big babies versus small babies?
Question by mommy2angelbaby: big babies versus small babies?
My daughter was born 1 1/2 months premature weighing 4 lbs and was 17 inches long. She has always been petite but her pediatrician says she is growing fine and is extremely healthy. She is now 6 months old and weighs 12 lbs and is 26 inches tall. This puts her at the 35th percentile for height and less than 3rd percentile for weight, but her doctor is not concerned since she was born premature and she is consistent with her growth. All my friends brag that their babies are big and healthy and are in the 90th percentile range for height and weight. To me their babies seem so big and even overweight. They also make comments such as “why don’t you feed that baby” or “are you starving her?” I do feed her and she has a good appetite. I feed her age appropriate healthy foods. One of my friends feeds her 7 month old Dr. Pepper in his bottle and gives him ice cream! She jokes that if I did this then my baby would put on some weight. I only want what is best for my little girl and want her to be healthy. Am I doing something wrong?
Best answer:
Answer by Pippin
You aren’t doing anything wrong. If your friends make rude comments, say “My doctor agrees that Janie is doing great.” If they continue to be rude — find other people to hang out with.
What do you think? Answer below!
March 25th, 2011 at 3:13 am
As long as you are keeping up with the amount of food she should be eating then you arent doing anything wrond, but even though she was borm 1 and a half months early that is underweight. My daughter weughed that at almost 2 months, and she is short for her age. Maybe bring this up to your doctor again and maybe you may need to up her formula intake, or something, that is awefully low for weight, my daughter is 7 months old now and weight 18 and a half pounds.
March 25th, 2011 at 3:18 am
Absolutely not doing anything wrong. Every single baby out there is different.
My sister carried her baby to full term and her baby weighed 6 lbs 2oz, she looks like a little stick but she’s as strong as my daughter! No doubts in my mind that she’s starving her or anything like that.
Just like some people are naturally a size 00 some babies are naturally small.
Don’t worry about what other people are saying. You know your baby is eating enough, right? well, that’s all that matters.
Btw the lady that feeds her 7 month old ice cream and soda…well, let’s just say that’s why most americans are super fat. Your baby is perfectly fine.
March 25th, 2011 at 3:53 am
No my baby girl is a week short of 6 months and is 19 lbs and 30 inches long, and is not overweight by any means she is very healthy and fits perfect into 6 month clothes. She is bigger than a lot of babies but she is very healthy and not overweight. Babies need fat for brain development. She doesn’t get dr pepper in a bottle, I do agree that is wrong, but the ice cream thing I dip my finger in my foods and let her taste but I don’t put a dish of ice cream in front of her. Babies come in all sizes and if their dr’s say they are healthy than they are not overweight, underweight or whatever else. Don’t listen to what your friends say just do what you feel is right for your child thats why she is your child! Good luck girl and my back would kill to have a baby as tiny as yours! Mine is sooooo heavy sometimes! LOL! I never thought my baby would be big she was only 7lbs10oz at birth.
March 25th, 2011 at 3:56 am
We’ve gotten this quite often with our twins. They weren’t premature – but one is a good bit smaller than the other and always has been. They are now six years old and over the years we have had people saying many of the same things to us. Rest assured, you are doing everything you possibly can! It sounds as if you are feeding her exactly what she should be fed and that she is growing well and is healthy. If the pediatrician isn’t concerned, then you don’t need to be. Tell your friends that you are doing what the doctor tells you to do and that he thinks she is GREAT!
As for the friend who feeds her 7 month old ice cream and Dr. Pepper…..in my opinion, she is the one doing something wrong. That is NOT appropriate food for an infant – she will end up raising a child who is obese if she continues on this way.
March 25th, 2011 at 4:09 am
WOW Dr. Pepper in his bottle and ice cream for a 7 month old, that is really bad and I would not be surprised if your friend baby will be overweight later. Seriously do not listen to them, if your doctor says that she is growing fine, do not worry. My daughter is also in the 3rd percentile for height and 25th percentile for weight, she was small at birth and growing normally. Your daughter is already 3 times her birth weight, its huge ! Congratulation for your little princess.
March 25th, 2011 at 4:35 am
you should be going by her adjusted age! my son was 2 months early we go by his adjusted age which for that he is perfect =) in the 35th for weight i really would not let it bother you she will catch up =) with time and at least your feeding your baby right =) for his real age is under the 5th
March 25th, 2011 at 4:46 am
No. feeding your baby healthy foods is definitely not wrong! Your friends are wrong. And they are not doing their babies any favours in the long run.
Healthy babies – like adults – come in all shapes and sizes. Some are big and some are small. And they are all beautiful. There is nothing wrong with a baby in the 90th percentile, and there is nothing wrong with a baby in the 5th percentile (assuming they are healthy and meeting milestones). Both are perfectly healthy. A baby in the 90th percenitle isn’t overweight, just on the bigger side.
My first daguther was born 3 weeks early weighing 6lbs 8oz. My second was born on her due date weighing 7lbs. My 3 year old now weighs 30lbs and is finally in the 40th percenitle! My one year old weighs 18.5lbs and is in the 10th percentile. They are both totally healthy.
March 25th, 2011 at 5:17 am
Well big baby doesn’t necessarily mean healthy baby or a baby that is developing well. Weight is just one factor in a multitude of factors that make up health and development.
My daughter was born on time (39 weeks) and at a good weight – 7 pounds. But is small- she just doesn’t gain weight fast. She is 14 months old and can still wear her 9 month clothing. And honestly some of her 6 month old clothes. Last time we had her at the doctor she was around 50 percent for height and 15 percent for weight. And her doctor isn’t concerned at all. She is way ahead of her milestones, and she is very healthy. Never sick. Her doctor is actually very impressed with her progress.
So don’t let those people get you down. Trust your doctor. I am sure your child is doing great.
March 25th, 2011 at 6:06 am
You are doing everything right actually. Giving them a healthy diet right from the start is the best thing you can do for your daughter. I am actually at the opposite end of the spectrum from you. My son started our small too ( 6 pounds, 6 ounces), but he caught up to others in a hurry. He is noy 9 months old and weight 20 pounds, which I don’t think is a lot for him being like 30 inches tall, but everyone else seems to think so. I hear comments like ” oh he doesn’t miss a meal does he” or “he looks like a healthy eater.” Honestly you have just got to brush them off as people just making conversation. That’s what I do. I know my son is healthy and he is a good eater, and he eats mostly fruits and veggies, so that’s good with me.
March 25th, 2011 at 6:30 am
Dr. Pepper in a bottle?? Wow that is so healthy lol!! She shouldn’t even be talking because Dr. Pepper shouldn’t even be consumed by ANYONE since it contains so much sugar and makes you overweight.
My daughter is also a petite girl. She was born full term weighing at 7.12 pounds. However, she is a slow weight gainer. She is almost 17 months old and is only almost 20 pounds.
She was also breastfed her entire first year so she basically got the healthiest food for her. Why would you want a huge baby that is fed Dr. Pepper and junk????
Lol!! That’s crazy!! Picture this: A small baby eating healthy stuff is like a fit adult eating healthy foods. A huge and big baby drinking Dr. Pepper at only 7 months old is like an adult who eats junk food every day and just laying around (and also overweight).
Wow, just tell them to shutup!! Smaller babies are the cutest in my opinion.
March 25th, 2011 at 7:14 am
My goodness, you need some more sensitive friends. Weight is a touchy issue w/ parents. & you had a premie!! I think it starts as soon as they are born. You hear more people bragging about their big babies b/c “obviously” it takes a strong woman to carry & birth a 10 pounder. All I know that my full term 6lb 3oz, 18 3/4 in long tiny guy sure hurt coming out & when he laid on my sciatic nerve my whole pregnancy, it wasn’t a picnic! People will always have something to say. You just do what you are doing. I don’t know why people are always in such a competition to have the bigger baby. I think maybe b/c big babies get so much attention for being big. My son did. He really packed on the weight & thats all I ever heard was how chubby he was & how “his parents obviously don’t feed him”. I always felt bad though b/c at the time I had a friend whose baby was struggling to gain weight & I knew what she was going through from my son’s small size at birth.
If your friends want to discuss height/weight then sit down & figure it out. I bet you’ll be able to shut them up…. ask them how big their babies were at birth & how much they grew/gained in 6 months. Your daughter has tripled her weight & grown 9 inches in 6 months. I highly doubt their babies did that. & if they did, thats why their percentile is so high. & 90th percentile isn’t even considered a “healthy” baby anyway. Doctors are concerned w/ overweight babies now b/c it leads to overweight adult. I’d point out that fact too. Your daughter is playing catch up & she’ll do just fine b/c you aren’t giving her dr pepper. .