Breastfeeding "not enough" for 1 year old

I'm very skeptical about that 39th percentile, it seems like every doctor has a different chart or different interpretation...my DD was just in for her 1-year appointment today and she weighs 22.5 lbs, which my doctor said was 75th percentile. My DD had also only gained 9 ounces in the past 3 months and I worried that the doctor was going to tell me to nurse less and give her more solids (and she eats a huge amount at each meal already), but I was pleasantly surpised that she said it wasn't a problem at all with their increased activity at this age, and pointed out how my DD had been wiggling and climbing all over me the whole time we were in there.

Anyway, I'm happy to tell you what my DD likes eating, and she only like finger foods, too; she eats lots of grapes (cut into quarters), bananas, we just started strawberries, cheese cubes, peas, green beans. You could also do cheese toast, good nutrition and very crunchy.

I think your daughter sounds like she's doing fine to me, and anyway, not all babies are going to be big!

I'm very confused about your ped's attitude. There need to be kids who are bigger than average and kids that are smaller than average--- that is how averages WORK. We see a lot of people come in concerned because their child is only in the 3rd or 5th percentile... but "only" the 39th? I wouldn't be concerned at all.

When I was researching the matter several years ago (when I had a 20lb 30.5" tall 12 month old, lol, who had dropped 50 percentiles in just a few months) I learned that the optimal diet for a one year old includes *at least* 75% of their calories from bmilk. Both of my children were definately over 90-95% bfed at that age and have grown into healthy children (at 4.5 & 7) who are exactly the size they are supposed to be.

It sounds like she eats perfectly normally and it also sounds like she likes a wide variety of foods. Honestly, it sounds like you are doing perfectly I'd just keep doing what you are doing and she will slowly increase the amount of solids she eats on her own.

Take care.

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Thanks everyone for the feedback. I just needed some reassurance, I think

DD was has always been above the 80th percentile on the chart, so perhaps the large drop worried the ped? I'm not too sure - he just kept repeating that she should eat more solids. However, he did not suggest to cut back on nursing (good for him, or we would have had a "discussion" on our hands )

She is also cruising and wall walking ALL the time now - so I'm sure the increased activity plays a roll too.

I plan on checking out kellymom too. As another poster suggested, I think those charts are for formula-fed babies.

Again, thanks everyone for the support. I won't change our nursing/eating habits. Sometimes I wish I would just follow my gut more and not let the dr make me second guess myself...

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Hehehe, there are a lot of things we don't talk to our ped about already -- co-sleeping, non-CIO, etc. Our visits are going to be nearly silent soon

(I have to say, our ped is pretty good - never a rush for antibiotics, and he's friendly to our very delayed/selective vax schedule. I imagine he doesn't see too many babes that are breastfed past one year though )

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ITA The thought of being worried about being "only" in the 39th percentile is so strange to me. I was so excited at my dd's 1 year appt because she was back on the charts, at the 3rd percentile, I believe. I'm SO glad to have the Dr we do. His office staff are horrible, but he is so pro-bf and is actually knowledgeable.

Some days, all my 14 month old does is follow everyone around wanting what we all have to eat (even though I always offer her a plate of her own, it just tastes better off of her brother's plate I guess. ) and some days she only wants to nurse all day long.

39th percentile seems fine and very healthy to me!! My daughter is 16 months old and nurses every few hours through the night and every few hours all day. Less when we are out running around, and more when she is tired. I always keeps snacks around. Some of our favs are fresh fruit (bananas and peeled sliced apples are clean and easy), slightly cooked vegis (since they are easier to chew), organic cheese crackers, string cheese or chedder cheese cubes, and cereal. I also give her yogurt daily and scrambled eggs and almond butter toast a few times a week. She also takes a few bites of EVERYTHING that I eat, but the above mentioned foods are ones that I prepare especially for her.

Remember, offer foods often, even if they only take a few bites. Over time they will eat more and as long as you continue to offer your breast, they will not stop nursing for a while longer.

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Breastfed babies naturally drop percentiles in the second half of the first year and the second year. The charts are made from info on FF babies- an UN-natural growth pattern.

-Angela