Hellobee Boards

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!

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.

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.

@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.

@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.

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).

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.

@Mrs. Jacks: ditto. I was a low percentile baby after 6 months--and have been little my whole life but healthy!

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.

http://kellymom.com/health/growth/growthcharts/

@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.
I have to remember this with my little guy as he gets older.