worried about my baby's weight at 5months

Sarah - posted on 09/18/2012

My 5 month old is only 11 pounds and was like 0 percentile, the doctor was a little concerned. He just said put him on rice cereal and see if he gains some weight. He is breastfeed only but spits up a lot and I don't understand why because breastfeed babies should have an easier time digesting the milk. Hopefully at his 6 month check up he gains some weight because I really don't want to have to supplement him with formula. My daughter was also little.

Nicola - posted on 02/10/2010

I have twin boys who were weighed yesterday 6 months of age the youngest weighs 8.1kg and the eldest 8.5kg who clearly has the bigger appetite.( I put the weight gain down to genes) I am yet to start them on solids. They are content and are fully brest fed with a bottle feed top up at the end of the day or when left with Grandma. Both are very happy, active, noisey, crying, laughing the whole lot.



Babies develope at different speeds, as long as your child is healthy dont be too concerned about weight gain in our society.

Cristina - posted on 02/08/2010

My son will be 6 months on the 14th, and weighs almost 23 pds. I took him to the doctor cus I was worried that he was too big, and the doctor reassured me that all babies are different and grow at different stages. I thought there was something wrong with my lil man cus everyone i know has a small baby. But people on here give great advice.

Hannah - posted on 02/08/2010

I totally agree with you Kim - we need different charts for bottle vs breast fed babies because they grow at quite different rates.
My daughter appears on the 25th percentile on the combined charts (based on averages between bottle and breastfed babies). Yet she would be on about the 30th percentile on World Health Organisation percentile charts based on breastfed babies alone.
You can see all the WHO charts here: http://breastfeeding.suite101.com/articl...
One of my mum friends with a bottle fed baby (by necessity because her milk did not come in due to hormonal problems) was told by the nurses that her baby was too big based on the combined charts. She was advised to slow down on the solids despite the fact that her child was only having rice cereal once a day. Her baby was not fat, just larger because bottle fed babies grow at a faster rate.

Kim - posted on 02/08/2010

ive heard from somewhere there meant to be bringing in 2 different charts 1 for breastfed babies and another for bottle fed, which personally if they do it would be great. unless they have told you to worry about weight then dont just enjoy your baby!

Hannah - posted on 02/05/2010

There's nothing to worry about! Breastfed babies naturally grow at a rapid rate followed by a slowing of the growth rate. Just think about it: babies become more mobile and burn up a lot more energy as they get older. There's no way that a baby would pack on the weight as fast when they're active compared to when they're passively lying in bed and sleeping most of the time.
Also, when babies start solids, they are likely to drop a little in their weight gain as their digestion gets used to solid foods. They don't instantly digest and absorb solid food.
My daughter is 6 months old, breastfed and weighs 6.875kg a few days ago. She's healthy and the maternal nurses are very happy with her weight. She still fits into 3-6 month clothes and is not a very chubby baby overall. A baby's "chubbiness" or not is also genetic. Some families tend to have slender babies and others have "milk Buddhas". My family tends to have slender babies.
There's too much emphasis put on actual weights and sizes. The charts are a guide and a baby on the 10th percentile is still normal. There is a wide range of normal!
Keep up the breast milk, letting him have as much as he will take because breast milk is more nutritious than any solids at this stage and should form the basis for his diet for the first 12 months while he learns to eat more food. You should not expect him to drop his breast milk intake for quite some time yet. Trust your breast milk - it is going to give him all that he needs for a long time even when he's eating quite a bit of solids. Don't try to wean him off the breast too early.

Sarah - posted on 02/05/2010

idk much about the kg system but my daughter is going to be 6 months on the 13 of feb. and she is 15lbs and only 24 in long. she is very short. haha. its weird bcus im like 5'9" haha but her dad is shorter and so is his whole family. she still wears a few newborn outfits actually haha. she wears mostly 3-6 month outfits but their mostly always tooo long and the 6-9 mont one is too big.

Alicia - posted on 02/05/2010

my daughter is 5 months old, she is 28 inches and only 14 lbs 13 oz i wouldnt worry, all kids grow at different paces. what i was told was at 6 months your baby should weigh twice of what they did when they were born.

Deanna - posted on 02/03/2010

Yah my daughter is the same way. She is long and lean. She is 6 months old as of yesterday and weighed in at 15.1lbs and 27 1/4" long. But the doctor was not worried. She eats a lot included baby food and cereal and breastmilk. I think she has a high metabolism. My husband if 6'7 and I am 6'. She said babies who were on the go were likly not to gain as much. Man I guess I just need to quite worrying and try to not compare her to other babies. She is happy go lucky little girl.

Morgan - posted on 02/03/2010

I feel like I have a huge baby now. At my daughters 4 month appt she was 26.5 inches long and 16 lbs 8 oz. We go in March for her 6 month appt 2 weeks after she turns and I know she'll be huge. I weighed her two weeks ago and she was 17lbs 2 oz! She is EBF with no solids or rice cereal. I just think every baby is different

Stacey - posted on 02/03/2010

I have two girls, 1st was born 7lb ( 51cm ) and the 2nd was 6lb ( 51cm ). My 2nd daughter is 6 months old ( DOB 1/8/09 ) and I too exclusively breastfeed her. I am giving her a taste of some plain foods and she had her first try of farex today. She weighed 6350g and measured 61cm at her clinic visit last Thursday and the nurse didn't seem worried at all - just saying that she is a little doll - and that she is on track with her weight and height percentiles. It was the same with my first daughter as well. So I wouldn't be too concerned, just like everyone is saying, as long as she is gaining weight, then that's good!! =)

Kelly - posted on 02/03/2010

Too much emphasis is place on babies weight.... Just because they aren't big fat chubby bubbies doesn't mean there is anything wrong. If your bub is active & happy he is probably doing fine. Just enjoy your bub. I had twins who were born 8 weeks early at 2lb 11oz & 2lb 12oz and are both now 12.5kg (4 yrs/old now) and a 6 month old who was 8lb 1oz and is now 8.19kg. The twins were always small but they were always fine, happy, active & contented babies. And clothes sizes are all different so thats nothing to go by.

Kim - posted on 02/02/2010

ive had 2 boys both totally different in sizes, my 1st was born heavier and longer than my 2nd but he is the tall skinny 1 now and my 2nd is heavier than the 1st was. my son is 6months old on the 4th and im fully breastfeeding him, he gets to try a few things now and again(finger foods) but i do not feed him my self, hv dont normally recomend eating solids befor 6 months. i wouldnt worry if he isnt loosing weight and he looks healthy!

Morgan - posted on 02/01/2010

My personal opinion is that he should not be on solids 3 times a day....it's said that babies are not even capable of digesting solids because they do not have the proper bacteria in there gut to digest it...with that said he is probably passing the food quickly. My daughter is an august baby(weighing 21 lbs) as well and I have maybe given her solids a hand full of time. Bottle and breast is the best until 6 months that's my outlook at it...if you feel that your son has not put on weight and you are worried you should maybe get a second opinion from a pediatrician. I hope everything works out.

Rebecca - posted on 02/01/2010

I think even though he slowed down growing doesn't mean anything. You don't need to stress cause not all babies are the same. If his happy that's all that matters

Caralee - posted on 02/01/2010

Not all babies are chubby! My first son was long and skinny. My 2nd and 3rd were chubby. Don't worry, as long as he is healthy, that's all the matters.

Joelle - posted on 01/31/2010

I just took my son in for his 6 month check up, He only weights 15 lbs 3 ozs. The doctore says that is low as well. I have been feeding him solids as well, one too two times a day, but I also feed him 4 too 6 bottles. He is a very active little man, and is aboyt 68 cms tall. Just skinny. I am not too worried because he is drinking the required amount of milk, but I know that a sign that babies are not drinking enough milk is when they dont stay steady gaining weight. As long as you little one is drinking enough, then is should be fine, but if not just keep offering bottles, and maybe cut out some food, and replace with a bottle. (I always give my son a bottle with his breakfast and dinner)

Leisa - posted on 01/31/2010

my bubby will be 6mths on Feb 12th, she weighs 7.4kg (62cm) was born 3.92kg, she is eating solids twice daily and about 4-5 bottles a day, My doctor said that she is really healthy! She always says as long as she is putting on weight thats good. I thought I may of been feeding her tooooo much! But she eats doesnt go hungry and is the best baby ever....

Nichole - posted on 01/28/2010

My first son was born average weight, 7lbs 8oz, but he was tall. People used to ask me if I was starving him when he was growing up because he was really tall, but very skinny, but ate like a pig. He is now 17 years old, 6'4" and only 160lbs. Again he is tall, but really thin. My Dr used to tell me that he looked like he had a tape worm when he was growing up, as a joke, not to worry. All babies are different.

I now have a 5 month old who is 26" and a whopping 22lbs! He's wearing 9-12 month clothes. Now the Dr is saying "He's going to be a big boy" Yeah, he also eats. Breast milk, formula, and table food. He loves everything! So I wouldn't worry too much. Just enjoy your baby.

Julie - posted on 01/28/2010

my health visitor told me that baby's weight slows down to almost a stopping point once the reach 3 months my son who is 5 months was 6kg last month

and is his twins sister was 5.5kg the health visitor told me that they dont have any concern becouse they are not losing weight and they would only worry if the babies had lost weight

Nahla - posted on 01/28/2010

Elaine, you almost have the story of my life :). my baby girl was born at 4.06 Kg and now she is 5 months & only 6.2 Kg. ive been worried for months but everyone (including doctors) assure me there is nothing wrong and shes a healthy little girl, happy & active. i exclusively breastfed her & ve now introduced solids and she's doing great! dont worry at all as long as the baby is active and interactive :) good luck! P.S.my baby throws up A LOOT!!

Helen - posted on 01/28/2010

my son's weight has also slowed down since he was born, he is also long and thin unlike most babies his age who are as you say chubby, and also doesn't really fit in to his 3-6 month clothes but my health visit is not at all concerned about the slow weight gain as long as it is increasing she informed me that he was simply born into the wrong percentile on his charts and was following the 91st percentile (birth weight 4.18kg) and is now down on the 9th (weight on 17/1/10 was 6.66kg). He does have 2 good sized meals a day along with 20oz of milk, it seems that putting him on food earlier has helped with his weight gain.