11mo not gaining weight...

[voxana]

My 11mo has only gained 1.5 pounds in 4 months and over the past 2 months
hasn't gained any weight, staying at 18lbs 8 ounces. He nurses on demand and
eats some finger foods, but not much (we've been taking the baby-led weaning
approach). The pediatrician isn't concerned, but we have thought that part of healthy growth is gaining weight, and then when we see him next to other babies the same age, he seems quite a bit smaller.

Does anybody have experience with a baby this age gaining weight too slowly, or not gaining at all? Any thoughts or advice?

[claddaghmom]

I won't give out medical advice but I will say that this is a very common phenomenon.

Is your doctor using the breastfeeding charts to follow growth, or the formula feeding charts?

I was raised in a culture/family that thought this was completely normal. Never blinked an eye at it. But outside of my family, I see a lot of concern for this slow-down in growth.


http://pediatrics.aappublications.or...full/110/3/648

Practitioners should use anticipatory guidance to inform parents at 1-, 2-, and 4-month-old well-child visits that these growth charts are based primarily on bottle-fed infants and that their exclusively breastfed infants should be expected to be leaner on the growth chart at their upcoming 6-, 9-, and 12-month visits.

Listen to your instincts and if you do fear something is amiss, see a doctor. Otherwise, this seems to be a normal stage.

[Auraji]

My DD lost a couple ounces in the last month. She has grown in height though. I think is because they're so active and my DD is eating more and more food, but there are still days in which she doesnt eat much.

The doctors have never even brought it up, they think she's very healthy.

[pbjmama]

I agree it is fairly common for weight to plateau, baby get active and burns the calories. What was his birth weight? What size are his family members?

[MangoMommy]

Mine has done the same (as has a friend's baby, same age) and I attribute it to how active they are now.