https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 01 May 2026 07:26:34 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/growth-percentiles-how-important#post-826572 Mon, 03 Jun 2013 10:35:27 +0000 rachiecakes 826572@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@runsyellowlites: with you! </p> <p>I stressed out so much in the beginning about DS being on the smaller side (there was a significant drop at 6 weeks that yes, did need to be addressed but..).<br /> At a year old he was eating everything, pizza, pasta, cheese, he loved to eat and he's still on the smaller side. But both DH and I are smaller people and now I know that DS is a great eater, with bottles/breastfeeding, I felt like I could never tell and stressed about it so much. </p> <p>@Weagle: "consistency and proportion" YES. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/growth-percentiles-how-important#post-826549 Mon, 03 Jun 2013 10:30:56 +0000 ladyfingers 826549@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our doctor also looks for consistency, or percentiles that "make sense." For instance, when he was born, he was in the 75th percentile for height, but he's currently in the 15th percentile at 4 months. However, DH and I are both short people (he's 5'2", I'm 5'3"), so of course LO won't be terribly tall. </p> <p>I have also read that breastfed babies tend to gain weight more rapidly than formula-fed babies in the first few months, and more slowly after that.</p> <p>At our last visit, the doctor had noted that his percentile on weight was down slightly -- he had been at 55th and is now at 45th -- and attributed it to his recent bout with RSV (although in my head I'm thinking, no, it's because you're using a chart with SIMILAC written all over it), but she wasn't at all concerned and was more noting it because I had been telling her about his multiple night wakings of late and the hypothesized that he's catching up after not being as hungry while he was sick (again, I'm pretty sure that's not why, but rather a sleep regression... but pediatricians aren't sleep experts so I wouldn't expect her to assume that over a "medical" reason).</p> <p>I'll only push back on the chart she's using if she makes a huge issue over his weight gain. Otherwise, we all know he's doing well because he's gaining, having the appropriate number of dirty/wet diapers, and meeting developmental milestones. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/growth-percentiles-how-important#post-818010 Thu, 30 May 2013 12:18:26 +0000 Adira 818010@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Rubies: Oh geeze! I'd hate the kid compares! Thankfully no one does that to me (yet)! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/growth-percentiles-how-important#post-817982 Thu, 30 May 2013 12:12:48 +0000 Rubies 817982@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO's doctor never told us percentiles and I never asked. Never has the doctor been worried so I didn't care what percentile she was in. I know someone who loves to compare our kids and she uses her percentiles like there's no tomorrow. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/growth-percentiles-how-important#post-817966 Thu, 30 May 2013 12:10:30 +0000 Freckles 817966@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd also only worry if the ped expressed concern. If not, then i wouldn't be too worried.</p> <p>I think doctors also look to see that they're staying on the new growth curve. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/growth-percentiles-how-important#post-817955 Thu, 30 May 2013 12:08:33 +0000 Adira 817955@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Twine: Thank you for that link! That is good to know!! I guess I'll just try not to worry about it for now since he's still finding his true curve! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/growth-percentiles-how-important#post-817917 Thu, 30 May 2013 11:59:09 +0000 Mrs. Twine 817917@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Generally happy+healthy=don't worry. I'd say especially if doctor hasn't mentioned any concern and you don't have some sort of instinct that there is something wrong, you should be fine. Sometimes babies do start off on a higher curve than they will end up. I liked what @Mrs. Jacks mentioned in another thread about "finding their true curve" around 4-6 months <a href="http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weight-dropping-in-percentiles-advice" rel="nofollow">http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weight-dropping-in-percentiles-advice</a>. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/growth-percentiles-how-important#post-817888 Thu, 30 May 2013 11:52:30 +0000 Adira 817888@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@brownie: I did check the percentiles that my doctor's office has and it matches up with the WHO chart, so I'm guessing that's what they are following.</p> <p>@MamaMoose: Really! That's interesting and good to know! So maybe while Xander's still young, I don't have to worry about it much yet.</p> <p>@T-Mom: Oooh, thanks for sharing! That makes me feel better!</p> <p>@runsyellowlites: Don't you just hate how there are so many things that just cause added stress and worry?? Ugh!</p> <p>@skibobrown: Okay! he's definitely not losing weight, just slowing down his gain as far as I can tell. And he seems perfectly happy and healthy, so I was hoping I didn't need to be concerned. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/growth-percentiles-how-important#post-817875 Thu, 30 May 2013 11:48:35 +0000 skibobrown 817875@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>From my understanding, a big warning sign is if your child is actually *losing* weight. Otherwise, changes in percentile are probably normal unless your doctor is worried. Our daughter has dropped from the 90s to below 50 over the last 6-8 months... but our doctor isn't worried b/c DH and I are both very naturally slender people, so it's natural that DD will probably wind up the same. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/growth-percentiles-how-important#post-817811 Thu, 30 May 2013 11:32:15 +0000 runsyellowlites 817811@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a secret, okay maybe not so secret, hate for the % chart! I know that in some cases where there is very drastic drops, usually accompanied by other "symptoms", it can help bring notice that there's a problem, BUT I think in most cases they just cause unnecessary worry &amp; are only a very small part of tracking healthy growth &amp; development. As long as there *is* growth &amp; development I don't worry. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/growth-percentiles-how-important#post-817804 Thu, 30 May 2013 11:30:40 +0000 T-Mom 817804@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My DS took a major dip (from 50% to 10% weight) at 6 months, and that's where he has stayed since then (he is almost 21 months now). My pedi said it's not something she is concerned about since that's where he has stayed since that point, and he eats very well and is extremely active. I wouldn't be too worried! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/growth-percentiles-how-important#post-817780 Thu, 30 May 2013 11:24:54 +0000 MamaMoose 817780@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>There was a thread on here recently where I learned that babies don't settle into their true percentile until between 4 and 6 months so you really shouldn't be concerned about dropping percentiles until AFTER six months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/growth-percentiles-how-important#post-817775 Thu, 30 May 2013 11:24:04 +0000 hilsy85 817775@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not important! We have struggled with this but lo is happy, healthy, and the pedi is not worried, so I try not to either. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/growth-percentiles-how-important#post-817757 Thu, 30 May 2013 11:19:11 +0000 brownie 817757@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would make sure you are looking at the who breastfeeding chart too. Formula fed babies and breastfed baby can grow differently. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/growth-percentiles-how-important#post-817714 Thu, 30 May 2013 11:09:17 +0000 Mrsbells 817714@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would only be concerned if the doctor is concerned </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/growth-percentiles-how-important#post-817710 Thu, 30 May 2013 11:08:06 +0000 Adira 817710@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Weagle: Thanks! I'm glad to know that decreasing isn't totally abnormal! Guess I'll just try not to worry about it and see how our next appointment goes and what our ped says. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/growth-percentiles-how-important#post-817661 Thu, 30 May 2013 10:57:45 +0000 Weagle 817661@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Consistency and proportion are what my ped looks for. LO's perecentiles decreased until 6 months and have been steady since. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/growth-percentiles-how-important#post-817652 Thu, 30 May 2013 10:55:17 +0000 Adira 817652@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Xander is 3 months now, and I was just looking over his records from past pediatrician visits and I noticed that his growth percentiles for weight have been steadily decreasing. At 1 week, he was at 56.38% and at 11 weeks, he was at 32.99%. His next visit isn't until July 5th (he will be 18 weeks).</p> <p>He is EBF and I feed him on demand for as long as he wants, although now that he's at daycare, he gets a 5oz bottle every 3 hours (unless he's hungry sooner and we send an extra bottle every day just in case). So far, my pediatrician hasn't mentioned whether I need to be concerned or not, but I can't help but wonder if I should be. I'm curious what other's experiences were like regarding the growth percentiles and how important they are. Should I be concerned that his percentile is decreasing? </p>