Hellobee Boards

I'm not sure, but sometimes when people find out her age and see how small she is they pause for a second like they don't know what to say. I think it might be a caveman thing, we're genetically programmed to think big = healthy.

@winniebee: I would assume that anyone who thinks that bigger is better has the reasoning you stated, that maybe bigger seems healthier.

I personally think overall health is what matters and to an extent, proportions. I have known people with babies in the higher percentiles who were told that something needs to change because the percentile for weight was too high (I would assume this was in proportion to the baby's height).

I've also been told that my baby never looked like a newborn and always looks a lot older than she is (97th percentile for height, 90th for weight).

http://www.halls.md/body-mass-index/av.htm

you can use this calculator to see what percentile you & DH are in

It's obviously important to pay attention to a baby/child's growth & development but if they're growing at normal rate, whether they're naturally big or small, I wouldn't worry about it. DH and I are both slim as well, so it's no surprise DS is where he is on the chart.

@WinnieBee: At her recent 4 month check up, my LO was only in the 27th and 28th percentile for height and weight (respectively). She is in the 50th percentile for head size. In BabyGloss's case, several people have commented about how big she is (say whaa?) . . . I am thinking it is because of her head size? I don't understand why people feel the need to comment on the size of a baby . . .

BabyGloss was born weighing 6lbs 14ozs and weighed in (at her 4 month) at 13lbs 4ozs . . . . that's just over 7lbs in 4 months. My Ped didn't say anything about it.

And while I am not big size-wise, I am 5'7" and DH is 6 feet. So maybe she will sprout up!

@WinnieBee: Thanks!

And you're right . . . can you imagine trying to compliment someone/ make small talk by saying "my, you're such a big girl/boy!" They'd think you were seriously crazy!

Having a small baby myself, I do find myself thinking that bigger is better. I guess since I had some worries with DD getting enough breastmilk (we eventually went with formula) and all the weight checks , I was hyper aware with DS. It's the same as you though - I know he's doing fine because I see what he eats but I would just feel a little better of he were plumper. Like when he gets sick, he would have more reserves.

I think there is still some remanants of the "bigger/fatter = wealthier" stigma in our society. It used to be true when food was more of a luxury, but it's not so relevant in our country today. A little bit of that still hangs around, though, especially when it comes to babies and children.

My kids are giants, but one of my best friends' daughters is on the smaller side. She's absolutely brilliant and way ahead developmentally, so I think "better" comes in all shapes and sizes.

@winniebee: I was a little baby and premature. I would guess many make that as a correlation? I have a big baby at the moment and people keep asking if I'm over feeding him! You can't win with kids.

My sister had two *very* chubby babies, who are now completely normal at 1st grade and 6th grade--really, they are both on the skinny side for their age. But as babies, they were both extremely chubby. People would always ask what she was feeding them-- she was feeding them breastmilk only, but she got that question all the time, as if maybe she was putting fried chicken in a blender or something.

People just like to comment on babies. And pregnant women!

@mrbee: I know that there is a high risk for SIDS with premature babies as well

I don't think bigger is necessarily better but with bigger babies you don't ever have to be concerned about whether they're growing/gaining enough. So like others have said, people tend to equate bigger babies with healthier babies. I also think people just love baby chubs!

I just got crap about C from the lady at WIC the other day. She's 9.5 months old, 23lbs and 30" tall. She gave me a lecture about how I need to make sure that she doesn't grow too heavy because he bones wont be able to handle it.

Um... excuse me? It's not like i feed her cookies all day. She eats mostly formula still, she easts LESS than normal (because thats all she'll eat) and what table food she does eat is generally pretty healthy. She's not even a "chunky" baby. She's tall and she's solidly built and very strong. She's doesn't even have rolls. DH and I are both fairly tall also though, so it was inevitable. I CONSTANTLY get "Oh, she looks so much older!" "Oh, what a big girl!"

My point... I think people give moms crap no matter what. Someone is always going to have something to say. As long as your child is growing and on their own curve, there is no problem.

@littlek: Yea, I seriously almost screamed in the office last visit because while P had doubled her weight, she was still in the 1-2%. The nurse & pedi just kept repeating the % & I kept repeating she had doubled her birth weight, which she'd done even more since you're supposed to weigh from their lowest weight & not what they're literally born at. Ugh! She didn't have good initial gain in her first 2 months because of numerous issues, it was consistent but not that initial spike, and has since gained about a lb a month. I want to switch so bad but our pedi is one of the most supportive of breastfeeding & other parenting choices we've made in our area. I just take what he says with a grain of salt & try to not let it get to me...... From now on I'm going WITH literature so maybe I won't feel like screaming during the appt! Lol.

@winniebee: I'll know for sure on Monday when we go for his 2nd flu shot, but I believe he's between 15 and 18 pounds. I bought all these 3 - 6 month clothes because B stayed in 0 - 3 month clothes for so long and he's already outgrown the 3 - 6, so I'm having to get 6 - 12. He's got some long legs and all of his 3 - 6 month clothes are highwaters... sexy!! Off subject, the new spring collection at J&J is too cute!!

I had a lot of people worrying about one of my twins. I have identical boys but they had twin to twin transfer while. Was pregnant. They were both born at healthy weights (6 lbs 8 oz, and 5 lbs 12oz) but the smaller one was nearly a pound lighter than his brother. Even still at three and a half people make comments about how skinny he is. When we talked to our pediatrician at each check up she said, oh sure he's smaller but he may always be a little smaller. Even though they are identical twins they have lived a different life since they split and the smaller twin may have developed a different metabolism. So as he grew he always stayed in the 10-20% while his brother was in 50-60%. As long as they are gaining and growing a small baby is just fine. I feel bad for my other twin because if his brother is the "skinny twin" what does that make him?

@winniebee: I wish I knew. My husband and I are tall, but not big. LO was born at 7lbs 6 oz. He's at about 15lbs right now at almost 5 months. He measures and weighs right in the middle of the pack. His head actually measured small at his last well visit, then this week he's outgrowing a knitted hat, so I'm making a bigger one.

We noted the other day that he seemed chunky in the morning and then long at night during his daycare pickup. What's crazy is that he's bigger than older babies in his daycare. It's all breastmilk. Babies grow weird, that's my best guess.

You can't ever win!
I have 50% of passerby say "my what a tiiiiny little guy!" & the other half say "whoh, what a big boy!" When I tell them his age (3m).
So, it's all crap. He's between 45-55% (according to an online chart...we haven't been to ped's office for weeks now).
He's totally average but I get comments all the time. They are inconsistent & I ignore them.
Is be seriously surprised if your son was any bigger since you say both you & DH are small. He is your son, duh? Not sure what people expect.

I don't have an issue with having a smaller baby and am generally not insecure about it.

However, I find it interesting that people feel they need to comment on it every single time we go out. I get like ten comments a day. "She is so tiny!" "She is so petite!" I wonder that if she was a big baby, if people would comment "omg she is so big!" "You're baby girl is huge!"
It is strange to me that strangers are so concerned about her size.