Weight percentiles - have I got this right?

Autumn - posted on 04/13/2012

My Breastfed baby is always over the 99% on both breastfeeding and formula charts. I have to disagree with the comment about formula fed babies being bigger.

DS born at 38wks 9lbs 1oz 21in

4 months - 19 lbs 3oz 24 3/4in

now almost 2 31lbs and 37in



DD born at 39wks 8lbs 19in

3 months - 16lbs

she's now 10 years old, tall, but a string bean. As a baby, though. She was my chunky monkey. =)



I just think every baby is different. As long as they are showing gains and aren't losing weight, I wouldn't worry.

Nayyara - posted on 05/06/2010

My son is the same way. I was worried about his weight till I found WHO charts a few days back. On the previous charts he was simply nowhere on the charts, underweight. On WHO charts he is in 10-15 percentile. so yes there is a huge difference.

Kristin - posted on 05/05/2010

My almost three year old is only just now about 25 Lbs. Both of my kids are in the 10% range for both height and weight. There is a difference, but these charts are built on sample groups. WHO's group is a much bigger pool than what the AAP has to draw from. One thing to remember, is your child's doctor may not be adjusting for age. Kids who come early still progress like they didn't. They tend to take their time with just about everything.

So, big point is this. As long as your daughter is following one curve consistently (either will be fine), hitting her milestones, eating/drinking, playing, learning, progressing with no major personality changes, she is just fine. Feed her when she's hungry and let her be done when SHE indicates that she is.

Emma - posted on 05/05/2010

My health visitor has only ever used the one chart and as long as they follow the curve from birth and don't drop off then thats fine. She is just naturally petite. My son was 10lb 5oz born and was on the 98th percentile then dropped to 91st and ever since followed that. He is breast feed and solid feed and not regarded as over weight just naturally big as his height is also on 91st.
Don't worry yourself.

Katrina - posted on 05/05/2010

Don't worry one bit about that. Ally 4 of my babies are/were breast fed. My 2 1/2 yo was the same way and is just reached the 1oth percentile at 23 lbs. She didn't reach 20 lbs until she was 16mths( but that was on Pediasure that they prescribed). My pediatrician says to me, is as long as she is eating and not sick or has any health problems she is fine. And that she is just going to be a petite person. Don't worry momma she'll be just fine.

Katie - posted on 05/05/2010

I can see how a small baby can be a worry for the mother, as you worry if they get enough food or not.

I didnt know there were two charts until recently too!

Some babies are just smaller, whether if they were early, or just small-for-birth-weight like I was at 4lb12oz at full term (and my mum worried too).
Gone are the days that they weigh the baby before and after feeds, thank goodness!!
As long as she is on the same percentile everything should be normal, and no spikes and dips.

Even though there are a lot of big babies out there, and mine is medium big (long but not too chubby), small babies are normal too.

I had an 8lb9oz girl and a cousin only had a 5lb12oz girl.
And my 7 month old is almost growing out of her size 0's (australian 6-9 month size I think). And has been in size 1 onsie pyjamas with feet for about two months now - as her legs are long for her size I think.
I reckon they should make long legged onsie suits with feet, cos they make long and short pants for adults too!!

Faye - posted on 05/04/2010

Absolutely there are two now, never used to be. Your beautiful girl is doing just fine. We have to educate doctors along the way, because their breastfeeding knowledge is too often very limited.

Tania - posted on 05/04/2010

Don't worry too much. As a mum - you know best. And the chart is a guide to make sure there are no major spikes or dips in the childs weight gain which can indicate something is wrong (like most people have said). My son was 5 lb 9.5oz (early too) and he's always just under the 10th but is absolutely perfect. And the girls in our mums group are significantly smaller than the boys, so if you don't think anything is wrong - she is probably growing beautifully

Teresa - posted on 05/02/2010

The only reason for those charts is so that the doctor can make sure that each child is following his/her own personal growth curve. My nephews have never even been ON the chart for weight. My 2 year old son (end of March) weighs almost exactly the same as his just turned 3 year old (today) cousin and my son is only in the '25th percentile' for a two year old yet everyone I run into that doesn't know him and finds out he's 2 always comment on how big he is.... ?? Interesting. ;)

Kathy - posted on 05/02/2010

Sounds like a perfect, petite little girl! Give your doctor a copy of the WHO chart!

Becky - posted on 04/29/2010

I think 20 lbs. 2 oz at 13 months sounds great! My son was only about that at that age too - can't remember exactly, but I know he was still under 20 lbs at 12 months. And he's a boy, so they're typically bigger. But no one was ever concerned. I haven't compared the charts for formula and bf babies, but I did know there are two different ones. But even the charts are just a guideline. Some babies are off them, just follow their own little growth curve, and are still perfectly healthy. If, as you say, she's been growing steadily and she's healthy and meeting milestones, then you have nothing to worry about.

Alana - posted on 04/29/2010

I've heard a lot of doctors are still using an old chart from the 70s and that the group it was taken from was all from the same southern state. The WHO one is way more up to date and used a broader research base.

That said, my son has been in the 3rd percentile on the WHO chart since birth. I'm not worried though. I guess as long as they're growing they're fine. My husband and I are fairly tall thin people, so imaige my son will be as well.

Jemma - posted on 04/29/2010

What's wrong with the 10-15th percentile? not everyone can be on the 50th! If she's following the curve then she is doing all the right stuff - don't worry :) Also look at yourself and your partner - what centile what you put yourselves on? Both my children were born early and my son has just reached the 5th percentile at 3 yrs old. He followed the curve, just off the bottom of the chart. His weight and height are proporionate and he is advanced in development. My husband and I have always been 'small' so we never expected to have big children! If she is happy, healthy, growing and developing stop looking ar charts, they'll only give you something to worry about :)

Lerin - posted on 04/28/2010

I just read the last sentence of your intial post AnneMarie- Just wanted to add that my baby is almost 17 mos. and fully clothed with a cloth diaper weighed 20 lbs 2oz. yesterday! As far as sizes- I never go by the size on tags- she's been in 18 mos. size one-piece outfits since she was 9 mos. old because she has a super-long torso, but is so short that even now she still walks allover the bottom of 12 mos. size pants. Babies are all different.. For statistical purposes the experts have to have all these averages and numbers, but I wish individual doctors (and well meaning strangers/relatives etc!) would just understand that babies are individuals, just like the rest of us :-)

Sarah - posted on 04/27/2010

I think she sounds absolutely perfect!! :) My baby boy is 7 months old & weighs about 16lbs, which is actually lower than average for his age according to those charts (about 10th-15th percentile or so). And he's actually formula fed! Sometimes I get so tired of hearing "Oh my 3 month old is bigger than him!" or something along those lines. It makes me feel like something's wrong with him. :( But, he's always followed the same growth curve, he's happy, and healthy, & the doctor isn't worried. But, I know how you feel...it gets annoying when people tell you things like that!

Andrea - posted on 04/27/2010

oh don't even think about the clothes - it all depends on brand! My daughter is 5 months and was wearing a 6-9 month onsie with NB pants today!

Valerie - posted on 04/27/2010

My daughter is the same way. She is also 13 months and only 18 pounds. She is very healthy and I believe she is a "normal" size as well. She is alway in the 5th to 10th percentile and so was my son. My doctor said someone has to make up the lower numbers. My daughter also has 3 month check ups and she is super healthy and eats all the time. It sounds like your daughter is perfect and does NOT need to fatten up. I will ask my doctor about the chart next time. Thanks for the tips!

Anne - posted on 04/27/2010

Thank you ladies. She has steadily followed the same percentile since birth so they always add in that they are not worried but I am a little annoyed that they have always been giving me the impression that it would be better if she were bigger. I will ask them about the chart next time. Maybe it plays on my mind that my mum was reported by a nurse over my weight as a baby and had to attend a GP assesment. I was also a healthy weight so it didn't go any further but there was always a cloud of suspicion over my mum at the baby clinic because of it and my mum had the fear that I could be taken away.

I don't know if some of you find the same problem but I have to buy clothing for her that is for much younger babies from the stores. This also made me think she was small. She still fits a lot of her 6 to 9 month clothing!

Lerin - posted on 04/27/2010

I agree with what Sara said. Also to note, dr.s look at growth over a pattern- if she were on the 50th percentile one visit, then on the 10th the next, then they'd worry, they just want to make sure that their growth stays steady. My daughter has always been around the 10th percentile & our dr checks her every 3 mos. to 'monitor' her growth. I don't worry- she's smaller than 3 of my friends babies (all formula fed) that are half her age but she's happy, and eats (alot) and pees & poops (alot) & is developing right along.

Andrea - posted on 04/27/2010

I always look at it this way - breastfed babies are "normal" size, it's formula fed babies that are LARGE :) Human milk was formulated to produce large BRAINS - cows milk (which is the basis for formula) was formulated to produce large BONES.

*Fluffy Bunnies - posted on 04/27/2010

There are two different charts. One for formula fed babies and one for breastfed babies. Most doctors use the formula fed charts for whatever reason. Looking at a breastfed chart for girls it looks like she's around the 50th percentile. If your doctor mentions her being small again ask which chart they use. She sounds like she's perfect!