As most people know, my LO was born 6 weeks premature and weighed 4 lbs 8 ozs. During his 2 month checkup his weight was 9 lbs and recently at his 4 month checkup he was 12 lbs 13 ozs. Both of his checkups he was in the 5th percentile. I feel like a failure that my son is so small.. does anyone else have this irrational response? I just want him to be like 50 percentile or something "normal." The pediatrician says he looks great but I'm still worried that he's so small compared to "normal babies." On the positive side the doctor said that relating to his milestones (smiling, head control, laughing, pressure on legs, etc) are the same if not better than a full term baby. It's just frustrating leaving the doctor sad all the time about LOs weight.
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I definitely feel this way sometimes - my son was in the 10th percentile for weight at his 2 month appt. His 4 month appt is coming up in a couple weeks so I'm really hoping he's gained a couple pounds, at least. I will honestly be disappointed if he hasn't gained that much as I've tried really hard to look out for hunger cues and keep feeding him every 3 hours during the day. However, he's always been very long (at least 85th percentile or higher for height), so I often have to remind myself he's just growing fast one way and not so fast the other way!
I feel pressure from family and friends because LO is still exclusively breastfed. It's like people think he's not chunky enough because he's not being fed formula. That makes me feel sad like my milk isn't good enough for him. And that of course makes me feel worried that LO isn't thriving. But he IS thriving - he's reached milestones early and is very happy. It's just hard reminding myself of that and going with my mom instincts.
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@littlecasita1122: I feel the same way! I breast feed exclusively and I wonder if its me that's the issue. I worry he is getting enough, I'm eating the right things, if my milk supply is good enough, etc. I was really hoping his weight would jump up past 5th percentile based on the fact he's gotten chunky but no such luck.
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I feel the exact same way! My LO was in the 25th percentile at birth and stayed there until her 9 month appointment, when I found out she's dropped to the 10th percentile. Her pediatrician has never been concerned because she's happy and healthy; she's just little. And I guess a drop around her current age is normal because she's more active and burning more calories. But it's so hard not to compare her to other babies who are SO BIG! I just remind myself that adults come in all shapes and sizes, and babies do too!
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I think percentiles make us feel like it's a contest and the higher you are the better your doing. LO has been in the 10th percentile her entire life, always slightly built and no real chubs. I'm totally okay with it because she is healthy and thriving (she is EBF just started solids).
You have to remember that 50th percentile is the average because half of all babies are smaller than that and half of all babies are bigger than that.
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@krsmall: Isn't it not the actual number percentile that they look at but the fact that they stay on the same percentile that they started on? Like if your LO was born in the 5th percentile, then it's normal and healthy for him to stay in the 5th percentile as he gets older, and that means he's growing as he should be. I feel like it would be hard for a baby that's teeny tiny to start off on the 5th percentile and just jump up to the 50th.
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And coming from a 95th percentile baby here, it's totally not a contest! I get the opposite reactions and I feel judged like I'm feeding my baby TOO much. There's no winning.
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My friend's son was born full term and the kid is still in the 2nd percentile at 3 years old. I wouldn't put too much emphasis on it right now. Our pediatrician said that the percentiles don't really start to matter until they're 2 years old. (Other than making sure they're maintaining the progress).
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Have you compared the weight on an exclusively breastfed chart such as the who (world health organization). Breastfed babies gain weight differently than formula or combo babies. My son dropped from the 50th to the 0.5 percentile. He is now almost at the 2 percentile. We worried not because of weight but because of stool.
It is just a number. As long as the aren't dropping drastically you are doing great.
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Well, when he was born he wasn't on the charts, because he was so little but he's stayed 5th percentile since he climbed onto the charts at his 2 month visit.
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@krsmall: my little guy was 6 weeks early too and he has his 9 month appt at the end of this week. I think he got on the regular growth chart around 2 months, but very low and stayed on his "curve" through his 6 month appt. I feel like in the last 3 months he has made a big jump. He started solids and his nanny feeds him a lot. I really think he is the size of a normal 9 month old now. Developmentally he is caught up also. As others have said, as long as they stay on their curve, they are fine. I really believe that they will end up being just as big as they were going to be if they had been born on time.
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Are you or your husband small? I am 5 feet tall, and my husband is tall but very skinny. My toddler is 5th percentile for weight, always has been. I wouldn't expect anything else! Also, if you're breastfeeding to fullness, you're doing everything you can! Don't be so hard on yourself.
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Don't feel bad! Every baby is different and you have nothing to worry about!
For what it is worth, my LO was born at 7 lbs, 13 oz. Now at almost 5 months she weighs 12 lbs, 15 ounces (as of yesterday). She is super small now, even though she was born at a super normal size. And guess what? Our doctor isn't concerned in the slightest! Im a relatively small person, my DH is a small person, and our baby (although she is small) is very, very happy and healthy.
Keep up the good work mama!
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You are doing a great job!!!!
My son was born full term and was a peanut at 5 lb 5 oz and 17.5 inches. We never knew why he was so small except that in only 5'2 and pette and my husband is only 5'6. When e was born he was 1st percentile. At 4 months he was shy of 12 lbs and was 23.5 inches - 5th percentile. Our pediatrician is not at all concerned since he is gaining an staying on the 5th percentile curve. My husband gets distressed when he hears about the percentiles but I try not to get hung up on it. Would I love to hear that he suddenly jumped o the 20th? Sure. Do I get annoyed at people commenting how small he is? Kind of. But I know I'm doing my best to help him gain and be as healthy as he can be. Hes not the type of baby that will eat if
not hungry so I can't force it though I do offer him food whenever he seems remotely hungry. I know he is growing and gaining at his own pace and he is happy and healthy so I try to focus on that and not his size. -
I understand how you feel. My son was one month early and is on the smaller side, but his pediatrician said something at this one month appointment that made me feel better. We were looking at the growth curve and he was showing me where DS fell in comparison to other one month olds, but then showed me where he fell in comparison to newborns, which is where he would have been if he was full term. So even if your son is 2 months old, if he would really be only a couple weeks old if he were full term, and I am sure would be in a higher percentile for that age bracket.
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My baby was born 6lbs 10oz but was very, very lean! He would only fit in preemie stuff for the first few weeks and he was born at 40 weeks 4 days! At his 4 month checkup on 10/1 he weighed 11 lbs 5 oz...so he's about 4th percentile!
I understand the feeling guilty part though. I only gained 16 lbs during my pregnancy and it was all in the 3rd trimester so even though I'm sure it isn't the case I feel like he's so little because I didn't gain enough weight! As long as they have steady growth and meet their milestones I think it's fun having a little peanut baby
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Thanks for all the positive comments! It makes me feel better.
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V is also a little peanut sitting pretty in the 5th percentile for some time now. She was born 8lb 1oz and discharged at 7lb 4oz, and has been gaining approximately 1lb per month. I get comments on her weight all the time and questions about whether I'm feeding her enough. It's hard not to feel inadequate when people think I'm starving her - especially since not many people in my circle BF so they think something is wrong with my milk. I don't think many people realize EBF babies grow differently. Most days I'm not bothered since V meets all her developmental milestones and even is advanced in some, but there are days that are tough and I wonder. =/ Mommy guilt. Sigh.
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My baby is a 90th percentile baby and I always feel that I did something wrong, too. I am constantly worried about if I feed him correctly, enough, etc. I think that it's part of being a mom to worry. But you are doing GREAT!
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