I am a FTM to an 8 month old and recently comments others have been making about my son have been making me hurt and angry. I am looking for advice on how to handle this.
He was 7 lbs 8 oz when he was born. At his next check up he was in the 95th percentile for weight and has now dropped down to the 67th percentile. He is healthy and his doctor has no problem with his weight. Since he was a few months old I have had people make rude comments calling him "fat", "chubby", "huge", "giant" and other terms that could be hurtful to him. I don't think they mean to be offensive but as his mother it really makes me angry. They just don't think before they say things.
I don't want him growing up with low self esteem or thinking he is "fat". He is none of those things, he is just a baby. I am looking for advice on what to say to these commenters without being rude myself (even though I'd love to tell them to F. Off sometimes). Any help would be appreciated!
Re: Handling Rude Comments
He is just a baby. I don't think it is a big deal.
Knee dimples. I'm dying.
It would not be okay for someone to go up to a 5 year old and say that.
But, calling a baby chubby is not necessarily a negative comment. People love chubby babies. I think you are being overly sensitive. And I say this as someone that gave birth to a 10lb 9oz baby girl and heard every comment about large babies under the sun, including advice that my then two month old should've been on a diet.
I kind of laughed it off and walked away. The woman that said it was well into her 80s, what was I gonna do?
Our Little Raspberry Born 3/27/12
Harry Styles = Life Ruiner
There’s a lightning in your eyes I can't deny
Then there’s me inside a sinking boat running out of time
Without you I'll never make it out alive
But I know, yes, I know we’ll be alright
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
J. 1.14.13 my reason for breathing
I understand that you want to protect your child from being hurt, but he is only 8 months old, and won't remember anything. It's nothing that you are doing wrong, so please don't take other peoples comments about your baby seriously. They will say something about chubby babies, and they will say something about skinny babies. You can't win. ,My DD was off the charts for her weight, and only in the 20% for her height. People called her chubby. DS is off the charts for height, but only in the 3% for weight. People tell us that we need to feed him, he looks like skeletor.
Next time people say something, tell them that the pedi who went to medical school isn't worried, and that the baby is perfectly healthy.
Created by MyFitnessPal - Free Calorie Counter
"><a href="http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker"><img border="0" src="http://tickers.myfitnesspal.com/ticker/show/825/1820/8251820.png" /></a><p style="text-align:center;width:420px;"><small>Created by MyFitnessPal - Free <a href="http://www.myfitnesspal.com">Calorie Counter</a></small></p>LOL.
If the comments bother you, I agree with @SunnyDays26's approach. Just smile and say, "I love his sweet cheeks" or something else that puts a positive spin on what the people are saying. I also don't think they're being rude, but if you think they are, just turn the comments into something good.
"He's so fat." Smile and say, "He loves to eat, and the doctor says he's doing great!"
"Look it his round little belly." Smile and say, "I love that little belly!"
That way if you're worried about your son taking the messages in a bad way and getting hurt feelings, he's hearing you reaffirm that he's great.
Thanks for making me feel better. I was just annoyed and looking for support. It's nice to vent sometimes.
I think people just don't know what a normal kid looks like.
FTR, DD was 2 in January. She's 34" tall and right around 27 lbs. She's always hovered right around the 50th percentile for both height and weight.
I have heard both-- wow-- she's huge and wow-- she's tiny from different people in the same day.
Next time someone says your baby is chubby, just say thank you. It's simply the easiest thing to say and it confuses people.
BFP 1- EDD 2/09/11 Missed MC DX @11 weeks D&C- 7/25/10 BFP 2- EDD 12/22/11 Natural MC @ 5w 2d BFP 3- EDD 1/25/12 DD Josephine born 1/16/12
As a mom of a DD in the 50th percentile for height and weight, I have heard people refer to her as chubby, chunky, petite and peanut. It's all perspective. These photos were taken the same minute. I love her all the ways!
Are you laughing at my chubby baby!!!
Soph is thinning out too but she still has some turkey legs