https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 28 Apr 2026 21:45:15 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-weight-again#post-245434 Thu, 02 Aug 2012 16:41:38 +0000 brownie 245434@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@irene: It is probably a good time to also try extending feedings. I think we were at least 4 hours apart with feedings at 6 months old (except for cluster feeding at night). </p> <p>I know the whole snack vs proper meals thing and I struggled with it. But for us it was more important to have food available. I don't feel like it has been an issue for us. We also found that we had good success with nursing first and then doing solids right before a nap. He was hungry but not starving. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-weight-again#post-245302 Thu, 02 Aug 2012 15:36:37 +0000 irene 245302@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Thehistoryofus: I was gonna try what you said today (nurse at 5-ish) but it is 4:30 now and he still hasn't finished his 3:30 bottle... Sigh.</p> <p>fitting in 2 feedings after work / before bed and overnight - so if he doesn't wake do you mean I should wake him to feed? Another thing is, I also hate to begin a bad habit where he snacks all day /night instead of having proper meals. I am torn here.</p> <p>Maybe it is really the nipple size that frustrates him. Can't wait to get the bigger ones this weekend. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-weight-again#post-245278 Thu, 02 Aug 2012 15:21:35 +0000 T.H.O.U. 245278@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@irene: Give cluster feeding a try! Your body will adjust if you give it some time. I would try to fit in 2 feedings after work/before bed and overnight if possible. The best thing is to push calories! Maybe he can't handle larger amounts so maybe limiting each feeding to 2-3 ounces but more frequently would be best? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-weight-again#post-245259 Thu, 02 Aug 2012 15:15:52 +0000 irene 245259@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@brownie: Mine has no interest to eat. Even at his usual routine (every 3 hours). Today after his morning nursing session at 7:20am, our nanny couldn't get him to eat at his usual 10:15am bottle, and had to force him and finally he ate at 11:15am for 4 oz. Then at 1:30 he ate only 2.5 oz.At 3:30 he barely eats 1 oz, and I think our nanny is going to try to make him finish that bottle. So cluster feeding doesn't work with my weird little one...... </p> <p>He's still laughing and thriving though, just not gaining weight.... He only cries when we force him to eat even the normal amount. Why can't he just eat ??!</p> <p>I should call my lactation consultant.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-weight-again#post-245055 Thu, 02 Aug 2012 13:37:41 +0000 brownie 245055@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@irene: Yes he was officially labeled as failure to thrive at 7 months old after dropping from the 50th percentile to the 0.5 percentile. So we started this at 7 months old. He has moved into the 3 percentile at 15 months old. He has gained 5 pounds between 9 months (when we gave him formula) and 15 months old. Only 1 month we didn't gain it and that was when we trialed cheese.</p> <p>I think food trumps sleep personally. You can do what your doctor doesn't like (or find a doctor better aligned with your philosophies). My doctor doesn't like that we co-sleep but I can't be up that often. My doctor doesn't know that we did baby led weaning. </p> <p>I don't think it is too early. We started adding it after he had been eating for 2 months so he started refusing purees about a month later.</p> <p>He never refused to eat. He wouldn't eat as long necessarily. but it helped increase my supply.</p> <p>As for supply, I felt mine had lowered as well. I believe that the co-sleeping, nursing constantly helped mine increase. Now, I feel like I have a great supply at 15 months old. I was even leaking the other day. Nursing as often as possible even for a week or 2, will help with the supply. And probably increase the fat content. But you don't know unless you try.</p> <p>It sounds like his poops are fine. My son wouldn't poop for a week then would poop a log and then would follow that with 3 or 4 completely liquid poops with full chunks (not necessarily abnormal but with the pattern was). So he had constipation followed by diahrea. </p> <p>Do you have a lactation consultant or a La Leche League you could ask some of these questions to? They know alot about breastfeeding. I take my advice from many places and then use what is useful for us. So, I don't do everything La Leche recommends but I also don't follow the doctor 100%. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-weight-again#post-245031 Thu, 02 Aug 2012 13:26:47 +0000 irene 245031@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@brownie: Wow.... kudos to you ! How old was your baby when you did this? Were you being classified as "failure to thrive"? How was the result?</p> <p>Thing is our doc told us to stop feeding him at night so he "sleeps through the night". I had to negotiate with him as I think I need to feed him 1 time at the wee hours (his bedtime is 7-ish pm and he normally wakes at around 7am).</p> <p>He just started solids (6 months) - will it be too soon to add olive oil to the puree?</p> <p>then for cluster feeding - wouldn't he refuse to eat, or eat less, if the intervals of eating is so close together? I am just afraid if I cluster feed him my supply wouldn't match up.... but I will give it a try.... eeek!</p> <p>I just started taking More Milk Plus today as I feel my supply has lowered...</p> <p>I do notice that when he eats more, he poops more. He normally poops once a day but sometimes he poops 2-3 times if he eats more. I wonder if that means he is not digesting his food. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-weight-again#post-245008 Thu, 02 Aug 2012 13:18:50 +0000 brownie 245008@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@irene: When we started project "fat baby" we made a couple of rules.</p> <p>1. He always had food available to him. We had snack cups that were constantly filled. He had a sippy with milk (breast or formula though he refused formula 2 weeks after starting it) or boob. We added olive oil or coconut oil to all of his purees (for more fat and calories since he can't have milk). We also cooked with lots of oil and pureed that.</p> <p>2. He started co-sleeping so he could eat all night long. He was too busy to eat during the day so we decided to reverse cycle. We had to breastfeed (MSPI) and he had to eat and I had to work so I couldn't be awake all night. At 15 months old, he eats 5 times still. </p> <p>3. Clusterfeeding is our friend. We started nursing at 5, 6, 7 again just to top him off. And also in the morning 5, 6, 7 (he slept with us). It helped just get those few more calories in. It also helped my supply.</p> <p>It is possible move up at this point. We have done it. It is a lot of hard work to get there but it was totally worth it. </p> <p>If you aren't seeing other symptoms (bad stool we knew he wasn't digesting his food, excessive crying like he is hungry). I would just work on it and keep up the good work. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-weight-again#post-244832 Thu, 02 Aug 2012 11:50:01 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 244832@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@irene: He just needs to track along whatever percentile he's at now, if he continues dropping to a lower line, then it is of more concern. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-weight-again#post-244807 Thu, 02 Aug 2012 11:39:26 +0000 irene 244807@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Thehistoryofus: My work day ends at 6 but I work at home so I can potentially offer to feed him at 5pm. My fear is I will have not got enough milk at the 6:45-ish feeding, or he won't eat because he just ate. Anyhow maybe I should start trying that this weekend and see how it goes...</p> <p>@Mrs. Jacks: According to the chart it gets flattened during 4-6 months.... hopefully it'll pick up from now or we'll have a problem. That's why I am stressing.... and to be honest, I don't know if this means he's fine or not...</p> <p>@chopsuey119: Yes we have started solids just last Saturday.<br /> Your girl is bigger than my boy! How nice not to have to worry about your baby's weight...</p> <p>How do you "feed a baby like crazy" though - every 2 hours? For mine, he won't eat if he doesn't want to eat.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-weight-again#post-244482 Thu, 02 Aug 2012 09:17:27 +0000 chopsuey 244482@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Have you started solids?<br /> I would follow my instincts if I were you.. </p> <p>At 6 months my EBF LO was 29 inches long and weighed 19lbs 3 ounces.<br /> Her birthweight was 8lbs1ounce and she was 21 inches long. </p> <p>My friend had a failure to thrive baby and I know it really took a toll on her and stressed her out a lot. Her son was cognitively advanced and doing well, but couldn't gain weight and wasn't growing. They fed him like crazy and now he's doing a lot better. </p> <p>I would take your doctor's advice about the faster flowing nipple and see how he does with solids. </p> <p>Also, my LO's on the bigger side, but she didn't start crawling and sitting up on her own until she was 8 months or so.<br /> All babies are different, so do what you think is best! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-weight-again#post-244479 Thu, 02 Aug 2012 09:14:47 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 244479@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I watch babies over several visits before I call failure to thrive. In the first 6 months, babies tend to find their natural curve... So if your little on treks along at this new lower point, that's better than continuing to drop. Trust your gut. If you think LO is fine, then it's probably true! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-weight-again#post-244477 Thu, 02 Aug 2012 09:12:22 +0000 T.H.O.U. 244477@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@irene: is there any way you could do 2 nursings after work and before bed? I nurse my LO when I get home at 5 an then again before bed at 7:30 and then usually overnight. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-weight-again#post-244468 Thu, 02 Aug 2012 09:02:06 +0000 irene 244468@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks everyone --</p> <p> @Mrsbells: @Thehistoryofus: We started solids last Saturday. I started with 1 meal a day and we've added another per doc's suggestion. Both are right after the milk.</p> <p>7:15a nurse 1<br /> 10:00a nanny bottle 1<br /> 10:30a solid 1<br /> 1:00p nanny bottle 2<br /> 3:30p nanny bottle 3<br /> 4:00p solid 2<br /> 6:50p nurse 2<br /> (twilight: nurse 3)</p> <p>hopefully his weight comes up with the addition of solids....</p> <p>@Mrs. Stroller: I've been trusting my intuition (eg. not switching a nipple size up) but it brings us to this.... so I think I am going to give a bigger nipple size a try. Hopefully that won't be the end of breastfeeding...</p> <p> @cvbee: You are right he is not "Failure to Thrive" yet.... we'll see what happens after the solids.... I'll try not to worry...</p> <p>And he has been on nursing strike on and off. Normally he's good but there will be suddenly a day that he would start freaking out. that usually last 2-4 days. So far. The most recent episode was 2 weeks ago.</p> <p>@lemondrop: re crawling and milestones - that's what my husband was saying, that he wasn't sure if that is a good thing as you said he can move around because he's lighter! sigh.. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-weight-again#post-244426 Thu, 02 Aug 2012 08:31:56 +0000 Mrsbells 244426@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My baby was gaining weight perfectly while being EBF, when I introduced the bottle at 2 months everything changed. her weight gain has slowed down considerably to the point that the doctor suggested adding formula to her breastmilk but reducing the water ratio. I am not worried though because she is gaining atleast a pound a month and I know she will be starting solids soon and I'm hoping that will help<br /> @irene: Are you planning to start solids soon because that might help </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-weight-again#post-244399 Thu, 02 Aug 2012 08:05:37 +0000 cvbee 244399@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@irene: my OB said that the 2 month percentile should be taken with a grain of salt, so to speak, as even a small difference in weight can make quite a difference in percentile. So, for example, babies who have just eaten vs not eaten, just pooped vs not pooped can make a difference. </p> <p> It sounds like your doc is saying that if your baby doesn't maintain weight percentile in the future you'll look into things, not that things are trouble now, right? So don't worry about that until you cross that bridge. (Easier said than done?) Plus, now you'll start to feed baby other food, so that might make a difference too. </p> <p>Is baby still on a nursing strike? (You said you are EBF, but talk about buying bigger nipples for your bottles.) I would try to get back to natural nursing, if possible. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-weight-again#post-244372 Thu, 02 Aug 2012 07:45:03 +0000 T.H.O.U. 244372@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Trust your intuition. I checked your other post and saw that you are basically doing 3 bottles and 3 nursing sessions. Do you think maybe there needs to be another "meal" in there? I think at this age (and even now) my LO eats 6-8 times a day still. </p> <p>Also, what are your plans for introducing solids? </p> <p>My LO is EBF and has dropped a bit from the original "curve" she was on. I can understand though that dropping from 90% to 25% may be a reason for concern if they are using the correct charts. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-weight-again#post-244344 Thu, 02 Aug 2012 06:40:21 +0000 purrpletulips 244344@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree to check what charts the docs are using. It sounds like although he may not be gaining/growing much if he is hitting the developmental milestones which doesn't sound FTT; my understanding is that most FTT babies are pretty listless and don't meet milestones. Also, what are you and DH's body types? I was worried DD wasn't gaining enough until someone put it into perspective for me: she gained 1" between every check-up even though she didn't gain much weight, since DH is 6'2" and 150# she takes after him (not me who is 5'6" and was around 180# prepregnancy). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-weight-again#post-244322 Thu, 02 Aug 2012 03:24:44 +0000 regberadaisy 244322@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>*hugs*<br /> I can't even imagine how scary it must be for your doctor to label your baby as "failure to thrive".<br /> The "percentile" dropping would worry me too.</p> <p>Just wanted to offer a different perspective. We have supplemented with formula from day 1. But she was crying uncontrollably early on clearly from hunger. So I was /am simply not producing enough for her. I'm not saying that's your case. Just that it does not have to be all or nothing when it comes to BF.</p> <p>When my mom was watching her she regularly got ~3oz formula a day. Once she started daycare her intake dropped big time so I suspect she might get 3 oz of formula a week now?<br /> It worries me that her intake dropped significantly so I'm anxious for her 4month check up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-weight-again#post-244310 Thu, 02 Aug 2012 01:58:41 +0000 SAHM0811 244310@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mrs Stroller said it so well... I ditto all her suggestions!</p> <p>I've been there before too. My EBF LO's weight stalled at around 4-5 months. I was worried as heck, though many people told me not to worry. I still did though, and I'm sure you will too. Just keep doing what you're doing and try not to get frustrated. If he's peeing and pooping fine and hitting milestones, it's all good. He could be finding his curve...</p> <p>With solids, I gave her lots of avocados, mashed potatoes, things cooked with butter.... It wasn't til she got a good number of teeth and was eating table food at about 9 months that she started nursing and eating better. </p> <p>Hang in there, mama! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-weight-again#post-244308 Thu, 02 Aug 2012 01:47:58 +0000 lemondrop 244308@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't have much to contribute as far as advice, but I just wanted to say that you are doing a great job! Hang in there!</p> <p>My boy is an EBF chub, but he has taken longer than yours to reach the milestones that you mentioned. Probably much easier to move around with a little less weight ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-weight-again#post-244283 Wed, 01 Aug 2012 23:11:17 +0000 brownie 244283@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>interesting article <a href="http://www.babble.com/baby/baby-feeding-nutrition/breastfed-baby-growth-chart-weight/" rel="nofollow">http://www.babble.com/baby/baby-feeding-nutrition/breastfed-baby-growth-chart-weight/</a></p> <p>WHO growth chart for breastfed baby<br /> <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/growthcharts/data/who/grchrt_boys_24lw_9210.pdf" rel="nofollow">http://www.cdc.gov/growthcharts/data/who/grchrt_boys_24lw_9210.pdf</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-weight-again#post-244282 Wed, 01 Aug 2012 23:06:10 +0000 ohapostrophe 244282@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd check to make sure your doctor is going by the WHO growth chart (normed for BF babies) and not the CDC charts. My peds office uses CDC and it drives me crazy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-weight-again#post-244270 Wed, 01 Aug 2012 21:51:27 +0000 Mrs. Stroller 244270@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Maddox dropped off right at the beginning and then from 4-6 months he gained less than a pound too, I think it was 12oz. He's in the ~18% for his weight and his pediatrician thinks he's in perfect health. We were on a failure watch list during the first month.</p> <p>He's gone from 75% in height to 25% and 50% in weight to 18% No one has bat an eyelash.</p> <p>I absolutely would not go to a fast-flow nipple, if you want to keep breastfeeding. This issue comes up a lot in the BF support group at my hospital. The lactation consultants say not to go past the newborn nipple. Because he is 6m old, you can start to introduce solids. I would focus on healthy fats like avocado for your first foods. </p> <p>If I were in your shoes, I would find a new pediatrician who is pro-BF and follows the AAP recommendations. I'd also go see an independent lactation consultant to see if there's anything else you can do and to see how much he's really getting during a feed. </p> <p>The 6 month slow down is "around" 6 months, not necessarily after 6 months. Every baby is different and sometimes they don't really set into their own weight curve until after 6-12 months. </p> <p>Above all, trust your intuition!</p> <p>Good luck, momma </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-weight-again#post-244268 Wed, 01 Aug 2012 21:42:23 +0000 brownie 244268@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son was born at the 50th percentile. He started dropping at 3 months. By 6 months he was in the 0.5 percentile. He wasn't digesting his food correctly.</p> <p>He is ahead on all physical milestones and we haven't seen any issues now at 15 months. He weighed 8 pounds at birth, 14 pounds at 6 months and 19 pounds at 15 months.</p> <p>You may want to talk to someone that won't force formula (if you don't want to go to formula which I inferred from your post). Our gastro did not force us to formula, we actually suggested it. The formula helped our son's gut bacteria actually work so he started digesting his food. So, if you want formula it may not be a bad thing. </p> <p>We were labeled failure to thrive but our gastro wanted us not to focus on that label. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-weight-again#post-244265 Wed, 01 Aug 2012 21:33:29 +0000 prettylizy 244265@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO is just shy of 5 months, and not yet 12lbs. She is in the 10-15 percentile and my doc is fine with her size. She's just a small baby, chicken legs and all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-weight-again#post-244254 Wed, 01 Aug 2012 21:04:46 +0000 irene 244254@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hello, my name is Irene and I like to worry.</p> <p>My LO is exclusively breastfed, and he's 6 months yesterday. He only gained maybe 13 oz since 4 months. He would have phases (weeks) of eating only 3 oz @ feed. I have posted this before (<a href="http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-weight-should-i-be-concerned" rel="nofollow">http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-weight-should-i-be-concerned</a>), got reassurance from you all and stopped worrying for a long time. </p> <p>Today at the 6th month appointment, the doc confirmed that he has dropped to the 25-50% (where he was 75-90% at 2 months) in weight, and 50% in height (where he was 75% before). He is not *yet* concerned, but if LO drops below 25%, he will be diagnosed as "failure to thrive". I searched online and it basically means the baby "suffers" from "malnutrition" where it avoids him from reaching milestones and may impact his mental / cognitive development. When that happens, doctor will make us switch to formula, go in for regular weight checks, see specialists...etc.</p> <p>Doc recommended us to get the size 3 (biggest size) nipples as LO may be frustrated with the newborn nipples that I am still (stubbornly) using due to nursing strike issues. </p> <p>I know that EBF babies have a different curve than FF babies, but their weight usually drops AFTER 6 months, not before :( </p> <p>The interesting thing is, so far he is ahead of schedule in terms of general (esp physical) development. He's already crawling and sitting up unsupported since 5.5 months. </p> <p>To EBF moms, have you experienced things like this? If so, did you have problems with your LO's mental / cognitive development? Any advice on how to encourage LO to eat more?</p> <p>Just needed to vent and thanks for hearing me out..... :( </p>