Stupid percentiles!

Erinvp120 · August 2013

So we had our 18mo check up for my ds and he is my little peanut-I know I shouldn't care, but it bugs me that they go by percentiles. He is exceeding developmentally and he is so smart and happy , and then they always smack me with his "less than the 3rd percentile for wt and ht" ggrrrr!!! Any other moms out there feel my frustration?!?!

MrsJetSet · August 2013

Doesn't bother me as long as she is staying consistent or moving up.

memali26 · August 2013

DD2 is bouncing around 2%-9% for weight, but 30+% for height. It's actually just fine by me because A) she wears her clothes longer before outgrowing them and

at almost 2yo she only weighs 22lbs which makes her a lot easier to carry around than her 30lb sister

Seriously, though, as long as your LO is sticking to his own growth curve, not drastically dropping percentiles or losing weight, I wouldn't worry about. Enjoy having a little peanut!

DBecker84 · August 2013

What gets me is when doctors say you shouldn't compare babies/kids because everyone grows and does things at their own rate.. and then they show them based on percentiles. It makes no sense!!!
My DD is a little peanut as well and has been around 3% for a few months. At this point, like all of the PP have said, as long as she's developing normally and is doing well growing at HER pace, I'm fine. After all, as someone once told me (and I'm sorry if it comes out totally wrong, but I hope you know what I mean!!) a dalmatian has dalmatian puppies. It doesn't have great danes or little yorkies. So what I mean is look at the parents! I'm sure your LO is just fine :-)

Mustardseed2007 · August 2013

Yeah...my DS is in 3rd percentile for height. It bugs me a little b/c I know he's got my short genes and he'll certainly just be short when he grows up. I'm 4ft 10in, so I shouldn't be surprised, I was just hoping he'd get his dad's genes instead.

mountainkimi · August 2013

DD is 86% for height and 7% for length. She is long and lean. Has been since day 1. She was only 6 days early and weighed 5 pounds 14 ounces. Everyone always tells me how small she is. Actually, she is taller than most kids her age she just doesn't have the girth to her. We think she's perfect

eyenigh · August 2013

My son is gigantic and hasn't been on the chart for height since he was about 2 months old. People do ask me "Wow, what percentile is he in?" as if that's really going to tell them something more. He's huge-- you don't need a percentile to tell you that!

FabulousMrs.P · August 2013

My DD is in the 14th percentile for weight. But she is happy, healthy, and thriving! I know its hard not to compare, but try not to get stuck on the numbers!

cedenton · August 2013

I feel ya! Mine has moved up from around 4th to 9-12th for weight and 33rd at last appt for height. We, however, are not small. DH is 6'3 and not skinny an I'm 5'7" and not skinny. I've stopped worrying about it. (yeah, right.)

Erinvp120 · August 2013

Thanks for all your replies! I forgot to mention that my husband and I are about 5'3'' so it's no surprise, and he's developmentally exceeding his expectations, I just still get bothered by the statistics. It sure does make it easier to carry him around at 21lbs! He is my little peanut and I love him to pieces (of course!) I just wish things weren't based on "other kids" blah blah! Anyway, thanks for the posts ladies!

sunnyday016 · August 2013

DBecker84 said:

What gets me is when doctors say you shouldn't compare babies/kids because everyone grows and does things at their own rate.. and then they show them based on percentiles. It makes no sense!!!
My DD is a little peanut as well and has been around 3% for a few months. At this point, like all of the PP have said, as long as she's developing normally and is doing well growing at HER pace, I'm fine. After all, as someone once told me (and I'm sorry if it comes out totally wrong, but I hope you know what I mean!!) a dalmatian has dalmatian puppies. It doesn't have great danes or little yorkies. So what I mean is look at the parents! I'm sure your LO is just fine :-)

I think they use the percentile charts more to make sure they are staying on their OWN growth trajectory, not to compare them to other kids.

DD has always been small. For the longest time she was about 5-10% for weight, but she has always been that way. That's her growth curve. As long as your LO is growing and meeting milestones, you don't have anything to worry about.

aandg · August 2013

DD has always been in the 10-20th percentile for both height and weight. We aren't at all concerned. She's a little smaller than other kids her age but still growing appropriatly.

Eleventy11 · August 2013

LalaMama81 said:
It has never bothered me in the slightest and I can't understand why it would. It's not a grade or a judgement. It's just away for the pedi to know if they're growing appropriately. I think you are over thinking it.

This. It seems like you are more hung up on how small your child is than you want to admit. My DD has been all over the chart...including down to 3% for weight, but always with a head 95% plus. I'm always excited to know where she falls at each appointment.

foreverapartofme · August 2013

I wouldn't let it bother you! They only really use percentile to help evaluate your child's own growth curve. So long as he is growing at his projected rate it is all good!

Jen0204 · August 2013

sunnyday016 said:

DBecker84 said:

What gets me is when doctors say you shouldn't compare babies/kids because everyone grows and does things at their own rate.. and then they show them based on percentiles. It makes no sense!!!
My DD is a little peanut as well and has been around 3% for a few months. At this point, like all of the PP have said, as long as she's developing normally and is doing well growing at HER pace, I'm fine. After all, as someone once told me (and I'm sorry if it comes out totally wrong, but I hope you know what I mean!!) a dalmatian has dalmatian puppies. It doesn't have great danes or little yorkies. So what I mean is look at the parents! I'm sure your LO is just fine :-)

I think they use the percentile charts more to make sure they are staying on their OWN growth trajectory, not to compare them to other kids.

DD has always been small. For the longest time she was about 5-10% for weight, but she has always been that way. That's her growth curve. As long as your LO is growing and meeting milestones, you don't have anything to worry about.

Exactly this. My girls were preemies and are twins, so being small at birth was expected but the less then 3% always bugged me a bit. They've since made their way onto the charts, but barely (DD2 was at less then 5% for height at their 18 month check up). They keep track to make sure they stay on their own growth curve. If you're anything like me, even if the doctor didn't tell you his percentage (since at less then 3% it's not like be could have dropped enough for them to be concerned so long as he gained between visits) you would still be curious and ask.

PetuniaFeatherbottom · August 2013

Your baby is perfect. As long as he is growing, all is good

kristen714 · August 2013

Ha! My DD is almost 15 months and at the opposite end of the chart and I worry about it. She is the 90th for both. I always get comments about how big she is. I think the worrying is normal especially for first time parents. My pedi said as long as she is consistent not to worry about it because babies need to fall throughout the entire chart.

Erinvp120 · August 2013

PetuniaFeatherbottom said:
Your baby is perfect. As long as he is growing, all is good

I must admit, you're right

I appreciate all your feedback. He is an amazing little boy and so happy my heart could explode! My husban and I aren't big people so I must keep that in mind! I have the opposite problem kristen714-I listen to "oh he's so small" more often than not! It's amazing how ballsy people are. Anyway, all our kids are perfect and I should cout my blessings that he's smart and healthy! Thanks ladies!

stanfordt04 · August 2013

my pedi never gives me the percentiles during wellness visits... he always picks LO up, gives him a little hug and says he's perfect as he hands him back to me. seeing percentiles would definitely make me nervous if they were high or low so i am glad he doesn't share them with me.

DiveFrog · August 2013

DaisyBlinks said:

It does bother me, as much as I don't want it to. He was born super-tiny and I think there some lingering guilt that something in my pregnancy caused his growth issues (which were only during my prengnacy. On the outside he's been growing like a weed, but he's still small for his age).

I always have these crazy doubts and fears that shorter men have it hard. I remember the short guys getting teased a lot in school and I just hate to think that could be a reality for DS.

I just try to focus on how happy he is. He's ALWAYS laughing and giggling.

Being small now doesn't always equate to always being small. My family are all slow growers. I didn't reach my full height until I was 20 which is very late for women..My brother was small to average as a kid and hit puberty later than most of his classmates...but by 19 he was 6'3" and 180lbs.

allardr · August 2013

I was told consistency is most important, no huge jumps/drops. My LO is 4th% in height and only 17% in weight. I asked about the height to see if it was a concern. My doctor asked how tall I was (obviously looking at my short stature and already knowing the answer lol) basically said I'm short, DH is fairly short and plenty people on both our sides are short, aka LO will probably be short

No worries, she's happy & healthy! So don't you worry!

zbeesma86 · August 2013

DD is a big girl!

I don't mind. As long as she isn't going backwards, yanno?

As long as baby is happy and healthy, who cares!

Lots of babies don't fall exactly into those percentiles.

No worries mama!

lilmejo · August 2013

I dont know why but I am like obsessed with this, I dont know if it's from when he was born ( a preemie) and everyone making such a big issue about how small he was or how he was only in the 3rd percentile. He's going to be 2 in like 2 weeks and I still get uncomfortable when someone says "oh how old is he?? He could pass for 2 when he's three!!" And then I went the pediatrician at his 18 month check up and the MD really put it into perspective, he said that Americans have a tendency to think that bigger is beater, that a chubby baby is healthier than a skinny baby and he said it' s just not the case, what type of foods are you feeding him? I answered, fruits, vegetables, we try to stay away from processed foods, not alot of sugar, water not juice. He said so now ask the parents of a child in the 90th percentile and chances are they're not eating the same things. SO the percentiles still bug the crap out of me because it's usually right when I'm thinking he's really getting big that the 4th percentile crap pops up and I"m shot down again, but I do feel better about it after talking with that MD and on the bright side, I'll get prob another year free at almost everything for my little man lol

RachelD158 · August 2013

lilmejo said:
I dont know why but I am like obsessed with this, I dont know if it's from when he was born ( a preemie) and everyone making such a big issue about how small he was or how he was only in the 3rd percentile. He's going to be 2 in like 2 weeks and I still get uncomfortable when someone says "oh how old is he?? He could pass for 2 when he's three!!" And then I went the pediatrician at his 18 month check up and the MD really put it into perspective, he said that Americans have a tendency to think that bigger is beater, that a chubby baby is healthier than a skinny baby and he said it' s just not the case, what type of foods are you feeding him? I answered, fruits, vegetables, we try to stay away from processed foods, not alot of sugar, water not juice. He said so now ask the parents of a child in the 90th percentile and chances are they're not eating the same things. SO the percentiles still bug the crap out of me because it's usually right when I'm thinking he's really getting big that the 4th percentile crap pops up and I"m shot down again, but I do feel better about it after talking with that MD and on the bright side, I'll get prob another year free at almost everything for my little m lol</blockquote

See, now your response annoys me bc now you are judging based on percentiles. My baby is 90th for weight and is bf and we do not eat processed food, so neither does she. We eat organic as much as possible and she has never had juice. Thanks for assuming.

RMama2012 · August 2013

If its not one thing it's another. My son is very tall and we see other kids who are his size speaking in phrases or sentences and DS is babbling. I get sort of insecure about the other parent thinking my child is 2 or older and behind with language. It's silly but I still feel that way even though I know he is on target with all his milestones.

lilmejo · August 2013

See, now your response annoys me bc now you are judging based on percentiles. My baby is 90th for weight and is bf and we do not eat processed food, so neither does she. We eat organic as much as possible and she has never had juice. Thanks for assuming.

Acutally what I said was that MY MD said this and he said "chances are", not everyone. There are going to be babies in the low end of the percentile who are not fed correcty and there will be babies in the high end of the percentile who are over fed. No asssuming done here, just simply stating what I was told by our pediatrician and I can tell you from personal experience with friends babies who tend to be in the higher percentiles, that it is due to a diet high in sugar and processed foods.I dont know you nor do I know your baby, assuming that a statementt applies to everyone in that catoegory is exaclty that assuming.

Sept1799 · August 2013

My son is tiny for his age. So much that he is not on the chart for either weight or height! It did bother my pedi when he got sick and was going even lower. He grew in pounds and in inches at his 18 months well check up. The pedi said he still isn't on the charts but he is going on his own curve and its on the upward curve motion they like to see. I myself is only 5'1 and my paternal grandparents are short too. His father is only 5'7 so average. His paternal grandma and greatgrandma are short to. His sister is 3 years old and fits in 18 month shorts and 2t shirts. So am I worried, no. He is progressing fine, hitting all the milestones and actually eats more than my three year old dd. I have seen an infectious diease guy for another reason and he said he looks good to him and also the ENT guy who put his ear tubes that has seen him ever three months since feb looks at his height and weight every time he sees him and says he is growing fine even though he is not on the charts. So do I agree with them, a bit to help with problems with children BUT its not an indicator at all for many children.

RachelD158 · August 2013

Ok, to say "chances are" that a baby is in a high percentile because they eat processed food is annoying. That's why there are totally different charts for breastfed babies. So you are annoying for sharing something stupid that YOUR pedi said. Better??

brittany&dain · August 2013

Ds weight is in the 3rd percentile at his last checkup we go in 2 weeks for his 1 year. But when they told me that percentile it made me feel like a bad mom and like I was depriving him of food

NatesLady1309 · August 2013

DD has been 5th for weight and 2nd for height for many many months now. Her pedi always assures me that's "her normal". I do sometimes feel guilt/worry over it due to the fact that I had a condition when I was pregnant with her in which one of the outcomes can be small babies. I am both short and thin and DH is short so I know that genetics didn't help her out too much either. She is healthy and happy, just very small and has reached some milestones on the late side. I try not to worry and just enjoy feeling like I get to hold on to my "baby" for longer.

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