastfeeding, the milk is thinner and more watery (foremilk) to quench their thirst and then after that it gets thicker with a higher fat content(hindmilk) to help them feel full. So once they have had enough hindmilk, they stop. Formula-fed kids often over-eat because the bottles are easier to eat from since it just pours out of the nipples so quickly and there is no difference in the fat content from beginning to end. So they get full but their bodies don't get the chance to realize it so they continue eating. Plus, parents often encourage their kids to finish the bottle even if they are not hungry, while this doesn't happen with breastfeeding. Not only that, many moms quit breastfeeding by 3 months when they have to go back to work, and the kids are then exclusively formula-fed. This is why you have your 20 pound 4-month-olds out there. Formula-fed kids may be more at risk of obesity in the future. So our sons may actually be healthier than the others. They are getting the proper nutrition and immunities that breastfeeding provides. Also solid foods have less fat than breast milk, so feeding more solids is not going to make you son any bigger. Just keep feeding him as often as he likes and as long as your pediatrician is not worried, then be happy that you have a healthy son. By breastfeeding, you are doing the best for him!
Go to http://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns/growth/index.html for more information about this. This is a great site for breastfeeding moms.

Hey R., I just wanna say that I always worry about my son as well. He seems like he never wants to eat and is very thin, but the doctor says he's fine. So I just try not to think about it, he seems happy. I don't think you need to worry about a certain amount of ounces any more. Just give him as much as he wants.

Don't quit breastfeeding. Nurse as frequently as you and your baby want to - you can figure out how much he's getting by pumping out a full breast and then doing the math, if you feel that's necessary, but he really would be upset and drinking more formula if he was hungry for milk. Try out some foods with healthy fats, like mashed avocado, now that he's on solids too. And don't worry, and don't look at the numbers, and try to enjoy your son's babyhood :)

Not all babies are cute and chubby. I have a 10 yr old granddaughter who is not as large as her 8 yr old sister. She has always been small but not at birth. She's a picky eater but the dr says she is OK. She plays soccer and swims whenever she can get to water. She is rarely out of school due to illness and same is true of home. If you are very concerned, get a second opinion.

My daughters have always been below the growth curves. The key is if your child is growing on a curve, it is their own curve. Think of the percentages as someone has to be in each spot, not everyone can be 50% percentile or there wouldn't be a 1% and a 99% number. We went crazy with weekly then biweekly then monthly weight checks and every time the doctor said everything was ok. Don't get yourself all worked up about food intake. The great thing about babies is they stop when they aren't hungry and cry when they are.

I didn't quite understand what else your son eats except breast milk and formula. I'd think that at 9 months he can eat pretty much everything, regular table food. So, if he gets 3-4 regular feedings and still not gaining weight - I guess it's okey, as he's very active...that way you know you offered him variety of nutrition. And you can breastfeed him in the morning and at night (but at 9 months, it's more for comfort than for real nutrition,though it's still very healthful).
Offer him more variety of food and if it's not enough he'll ask for more. Don't worry, he gets there.

If the pediatrician isn't concerned, you shouldn't be either. All my kids (4) were breastfed at least a year and they were always on the small side of the growth charts. By the way, the charts are based on formula-fed babies. There is another chart for breast-fed babies. See link:

http://www.promom.org/bf_info/growth.html

Please don't stop breastfeeding. You're doing a great job!!!!

I had a similar problem with my daughter, who is now 3 1/2 and still very tiny (she's 26 pounds). She just recently made it onto the charts, but she wasn't on there at all after her first few months of life. For over a year I went from one specialist to another; they put her on a feeding tube,and tested her for many things. She is my 4th, so I believed deep down that she was fine. Developmentally I felt she was where she should be, but the doctors make you doubt yourself, so I went ahead with all the tests. I breastfed her for about a year and a half, and finally stopped as I thought that might help, but she continued to stay small. I spoke to a nutritionist several times, and tried to increase the calories she consumed, but she has never been (and still isn't) a good eater. Finally when she was 2 1/2 I went to the Children's Hospital in Philadelphia to see a gastroenterologist there, since I was not happy with the one I was seeing here. She was still telling me there was a problem with my daughter. I felt that this doctor only looked at the numbers and not at the healthy child sitting right in front of her. The doctor at CHOP did a few tests, and told me she believed she was healthy, just small (like me; I am 5 2", and was very small as a child). Anyway I had her tested for the pre school handicapped program about 6 months ago (as they also said her head was too small and she might have trouble due to that), and developmentally she is where she should be. At her 3 year check up she was on the charts (just barely, but she is there), and is thriving in all areas.
Good luck with everything, and I hope it all turns out well for you. I wouldn't give up breastfeeding if you want to continue it; I don't believe it will put more weight on your child, and I feel it is the best gift you can give your child.