Tiny baby... any experience?

PennyLane26

Went to G's pedi appointment yesterday and she is tiny! Barely on the charts for weight (12.2 lbs at 5 months) and 19% for height. 

I was really wanting to start BLW at 6 months and pedi ok'd that but suggested starting oatmeal now for added calories and upping her liquid ounces from 24oz to 28oz. She is a slow eater and very spitty. Getting 24oz in is a challenge (she is on BM and formula bottles). She can't take more than 4-5oz at a time and eats a bottle every 2.5 hours or so. She STTN from 6pm-6am. If she drops another percentile by 6 months we may have to start prescription high calorie formula which i'd like to avoid.

Anyone have tips/experience with small babies?

IBackBevo

My LO had IUGR and had to be supplemented with high calorie premie formula early on, but had pretty much caught up by 9 months.

TJ1979

Are you and YH small? E is barely 18 lbs at 13 months. She eats like a horse, but is only 6% for height. She will just always be tiny. My doctor isn't worried. I try not to worry. I know it's hard. Is he using WHO or CDC charts?

Ruthie04

I don't have tips, but my boys are also itty bitty. They are in the 5th percentile for height and usually dance around the 10-25th for weight. Although, they were 36 weekers and IUGR, so the pedi adjusts for gestational age. MH and I are also tiny and I was less than 16 lbs at 12mos, so no one seems concerned. One of my boys was also a spitter until we started "real" solids (chunks of things, as opposed to purees...he spit all that up too)) around 9/10 mos.

Because the boys were late term preemies, the pedi had us doing 2 Neosure bottles/ day to six months. I think that helped them pack on the pounds. We haven't gotten additional advice from them about solids or formula amounts other than a general info sheet on servings.

I'm so sorry for all the stress, but I'm inclined to agree with TJ. Are you and your husband little? I was actually really concerned about the weight obsession with my pedi because my pedi was so pushy with my mom. But, we just have little babies and the pedi isn't concerned as long as the curve looks good.

kmc84

We have a niece and nephew who are itty bitty. Our niece will be three in December and our nephew is 15 months. He is just 18 pounds. He isn't on the charts for height or weight, but he is healthy as a horse! Both kids were bf'ed and hit milestones without issue. Our niece has been at or below 15% for everything since she was born. They eat food like champs.

Some kids are just tiny. Unless it's medically necessary, I don't think forcing calories is the answer.

PennyLane26

Thanks for the insight ladies! DH and I are on the smaller side, so we knew DD would be as well. 

Our pedi is awesome and has never made me feel anxious about DD's weight, but she did drop percentiles since her 2 month appointment, so I know it's more of a concern now. The pedi said that it isn't an issue but could become one if she continues to drop percentiles. 

We will do our best to add a few more ounces a day and see how her 6 month appointment goes in October!

Saraevh

I don't have any personal experience with this, but my best friends' daughter just turned 1 and she has been struggling with this since she was a couple of weeks old.  I've really watched her stress out for nothing for the past year.  The kid is healthy, she eats just fine, she's active, she has met all of her milestones, etc, she's just .... tiny.  The pediatrician wanted to send her to a speech path (thinking therapy would help her eat more or something?  I dunno, seemed kinda bizzare to me) and finally her and her husband just said forget it.  It got to be too much worrying for nothing.  

My daughter has always been really long and lean (she wears 18-24 month shorts/pants, and 3T shirts), but that's how me and my husband are.  I would say as long as she is eating and healthy, *try* not to worry about her.  If she has to go on some kind of high calorie formula or eat some extra rice cereal, so be it.        

imoverit

My lo is still tiny. He is 25 lbs at 2 years old. . My pedi was never concerned as long as lo continued to gain and not lose. My side of the family is petite so thats the way he just is.

BabyRN2006

Emma was IUGR and has continued to be small ever since. She was 13lbs even at 6 months. She has stayed steady on her growth curve so her pedi isn't worried. She is also very spitty. I feel like once she grows out of that she will shoot up in weight. Some babies are just tiny. Someone has to make up the bottom of the curve, right?

srveatch

My LO was in the 15th percentile for weight and 33rd for height at her 9 month check up. She has always come in on the tiny end. My Pedi is not concerned.

LoveDrewb

This might be a little over reactive at this point, but if you continue to have trouble consider having her evaluated by a Speech Language Pathologist that specializes in feeding. (I'm one and most people don't even know we do feeding therapy).  Sometimes all you need is an evaluation for quick tips that might help her be a more efficient eater. There are plenty of babies that are just little and don't need intervention.  On the flip side, so many of the kids I see for feeding would likely be better off if I had gotten them earlier before they developed bad habits.  PM if you have any questions.  Good luck!

boymomstrong

My son is VERY small as well! Always has been, he is in the 3-4% for weight, and ranges for height, at his one year he had a growth spurt and jumped from 9% to 29%!

My son was breast fed for a year, and only started solids at 8 months, he was sitting at 4 months, crawling at 6 months, and walking at 9 months, he is on track and ahead in every area, and my pedis have always been on with his size bc its in line with his curve. 

If your baby is developing, and making mile stones, and not malnourished or having problems, I would say keep doing what your doing! Some babies are small and some are big, as long as your baby in not dropping % drastically then dont worry! I think some pedis can make a huge deal of baby size, and every baby is different! My son is so active he burn calories faster than I can get them in to him! And believe me I feed this kid all the time! And he eats everything I eat and his own food!

Please dont stress! I have one pedi accuse me of MUNCHAUSEN BY PROXY, and i freaked our for a week! Once blood work came back perfect i switched pedis, and I hate that I was so stressed for nothing! (this was just after moving and looking for a new pedi, and right before my son had surgery, another story)

Please dont worry and if you dont want to do different formula then dont, as long as she is doing great just keep doing what your doing! )

! 

sen