Parenting Community Forum - Baby Weight Is Still Low


Baby Weight Is Still Low

Medical Questions-> Health Forums -> Parenting Community -> Baby Weight Is Still Low

Medical Questions

Author

Message

sillyakchick

Moderator

Joined: 12 Apr 2007
Posts: 2689

Thanks: 4

Thanked:0

Baby Weight Is Still Low Posted: 06-14-07 12:55pm


Little hannah is a year old! Yippee! (I will be posting her b-day pics soon, I promise). Anyway, I took her in to get her weight checked before I started giving her milk instead of formula. I was sure she was going to be just fine. To my dismay, she is still so little-only 18 pounds. Since babies should triple their birth weight by 1 year, she should be weighing in at about 25 pounds or so. I was pretty disappointed. She is only in the 8th percentile. When she was born, she was in the 85th percentile. So here's my question. Is it necessary for me to worry about this? Or is she OK? I am a very small person (5 feet tall and 108 pounds) and my dh is very small (5'9 and 140 pounds), or am I denying her the ability to reach her full height potential by not supplying her with the proper nutrition? I do not give her gluten, as was suggested by the pediatrician, so that we don't have to worry about Celiac Disease being a cause for her failing to thrive. (I have this,so we are avoiding the issue for now). I am a vegetarian, and so is the rest of the family, so I don't cook meat, but she eats salmon, beans, tofu, cheese, and other sources of protein. I thought about loading her up with ice cream, and junk to help her gain weight, but isn't that just setting her up for being overweight when she is older? Maybe I am doing her a favor by feeding her healthy food (that's my opinion, by the way). Am I missing something? Her older sister never had any trouble gainng weight, somaybe she is just going to be a small kid? Any thoughts?

Mommy35

Extremely EHEALTHy

Joined: 23 Sep 2006
Posts: 3165
Location: Vacationland, USA,

Posted: 06-14-07 12:59pm


I wouldn't worry about it, if the doc didn't seem concerned. You and her father sound to be small, so maybe she's going to be little. Sounds to me like she's getting lots of good stuff to eat. I really don't like how they do the percentiles. It causes people to worry senselessly

AyaMiyaki

Especially EHEALTHy

Joined: 01 Jun 2006
Posts: 8064
Location: Floating on a cloud, United States

Thanks: 126

Thanked:8

Posted: 06-14-07 13:59pm


I'm battling with this same issue. I'm 5'4, 110 pounds and my husband is 5'9-5'10 and 140ish pounds. We knew our children would be tiny like us, and .Alyvia didn't disappoint. She was 6 pounds 13 ounces at birth, and at her 9 month checkup she was less than 15 pounds. She's 3rd percentile for weight, and 5th for weight/height combined. I redoubled my efforts with her nutrition - I offer her food probably 6 times a day because .I'm so paranoid every time she cries that maybe she's hungry and .I'm misunderstanding her. Her stools have become more solid and she seems a tiny bit bigger to me (or maybe it's wishful thinking), so .I'm going to take her back in for a weigh-in before I go out of town in the next couple of weeks. It's very possible that she's destined to be tiny like her mommy. It's such a hard thing for a mother to hear, though, that your child isn't as _____ as other children, or isn't measuring up in some way, or might be behind. Especially if you feel there's something you're not doing. It's awful. I would steer clear of the junk foods though - empty calories aren't what little .Hannah needs. Maybe you could try yogurt or peanut butter?

sillyakchick

Moderator

Joined: 12 Apr 2007
Posts: 2689

Thanks: 4

Thanked:0

Posted: 06-14-07 14:04pm


Thanks for the encouragement. It is so easy to get discouraged. I do give her lowfat yogurt, but maybe I will find some with a higher fat content. I wont give her peanut butter until she's at least two, because of family allergies. I have not heard from her pediatrician yet. I only saw the nurse yesterday who weighed her, and I am hoping for a phone call later. How is it that children are able to make the sanest, most matter of fact people and turn them into neurotic, pessimistic worry warts?

AyaMiyaki

Especially EHEALTHy

Joined: 01 Jun 2006
Posts: 8064
Location: Floating on a cloud, United States

Thanks: 126

Thanked:8

Posted: 06-14-07 14:16pm

sillyakchick wrote:

How is it that children are able to make the sanest, most matter of fact people and turn them into neurotic, pessimistic worry warts?

my husband questions my sanity a lot these days, I think. I spend a lot of my time chasing .Alyvia around the living room with a jar of sweet potatoes and a spoon, and he just watches and shakes his head. Ooh, or the other day when I was changing her diaper and found her first semi-solid stool. I was like " Shocked

look at this! Wow, maybe she'll finally start to gain some weight! It's so solid!" and he said "umm, you're examining poo... Neutral

"

the nurses at my ped's office drive me insane Evil or
Very Mad

they weighed her the week before her appointment when she had an infection, and she was 15 pounds 2 ounces. Then at her appointment they told me she was 14 pounds 6 ounces. Err, what?? I flipped out, and the nurse said "oh, scales are always off, blah blah blah" and .I'm thinking "if my daughter's weight is an issue, maybe you should make sure you're getting her numbers accurate!" Rolling Eyes

idiots.

sillyakchick

Moderator

Joined: 12 Apr 2007
Posts: 2689

Thanks: 4

Thanked:0

Posted: 06-14-07 14:20pm


You make me laugh! My dh calls me the poop police because I am always wanting to check consistency, amounts, etc etc. And just this morning I was trying to corral her long enough to finish her bottle which she wanted nothing to do with!

Fairy*Godmother

Supporter

Joined: 11 Oct 2003
Posts: 1340
Location: , Georgia USA

Thanks: 39

Thanked:41

Hi Posted: 06-14-07 14:29pm


You sound like an EXCELLENT Mother. Feeding her the correct foods and watching that she does not start life on junk foods and unnecessary sugars. Whay is it hte world has to compare everyone and everything? Knowing everyone and everything is gonna be somewhat different....I think Miss Hannah will grow when she's good and ready. Maybe she's just gonna be petite. I think I'd much rather her be a little underweight than obese. I have a neighbor who has a son.....he is only 6 years old and wear a mans size 38/40 pants............Now thats something to worry about. Stop dogging yourself! Your a great Mom!

*star*

Supporter

Joined: 12 Dec 2006
Posts: 1780
Location: ,

Thanks: 19

Thanked:18

Re: Baby Weight Is Still Low
Posted: 06-14-07 14:33pm

sillyakchick wrote:

I do not give her gluten, as was suggested by the pediatrician, so that we don't have to worry about Celiac Disease being a cause for her failing to thrive. (I have this,so we are avoiding the issue for now).

Sorry, but I am just curious!!! What is Gluten?? and what is celiac disease? I am guessing it has something to do with meat becuase you said you are a vegitarian.

Just wondering

sillyakchick

Moderator

Joined: 12 Apr 2007
Posts: 2689

Thanks: 4

Thanked:0

Posted: 06-14-07 14:47pm


Celiac disease is a hereditary auto immune disorder that is triggered by eating gluten, which is a protein chain found in wheat, rye, oats, and barley. Children and adults who have it fail to absorb the nutrients in their food after a period of being exposed to gluten. the body attacks the proteins when they reach the upper part of the small intestine (duodenum) as if they were invading organisms. the end result is that the villi in the small intestine become flattened and then cannot do their job of properly absorbing nutirents. the result is that although one eats and eats, one is essentially starving to death.

*star*

Supporter

Joined: 12 Dec 2006
Posts: 1780
Location: ,

Thanks: 19

Thanked:18

Posted: 06-14-07 14:51pm


Oh ok.... I have heard of that now. My cousin has that and she doesn't eat anything with wheat. That's got to be hard though. I once went on a diet that was wheat free. I ate corn chex cerial, corn tortillas, and no crackers. I thought it would be an easy diet. It was way harder than I thought to give those things up...like bread and any kind of cracker. But i did it for 3 weeks and lost like 18 pounds... gained it back of course, but at least I lost it.

sillyakchick

Moderator

Joined: 12 Apr 2007
Posts: 2689

Thanks: 4

Thanked:0

Posted: 06-15-07 09:23am


It really isn't as bad as it sounds once you know what to look for. Luckily, this is a good time in history to have this problem because there are a lot of good products out there. The thing I miss the most is (are you ready for this) .Spaghettios. I don't know why. Thanks for all the responses, ladies. I did not get a call from the ped yesterday, so I am a little bit frustrated. I guess if they aren't concerned about it then I shouldn't be either. Of course, last night she refused to eat any dinner at all. She just tossed it overboard. I think she likes to check the splatter patterns of different foods. My floor may never fully come clean again.

ladylee70

Extremely EHEALTHy

Joined: 14 Nov 2006
Posts: 1912
Location: Boise, Idaho,

Thanks: 1

Thanked:0

Posted: 06-15-07 09:57am


I am also pretty small, usually. I "used to" before this pregnancy weigh about 100 pounds at 5'4. Realistically, I should have been around 110 pounds. My husband is a very tall man, yet he is slender as well. My son is 3 years, 10 months and weighs only 29 pounds. He has always been in the lower percentile for his weight. He is picky and has digestive issues but he was tested for metabolic disorders and had a full blood work up. He is apparently very healthy - minus his digestive problems. Yep, I am a very concerned mother but the doctors are really not as worried. I am just making sure that he gets his vitamins and I try to feed him vegs and fruits, which is like pulling teeth with my incredibly picky child. At my last visit, I was given carnation extra calorie shakes (540 calories) but my son refused. I have to water it down a little for him to drink some. I was supper small when I was his age. I was probably even smaller. I can't say, don't be concerned because that would make me a huge hypocrite. I can say you are not alone and hang in there. You do have options. I do have a question? Is celiac disease hereditary? Is there a way your child can be tested for this now?? I am wondering if your child doesn't have the disease, if giving her gluten products would help her gain weight? I am just curious as I know nothing about this issue.

sillyakchick

Moderator

Joined: 12 Apr 2007
Posts: 2689

Thanks: 4

Thanked:0

Posted: 06-15-07 11:06am

ladylee70 wrote:

I am also pretty small, usually. I "used to" before this pregnancy weigh about 100 pounds at 5'4. Realistically, I should have been around 110 pounds. My husband is a very tall man, yet he is slender as well. My son is 3 years, 10 months and weighs only 29 pounds. He has always been in the lower percentile for his weight. He is picky and has digestive issues but he was tested for metabolic disorders and had a full blood work up. He is apparently very healthy - minus his digestive problems. Yep, I am a very concerned mother but the doctors are really not as worried. I am just making sure that he gets his vitamins and I try to feed him vegs and fruits, which is like pulling teeth with my incredibly picky child. At my last visit, I was given carnation extra calorie shakes (540 calories) but my son refused. I have to water it down a little for him to drink some.

I was supper small when I was his age. I was probably even smaller.

I can't say, don't be concerned because that would make me a huge hypocrite. I can say you are not alone and hang in there. You do have options.

I do have a question? Is celiac disease hereditary? Is there a way your child can be tested for this now?? I am wondering if your child doesn't have the disease, if giving her gluten products would help her gain weight? I am just curious as I know nothing about this issue.

Celiac is hereditary. She can't be tested now because she has never had gluten. You have to be eating it to tell. The later you introduce gluten to your child, the less likely they are to develop the disease, so that's why we are waiting. Gluten free products typically have more fat, calories, and cholesterol than their gluten counterparts, so hopefully this has helped a little bit.

Thanks for the positive vibes, I am glad my kid isn't the only teeny one!