https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 08 Apr 2026 19:33:28 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/low-weight-percentage-concerns#post-261065 Thu, 16 Aug 2012 15:48:40 +0000 pastemoo 261065@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MegWag: This too. I was a *very* healthy kid--50th percentile as a baby till 6 months, then ended up in the less than 5th percentile for most of the rest of my life. I'm 5'0" but still healthy with good bone density and the only chronic problem I've got (migraines) has nothing to do with my size.<br /> I have to remember this with my little guy as he gets older. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/low-weight-percentage-concerns#post-261033 Thu, 16 Aug 2012 15:21:20 +0000 MegWag 261033@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think many moms lose sight of the fact that a percentile is not the same as a score on a test. 100% is not the best score or a goal. It simply shows the distribution of babies' weights. Some babies are smaller and others are larger. Try not to associate a negative connotation with a smaller number. Babies should follow their natural curve, not aim to gain to a higher one. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/low-weight-percentage-concerns#post-260574 Thu, 16 Aug 2012 10:26:14 +0000 pastemoo 260574@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jacks: ditto. I was a low percentile baby after 6 months--and have been little my whole life but healthy!</p> <p>Also... EBF babies do "poorly" on percentile if you use the CDC weight chart (based on formula fed babies, who have a different growth rate in the first year--most notably different at 3-12 months). Check the WHO growth charts... and trust LO's pediatrician. If the doctor is not worried, you shouldn't be.</p> <p><a href="http://kellymom.com/health/growth/growthcharts/" rel="nofollow">http://kellymom.com/health/growth/growthcharts/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/low-weight-percentage-concerns#post-260561 Thu, 16 Aug 2012 10:13:07 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 260561@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Kids find their own natural growth curve over the first 6 months. If your doc isn't concerned, I wouldn't be concerned either. I have one tiny slip of a girl 4%ile height and weight and one long lean bean (75%ile height and 34th weight). Ive said it before, but I think we put way too much emphasis on percentiles in the US and not enough emphasis on whether the child is thriving and developmentally normal. Maybe we'd have less of an obesity problem then. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/low-weight-percentage-concerns#post-260528 Thu, 16 Aug 2012 09:52:24 +0000 irene 260528@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littleveesmommy: We are having the same problem too. My LO gains well in the first 3 months (75-90%), then I don't know what happened he dropped to 25-50% (closer to 25%) on the 6 month check-up. Our routine is similar to yours except his is changing since we introduced solids.</p> <p>We are quite concerned though. I emailed Dr. Jack Newman (breastfeeding expert / pediatrician) in Canada about it and he sent me a chapter on his book talking about it.... Our take away is, we shouldn't have put him on a schedule (training him not to cry when hungry), and I shouldn't have returned to work by 3 months (Canadians get 1 year maternity leave!), and I should have exclusively breastfed him instead of pumping and feeding a bottle during daytime. Then his change of behavior also plays into it (my LO would get very distracted when nursing, taking in just enough, popping off and want to play when he still could be a little hungry).</p> <p>Husband and I had a talk last night and we are thinking we maybe supplementing or switching to formula completely so that he continues to grow instead of stalling. I have also made appt with pediatrician tomorrow to see what she thinks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/low-weight-percentage-concerns#post-256288 Sun, 12 Aug 2012 19:53:56 +0000 erwoo 256288@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littleveesmommy: Yes, age will help with the fat content of your BM. I can't help with the fat percentage since I never really stock piled mine. Sorry! I only exclusively pumped for a month when we were trying to figure out why my oldest was having blood in his stool (dairy and soy protein allergies). And I wasn't paying attention to the separation when I was defrosting it later on. I probably would pay more attention now with my youngest but I don't pump at all now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/low-weight-percentage-concerns#post-256172 Sun, 12 Aug 2012 16:28:23 +0000 brownie 256172@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littleveesmommy: Yup. You should double check her on the WHO breastfeeding percentiles. I know my pediatrician uses a combo chart which is very different than the breastfed only ones. It does show the slow down that is normal for breastfed babies. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/low-weight-percentage-concerns#post-256144 Sun, 12 Aug 2012 15:27:23 +0000 littleveesmommy 256144@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks everyone for your quick input! I meant to respond sooner and got sidetracked every time I thought of it. =P</p> <p>@pointybird: Yea that's exactly what our pediatrician said too! She wasn't worried since DD seems happy and is developing on track. I just had some doubt in my mind on BF when I heard 5%. </p> <p>@brownie: DD actually dropped percentage btwn her 4 and 6 month visit but was steady before that. I also read that BF babies grow rapidly the first 3 months then slow down compared to formula fed babies. Then again all babies grow differently too. All this conflicting information makes us mommas confused! =\</p> <p>@yin: Thanks for the encouragement! It's comforting to hear from other moms with stringbean babies. =) At least it doesn't make me feel like I'm doing something wrong or starving my child (people can be so cruel sometimes).</p> <p>@erwoo: Typically I keep DD on one side until she pops off herself or I feel that she's drained it before I offer the other side. I didn't at first but read on here so I definitely try to make sure age gets the fattier hind milk. I pump at least 20 minutes until after my second let down. From the way the milk separates in the fridge, I'd say milk fat averages around 7-10% (visual estimate). Is that normal?</p> <p>@MamaBehr: Thanks for the encouragement! Us mommas always worry and having a mathematical comparison chart makes it harder since it means 95% of the babies weigh more than DD. We just have to be confident in our parenting and mother instincts I guess. =) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/low-weight-percentage-concerns#post-248382 Sun, 05 Aug 2012 07:25:14 +0000 MamaBehr 248382@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had this exact problem with my LO. He spent his first three months of life at 4th percentile or below. My Pediatrician said she wasn't worried about the percentile but the fact that he hadn't picked a growth curve. So, as long as your little one is on some sort of growth curve and your pediatrician isn't worried, I don't think there is a reason for you to worry. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/low-weight-percentage-concerns#post-248302 Sat, 04 Aug 2012 23:36:27 +0000 erwoo 248302@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As long as your LO's pediatrician isn't worried you shouldn't either. My husband's nieces were both in the 5th percentile for weight forever. They are 10 and 13 now and are still pretty low in the weight percentage. But are healthy girls.</p> <p>Just curious, how long do you nurse/pump for? Maybe she's getting more foremilk which is less fatty than hindmilk. I didn't know this when I had my first son. So now I'm putting my LO to breast a little longer - about 15 minutes each side - to make sure he gets the hindmilk. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/low-weight-percentage-concerns#post-248263 Sat, 04 Aug 2012 21:58:35 +0000 yin 248263@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO has always been less than 5 percentile in weight, and the doctor was never concerned. He was bottle fed breast milk and kept up with his growth curve. Sounds like you are doing great. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/low-weight-percentage-concerns#post-248243 Sat, 04 Aug 2012 21:18:43 +0000 brownie 248243@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As long as they keep up the same pace, it is fine. It is when they start dropping percentile that there is concern. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/low-weight-percentage-concerns#post-248210 Sat, 04 Aug 2012 20:25:27 +0000 plaidpants 248210@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO is in the 25th percentile for weight (I think she was around 14lbs at her 6th month check-up) and the 50th percentile for height. So she's not a total stringbean, but getting there! I panicked that I was somehow starving her because she's EBF and we are doing baby-led weaning now so she's not going to get a ton of extra calories that way. But the pediatrician seemed fine with it. I have to remind myself that she seems happy and healthy, and that adult people come in all shapes and sizes, so it makes sense that baby people do too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/low-weight-percentage-concerns#post-248180 Sat, 04 Aug 2012 18:53:50 +0000 littleveesmommy 248180@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We just had DD's 6 month well visit and got her stats - 26" 60% height 42cm 49% head circumference and 13 lb 2 oz 6% weight. The low weight percentage had me worried but the doc didn't seem concerned. DD has hit her developmental milestones and exceeded some, and is growing overall but she's a stringbean. DH and his family are all long and lean, so it might be her genes. </p> <p>She's EBF and nurses on demand on nights / weekends, and gets bottles pretty much on demand, roughly every 3 hours at daycare. On weekdays she wakes up and nurses around 7, bottles around 10 1 &amp; 4, nurses at 6, nurses at 7 bedtime, then up btwn 1 and 4 for a session. I think she's satisfied since she generally naps and sleeps well but I'm wondering - any other mommas with stringbean babies? Should I be worried? </p>