Skinny Babies Tribe - Page 4

[MJB]

Originally Posted by Adaline'sMama 

 Right now she is in the 1% on weight and 10% on height and 75% on head size. You'd think she looked like a bobblehead doll just looking at percentiles .

Edie's percentiles are like that, too. 95th% for head circumference, 76% height, and 16% weight. My little lollipop!

She's gained a lot over the past couple months I've been on domperidone-- she was in like the 3rd % for weight at 8 months. She is still skinny but she's getting a thigh roll back. She's a huge eater and I give her lots of fat-- peanut butter, meat, cheese, pasta, beans, etc. 

[Adaline'sMama]

Originally Posted by MJB 

Edie's percentiles are like that, too. 95th% for head circumference, 76% height, and 16% weight. My little lollipop!

She's gained a lot over the past couple months I've been on domperidone-- she was in like the 3rd % for weight at 8 months. She is still skinny but she's getting a thigh roll back. She's a huge eater and I give her lots of fat-- peanut butter, meat, cheese, pasta, beans, etc. 

What about fats like butter, oil, and heavy whipping cream?

Ive been experimenting with feeding her butter. It seems like she doesnt like the taste of olive oil, but I think its because I have the extra virgin and she thinks its too bitter. Ada loves Annies Mac and Ive been using like almost a whole stick of butter in one box of pasta (which she will eat half of in one sitting). This was per the peds suggestion by the way. She will not eat avacado at all anymore (not as guac, not with salt, not at all) I've only been feeding her this for about a week. It seems that while these will make her gain, maybe they arent as healthy as I think they are? I know there are huge arguments about whether or not butter is a good fat or a bad fat, but Im not sure what to think.

[HeatherB]

I've got my first falling-off-the-growth-chart baby after three pretty average DSs. Of course, this is my first girl, too. People keep telling me she's just "petite" because she's a girl. I don't know that I buy that, but I also don't see any major issues with her... minor, but not major.

She was my biggest at birth at 8-4, a full pound bigger than my middle boys. At 2 weeks she'd dropped a reasonable amount (though there were difference in scales that made it look bigger). At 2 months, it was clear she hadn't gained very much - averaging about 3 ounces a week instead of the norm for BFd babies of 5-8. After having her posterior tongue tie clipped, she started gaining 4oz/wk, and at 4.5 months was over 12.5 pounds. She sat at the 15th percentile for a couple of months in there, so we were happy. Then, at 6 months, she was exactly 14lbs, and had slipped to the 10th percentile.

She still looks happy and healthy, is active (but not TOO active), responsive, engaged, and meeting all milestones ahead of schedule. The only concern I do have is that she has had mucousy stools for a while and there's evidence of occult blood in her stools. So I think it may be food allergies perhaps inhibiting some absorption? My MW suggested giving her slippery elm to help heal her intestines, so I'm hoping that will help!

I do love that she's tiny, though. People seem startled at how alert and engaged she is, but that's not really weird for my kiddos, though I think her size intensifies that effect. It does make buying clothes a little trickier, though, as I never know if she's going to start growing faster and "catch up" - and I'm buying things a bit ahead and hoping they'll fit!

[ZombieMama]

So glad to have found this thread...

My DD is 8 months, and she has fallen way down on the growth charts. She was born at 9 lb 1 oz, and was my second smallest baby, but not small by any means. Then we watched her slowly move down the growth charts.... 75th percentile at her first checkup, then down to 50th, then 20th... Her ped became concerned and is really pushing formula, which we are not happy about (her reasoning is that I am 13w preg, and my milk doesn't have enough calories).

I wasn't concerned until her last checkup. She gained nothing in a month, and has fallen into the 13.5 percentile. She is still in the 70th percentile for height, so she is tall and skinny (like, see her vertebrae skinny).

I still feel a let down reflex when she nurses, on demand, so I know my milk isn't low. She has plenty of wet diapers.

We decided to try more solids, which she is taking willingly. I do mix some of her foods (oatmeal, avocado purees, etc) with formula, because even though I have a good milk supply, I have never been successful at pumping. And I'd rather mix her foods with formula than water.

We are supposed to go back for another checkup in 3 weeks (her ped wants to see her every month to check her growth). I am so worried she will not gain again and... I don't know. I get paranoid, I guess.

I really wanted to wait to feed her solids so much and so often, but everyone (family and friends- not just the doctor) are concerned about her weight, and she is willingly taking the foods we offer her.

Whew! That felt good to get off my chest! Thanks so much for starting this tribe.

This is my first experience with a skinny baby. My 3 sons were always above the 75th percentile in weight and height.

[HeatherB]

ZombieMama, it looks as though we're in a similar boat as far as having a DD after 3 DSs. It complicates things because who knows how much really IS just gender difference?

Has she had any digestion issues? Mucousy stools? Blood (visible or occult) in her stools? It sounds like she's getting plenty of calories so I'm wondering if there's something else going on. For my DD, I'm really thinking it's food intolerances. But, I've gotta buckle down and go off of the likely problem foods (again) and see if I can figure it out. I have to remember that, in all likelihood, I'm sensitive to the same things and we'll BOTH feel better off of them. Alas, it's hard to make big changes!

Oh, also, have you rented a baby scale to check her breastmilk intake? I did that 24/7 for a couple of days with DD to see whether she was getting enough milk. She was *just* getting enough (i.e., low side of normal), but it was good to know. She started gaining more after her posterior tongue tie was clipped, but has fallen further on the growth curve, again.

[ZombieMama]

Nope, no food issues at all! I've been extremely lucky that none of my children have had any food intollerances. I couldn't imagine how hard it would be to completely have to change your diet.

Her ped said that if she has no gain this month, she wants to do some blood tests on DD. Make sure her sugar levels are ok, check her thyroid, things like that. I didn't even think about weighing her to check her milk intake- this is something I'll discuss with my LC and my partner. Thanks for that advice! Next step after blood tests (knock on wood everything is ok) would be an SNS.

[HeatherB]

Sounds like a good plan! Keep us posted!

[MJB]

Originally Posted by Adaline'sMama 

Originally Posted by MJB 

Edie's percentiles are like that, too. 95th% for head circumference, 76% height, and 16% weight. My little lollipop!

She's gained a lot over the past couple months I've been on domperidone-- she was in like the 3rd % for weight at 8 months. She is still skinny but she's getting a thigh roll back. She's a huge eater and I give her lots of fat-- peanut butter, meat, cheese, pasta, beans, etc. 

What about fats like butter, oil, and heavy whipping cream?

Ive been experimenting with feeding her butter. It seems like she doesnt like the taste of olive oil, but I think its because I have the extra virgin and she thinks its too bitter. Ada loves Annies Mac and Ive been using like almost a whole stick of butter in one box of pasta (which she will eat half of in one sitting). This was per the peds suggestion by the way. She will not eat avacado at all anymore (not as guac, not with salt, not at all) I've only been feeding her this for about a week. It seems that while these will make her gain, maybe they arent as healthy as I think they are? I know there are huge arguments about whether or not butter is a good fat or a bad fat, but Im not sure what to think.

We do give her butter and oil (she loves fried food). Babies have totally different nutritional requirements than adults. Also, there are some olive oil spreads that she likes.

Lately we've even given her a little ice cream (my poor big kids didn't even get cake on their first birthdays). She loves mac n cheese and ravioli. She likes pesto which has both olive oil and nuts. She hates avocado. 

She's walking all over the place now and definitely burning up a lot of energy. We were at a birthday party the other day where she was obviously the skinniest, but also by far the most mobile. It's not like I can tie her down! 

[howeberry]

Originally Posted by MJB 

She's walking all over the place now and definitely burning up a lot of energy. We were at a birthday party the other day where she was obviously the skinniest, but also by far the most mobile. It's not like I can tie her down! 

Does anyone else find their skinny babe to be very active? My 14.5 lb 6 mo DS started crawling 2 weeks ago. This has made diaper changes near impossible! All he wants to do is go go go! 

[Adaline'sMama]

My babe is super active. We went to a party with 4 other kids who range in age of 14-18 months and DD was by far the most active and talkative. (Two were boys, and I have heard that sometimes girls are faster about things, but Im not really sure if I believe it.)

[haleyelianasmom]

YES!  Amaryn is 10 months old and started walking (just finally hit 15 lbs).  She started crawling right at 6 months and took her first steps at 8.5 months.  She doesn't like being in the carriers or held much and fights horribly when getting into her car seat or for diaper changes because she just doesn't want to stay still. ever.
 

Originally Posted by howeberry 

Does anyone else find their skinny babe to be very active? My 14.5 lb 6 mo DS started crawling 2 weeks ago. This has made diaper changes near impossible! All he wants to do is go go go! 

[howeberry]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adaline'sMama 

My babe is super active. We went to a party with 4 other kids who range in age of 14-18 months and DD was by far the most active and talkative. (Two were boys, and I have heard that sometimes girls are faster about things, but Im not really sure if I believe it.)

I've heard the same thing, although I seem to recall it's more to do with height and maturity level, I'm sure there are other aspects too.

I do try to be careful to not imply my babe is smarter than other babies just cause he's mobile. On the contrary, I'll comment how lucky moms are are for having a good sitter. I'd love to be able to put my LO down and find him where I left him. My guy learned how to crawl before he could sit well unassisted!

Quote:

Originally Posted by haleyelianasmom 

YES!  Amaryn is 10 months old and started walking (just finally hit 15 lbs).  She started crawling right at 6 months and took her first steps at 8.5 months.  She doesn't like being in the carriers or held much and fights horribly when getting into her car seat or for diaper changes because she just doesn't want to stay still. ever.

I'm trying to figure out how to wrap a pre-fold diaper around my squirmy guy. As soon as I lay him down after peeing (we EC), he rolls over and crawls away!

[kimkim]

My lo 10 months 15# and super active! We ec so I'm thinking trainers would be easier than wrestling a prefold on.
Crawled before 6 months too.

Sent from my Nexus One using Tapatalk
Edited by kimkim - 7/11/11 at 5:00pm

[aikigypsy]

Me too!

My little guy was a preemie, but at 4 lb 7 oz was actually on the 50th percentile for his gestational age. Came home 7 long weeks later at about 7 lbs, and kept gaining OK for a few months. Our pediatrician (who I am not happy with, but there are no better doctors here who are taking patients) became "concerned" that he was "falling off his own curve" lately. He was skating along below the charts, based on his birth age. Lo and behold, when I plotted his weight on the WHO charts he's following that curve exactly, at about 1%. His head circumference is big, 60% or so (can't remember exactly) and he's around the 3rd %ile for length. He is also very active, and I think that makes a difference. He's 10 months old from birth age, so 8.5 months adjusted, and he was15 pounds, 8 ounces at the doctor's office last week. I think he's grown since, but we don't have a good scale at home.

My DD, who is 3.5, was 8lb. 11 oz. at birth, but stopped gaining for ages around 12-24 months. She's settled out somewhere in the lower end of the chart, between 10% and 25%. I think this guy will get there eventually, but they just seem to be slow growers. I was, too -- always the smallest kid in my class until halfway through high school. I am now solidly average in height but people think I'm taller because I don't slouch.

My pediatrician who is an ____, recommended offering solids 5 times a day and getting him off breast milk. "We see it over and over again," said the nurse, "They fill up on liquids and they just don't gain." They were trying to tell me that all solids are better nutritionally/have more calories than all liquids. I could not believe my ears, but that is honestly what they were saying. I have written the doctor an angry letter, telling her that she really ought to be more supportive of breastfeeding and not be such an idiot about nutrition. We are trying to up the fatty solids, 3 times a day, and I'm also trying to breastfeed more, because I do think he could stand to gain some more weight, but it's not a freakin' medical emergency!!!

[whoami]

Originally Posted by aikigypsy 

My pediatrician who is an ____, recommended offering solids 5 times a day and getting him off breast milk. "We see it over and over again," said the nurse, "They fill up on liquids and they just don't gain." They were trying to tell me that all solids are better nutritionally/have more calories than all liquids. I could not believe my ears, but that is honestly what they were saying. I have written the doctor an angry letter, telling her that she really ought to be more supportive of breastfeeding and not be such an idiot about nutrition. We are trying to up the fatty solids, 3 times a day, and I'm also trying to breastfeed more, because I do think he could stand to gain some more weight, but it's not a freakin' medical emergency!!!

Good for you for standing up for yourself! I wish I had the ____'s to write our doctor a letter. Yeah, it may be true that babies fill up on liquid and then don't want to eat solids but not all babies are the same. Even though some solids have more calories and your baby isn't gaining at the rate they feel he should be, doesn't mean they should discourage you to stop bf! I completely understand their concern, but as the parent, we have to trust our instints and not blindly trust the doctor, who may, or may not, have an alternative agenda.

And I'm sorry to hear there is not a different doctor for you to switch to. That has to be rough. Sadly though it seems not many doctors are in favor of breastfeeding. Our doctor, who I was told has the most bf friendly practice in town, is already trying to get my babe off the boob because he isn't gaining. Okay, I get it, but not every baby has to gain at the same rate and be a michelin baby. And I'm sure those big babies parent's hear the same thing, "your baby is too big, you should stop feeding him so much".

[ZombieMama]

Well I'm back with some good and bad news..

The bad news is that due to this current pregnancy, my breast milk has almost completely dried up. DD now only nurses to fall asleep (after a bottle) and for comfort. Also, at her 9 month appointment, we found that despite our best efforts, she had only gained an ounce in a month. She has now fallen into the 6th percentile.

The good news is that our pediatrician has ordered up a ton of bloodwork to make sure there is not an underlying issue. BUT! She said that if everything comes back OK that because DD is healthy, and happy, and meeting all of her developmental milestones, that we can just chalk this up to her just being a tiny baby and quit worrying.

I am pleased with this.

[Adaline'sMama]

Zombiemama,
If it makes you feel better, DD was in the 5% around 9 months and she only gained one pound between 10-16 months. She is super healthy, she is just a small baby. She just now weighs in at 18 lbs.

[MJB]

Edie will be 1 next week, and she's 18 lbs. and change (3-4 oz). She's been walking since 10 mos. and seems otherwise normal or ahead developmentally. She's much smaller than her 8 mo. old cousin! I know she is getting enough breastmilk and a LOT of solid food, but she just seems destined to be tiny at this point. 

[carepear]

Hi ladies,  I just wanted to check in with the other mamas of skinny babies.  The kid just had her 1 year appt (at 13 months - I forgot!) and she weighed in at 16 lbs 1 oz.  I always say I'm not going to worry but in my mind I have an expectation of a specific weight and then when she doesn't hit that weight it stresses me out.  I just KNEW she was going to be at least 17 lbs.  As of now she is gaining less than 1 oz per week.

Any mamas out there with toddlers that just stayed little?  Do these little babies grow into extremely skinny ectomorph adults?

[MJB]

Originally Posted by carepear 

Hi ladies,  I just wanted to check in with the other mamas of skinny babies.  The kid just had her 1 year appt (at 13 months - I forgot!) and she weighed in at 16 lbs 1 oz.  I always say I'm not going to worry but in my mind I have an expectation of a specific weight and then when she doesn't hit that weight it stresses me out.  I just KNEW she was going to be at least 17 lbs.  As of now she is gaining less than 1 oz per week.

Any mamas out there with toddlers that just stayed little?  Do these little babies grow into extremely skinny ectomorph adults?

My skinny babies (18-20 lbs. at a year) jumped way up on the growth charts by 2.