I don't want to tell you how much my baby weighs

[leigh09]

It seems to be such a common question - How much does he weigh? Frankly, I don't want to tell you because of the inevitable next comments - he's small, when (my child, grandchild, etc) was that age they were already pounds heavier than your baby. and so on.

This is my third small baby and my third time around with low milk supply, you think I would have already come up with a snappy reply to make people realize that big baby doesn't always equal healthy baby, and small baby doesn't always equal unhealthy baby.

Am I just being ridiculous? Or anyone else hate the "How much does your baby weigh" questions?

[tessie]

We're on the opposite end of the issue - we get lots of 'isn't she big' comments. (And even people asking if we're sure she's only x months old - um, yeah - I was there at the birth! ) But it doesn't bother me that much, people will always find something to pick on - can he walk, talk, count, use a spoon etc?

Competitive parenting, don't take it to heart.

[Sheryl1678]

I had a UC and I don't vaccinate so dd has never been to a doctor (in 10mo). When family members ask about weight I joke about throwing her on a produce scale at Walmart but it wont go high enough. That freaks them out and shuts them up permanently.

[Juvysen]

FWIW, I had ample supply (too much - DD had issues with it overwhelming her) and she was still a total peanut. She was just shy of doubling her birth weight by a year.



I got a lot of "oh, isn't she tiny!" and I just laughed and said "yep, just like I was". She was born at 8lbs 9 oz and was just shy of 17 lbs at her 1 yr appointment. *shrug* Active, though...

[mamalink4]

Don't feel so bad, small babies are just as healthy as bigger counterparts (usually). I am dealing with a small one myself right now and have a ped and midwife worried about his weight. which means weekly weight checks, and stuffing him full with supplements and such. It's no fun, but don't feel alone!!

[_betsy_]

People actually ask you for her exact weight? That's just weird. I guess I'd just say something like "She's a peanut, just like her siblings were!" and leave it at that.

[leigh09]

Originally Posted by _betsy_

People actually ask you for her exact weight? That's just weird. I guess I'd just say something like "She's a peanut, just like her siblings were!" and leave it at that.

I usually say things that he's small, our whole family is small or that i know we make small babies. it really annoys me how people seem to push on the weight issue though and can't just leave it be

[anj_rn]

I have the opposite problem. BIG babies, I just give their weight in kilograms. Most people don't know what to do with that info (or it takes them a while to do the math), so I can happily walk away.

[_betsy_]

Maybe try the ever-popular "The doctor is quite happy with his weight" or "not concerned about his weight." Or even "Wow, that's rude. How much do YOU weigh?"

[northwoods1995]

I have one very small child. I do get bothered sometimes by the comments, especially when people push it and are rude or mean. I usually say something about DH and I being small as children and our Dr. isn't concerned.

[jeca]

It goes both ways you can never get away from annoying people. With my oldest it was comments on how small he was. With my youngest comments on how big she was. Try not to take it to heart.

[AislinCarys]

We've hot a teeny-tiny one too. DH usually tells people who comment her weight/height that so far it has beem really economical! She didn't grow out of newborn size cloth nappies (the ones adverticed "only for the tiniest newborn") until she was 9 months old, and from about 5 months, until about 18 months she's worn the same size clothing (9 months or 62-68 cl).

I sometimes say that a petite baby is much easier to carry around.

[justthinkn]

It's so hard not to be hurt by comments like these when you have low supply. At a nursing support group I once had a mama ask me in front of about 20 others if DD was a premie (she wasn't) b/c her son was a little younger and so much plumper than her... I remember just wanting to curl up in a ball and cry! But I just gave the simple truth: "We're working on some nursing issues." Today I would add: "Pass the bean dip?"

[bender]

I had a similar thing happen at a breastfeeding support group too. One mom, whose baby is 2 months younger, weighs the same as my baby. She kept bringing it up, and then when she did a weighed feeding, she kept asking everyone if 4oz in a feeding is too little, and why my baby is the same weight at hers. After she left, I needed reassurance from the LC that I'm not starving my baby, and that he's taking after his dad. It was so frustrating, because it takes so long to build confidence in nursing skillz when you have low supply.

[welsh]

I hate that! A nurse at the Ped's office once commented that it was strange that DS was so slim when his Mama isn't!!!!!!!!!!

[leigh09]

Originally Posted by welsh

I hate that! A nurse at the Ped's office once commented that it was strange that DS was so slim when his Mama isn't!!!!!!!!!!

oh my... that might top the rude comments list.
you ladies boost my confidence. this isn't my first time around with a small baby so you think i would be used to it.

i have also told people (well, my mom - she's the worst and also ant-breastfeeding - my babies would be heavier if i would give give them formula) i can't remember his weight, the doctor tells me in kilos and i can't remember the exact grams off the top of my head.

[Dahlea]

Originally Posted by tessie

We're on the opposite end of the issue - we get lots of 'isn't she big' comments. (And even people asking if we're sure she's only x months old - um, yeah - I was there at the birth! ) But it doesn't bother me that much, people will always find something to pick on - can he walk, talk, count, use a spoon etc?

Competitive parenting, don't take it to heart.

Same here-people think something is wrong with him because he's so big and he's not doing x, y, and z-well, he's not old enough! It's bad no matter if you're small or big sadly =(