Is she average?

Jennifer - posted on 03/18/2010

My daughter is about the same size as yours, and I am also 5' 1'. She is below 'average' for height and weight (especially weight), in the 5th percentile, but someone has to be below average (and someone above average!). My mom gave me my baby book and my daughter is growing very closely to how I grew. My husband is also small, and I have been very fortunate to only have comments about her small size from strangers. Usually they comment because they are surprised she is walking, talking, etc, so it is easy to laugh off because it makes me feel proud of her. I imagine a baby at the larger end of the spectrum might get the opposite kind of comments, which would be harder to take (for me).

Nicole - posted on 03/17/2010

My son Jason turned 15 months on the 15th he is very tall for his age he's 34 inches (100%) and 23 lbs (45%). Everyone is surprised when they find out his age, most people think his 2 years or older. My nephew and my niece are very small for there age, he is 3 and is still in 2Ts and she is a year in is just now getting into 9 month clothing. The doctor say they are in the 10% to 30% height and weight, but he is not even a little worried.
With that in mind...even children in the same family are not going to be the same size..so she is perfectly normal and you have nothing to worry about. Has for people's comments do they really expect a giant when you're not one? and if she was bigger they would only make comments about how big she is...some people just need to find things to complain about.

Emily - posted on 03/15/2010

I wouldn't worry to much about it. Especially if your pediatrician isn't worried. All babies come in different sizes. My son for example is 14 months and weighs 26 lbs and is 32 inches tall so pretty big but my husband and I are average sized people. My friends baby who is 91/2 months is very tiny, still in 6 month clothing (and that barely fits him) he might be 17 lbs if that and is short as well. His dad is over 6 feet tall and mom is average height and that little baby is perfectly healthy! So no worries about your daughter she's perfect!

Alina - posted on 03/10/2010

Haha, like another poster (Nora), I have a son who is charting in the 90th percentile for height (we are 6' and 6'2") but I had a woman say to me "wow he is so petite for his age". REALLY?
The point is, people have NO IDEA about what consitutes a "normal" size for a baby, let alone for YOUR baby...
If I was 5'1" I would suggest to these folks that I wasn't about to push out an Eiffel Tower and I am pretty content with the "right sized" baby that came out, thank you very much.

Tiffany - posted on 03/08/2010

i wouldnt worry about it if ur only small then she is gonna be if there was a problem the
health visitor would of said something im the same but with my sons weight he is very tall because i am 5.5 and my husband if 6.4 leon was last mesured dec 09 and he was about 30+ inches but he was weighed on the 14th jan and he was only 19.11lbs and is rele scranny lookin pepole keep saying the i dont feed him enougth and allways make comment my son dose not stop eatin he takes after me i am 20 years old and before leon i was sixe six im now a 8 i just dont like pepole saying things like that i end up feelin likw maybe it is my fault and allways wanna cry but like i said if there was any thing wrong the health visitor or docs would say somethin

Elise - posted on 03/06/2010

When I was twelve i was four foot and I weighed 24 kilos now I am an adult I am 5 ft and I weigh about 46 kilos. I have three kids, my two girls, I am constantly getting comments about them from friends, strangers, (even a stranger who commented that she must have been severely prem! She wasn't), Plunket and doctors who want to do a barrage of tests on them because, like me, they are little. Its genetics people! You'll know when you're kids not healthy, until then don't let it worry you.

Brittanie - posted on 03/05/2010

The word "normal" in itself is ridiculous to use on a human being. if you take yourself and compare your hieght/wieght to other people of the same age it's not the same. Babies are no different. I would just ask them if everyone thier age is the same hieght/wieght as they are, they will obviously say no and then ask them do they think they are normal? it's proving your point without completely freaking out.

Nora - posted on 03/05/2010

People just talk to talk really. I wouldn't pay any attention to it. My daughter came out at the 95 percentile on her 1 year check up, so she is taller than the average baby her age however, i have had three whole comments at the play ground by mothers saying "wow, she is small for her age" or "she is so small and pettite" . The comments did bother me a bit but i brushed them off.

These children come at all different sizes we cant just judge and make comments about them its kind of rude.

Anissa - posted on 03/04/2010

O and I know the feeling about his family making comments. I'm short too. 5'4 and my ex was tall 6'2. his family makes comments all the time about how she's tall like her daddy and all kinds of other stuff trying to say "she's just like daddy" she hasn't seen or talked to him since she was 4 1/2 months old. and she looks like me, red hair and all. Just aggravates me especially since i come from a tall family and so my daughter blends in perfectly. them making comments only furthers the "where's my daddy" stuff. I want to yell at them or worse too! but i try to keep the peace!
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Anissa - posted on 03/04/2010

Thats horrible! At my daughter's "One year" check-up she was just over 13mos old and 20lbs and 30.25 inches tall. They said she is TALL for her age! i forgot to ask for her percentiles but she is usually between 65%-75% with the average being 50%. Your daughter isn't much shorter, and only about a month older than my daughter was at her check-up, so she is probably average for her age atleast!

Marlana - posted on 03/02/2010

All babies grow at different rates, people are crazy anyway my daughter is in the 95th percintile in her height and her weight and ppl tell me shes small for age her too! Crazy right

So as long as you and your pediatrician think she growing well shes just perfect :)

Lisa - posted on 02/23/2010

my son was born on the 19th and he is just about the same height as your daughter but he is about 5 pounds heavier and i havent had any comments except for from people who are big (as in tall or fat)...so it is probably not what they are used to....just ignore them.

Suzanne - posted on 02/23/2010

My daughter was also born on dec 14, she is weighing in at 21lbs and is 31 in tall. I always get people saying she is tinny, but I was also when I was a baby. I am only 5'3 myself, but her dad is 6'2. My daughter is just getting her top front teeth, She got her bottom front teeth at 9 months, then at 11 her top canine teeth, which was weird ...Try not to let it bother you, all kids are different. Today while at the shops I met a lady with a little 14 month girl, alot shorter than mine and cubbier, but had 8 teeth, see there all different, if anyone says anything just say all kids are different, but don't let it bother you...

Kimberly - posted on 02/22/2010

As long as your doctor is not concerned you should not be concerned. i've found with my daughters doctor she is very honest and will let me know if there is a problem. see my husband and i are not tall people but our daughter is in the 50-70 percentil for her age group. she has a cousin who is 6days older than her and she is about 2-3 inches taller than her. Her mother is not concerned and i'm not concerned she just looks like a giant next to her cousin. so dont let the people in your life make you feel bad. if they have something bad to say about his hight or weight tell them what his doctor told you, that he is growing at a normal rate and he is just perfect the way he is! :) hope this was helpful. :)

Beccie - posted on 02/22/2010

I have the opposite problem lol. My little one is 14 and half months and weighs 27lb 13oz, 32 inches tall (measurements done a week ago). He has always followed the 91st-98th centile for his weight and 91st centile for his height. Am forever getting comments on how big he is - especially as I am only 5'2, and slim ! He has always eaten a very healthy diet, with fruit and veg with every meal, and chocloate etc being given only now and then, yet I feel as though people think I feed him on macdonalds lol ! Oh well, I know the truth along with those that matter, and thats all you should worry about. As long as she's healthy thats all that counts. And I bet she's a damn sight easier to carry lol xx

Ekta Singh - posted on 02/20/2010

Hi Kathleen..
I so much find myself in your shoes. My daughter was born on Dec 15 and weighs 18 lbs.. I am 5'4" and my hubby is 5'6". I am constantly worried about the same thing all the time.. She's such a picky eater and doesnt like milk either.. Everyday it's a big fight to make her eat. I hate to admit it that I sometimes feel jealous of moms with healthy kids. Feel so low at times.. But always keep on trying my best.. The good thing is she's equally energetic and active.. Hope things improve in future.. wish you good luck too..
BTW, my doc said that to improve on her height, we should her more and more proteins and for her weight, we should concentrate on giving her fats and very high calorie foods.

Zoe - posted on 02/13/2010

I wouldn't worry at all if she is happy and healthy. My little boy is 14 months old and weighs 21lb7oz, me and his dad both 5"6 - hes never going to be massive and is only on the 25 percentile for his height and weight

Shanda - posted on 02/13/2010

I'd just tell them she's just the right size. You're not tall-- why would anyone assume your daughter would be? (Even if her dad's family IS tall!)



My family can drive me crazy with comments about my kids being slender. Um, have they not seen my husband? (6 feet tall and 140 lbs.) DH's stature is exactly what ODS's pediatrician pointed out when I worried about him dropping to the 15th percentile for weight at 4 months (and he's stayed around the 15th-25th ever since.) It is just how he's built, and he is just right for HIM.



I don't know whether your DD is "average" (I have boys so I don't know the growth charts for girls, they're a bit smaller than boys generally) but it sounds like she should definitely be on the chart, so she's just fine!



Or maybe make a joke about it-- "Well, I guess she just takes after her mama!" or something like that. Or just tell them that her doctor says she's perfect.



Don't let people get to you. No matter what size your kid is someone will comment. My DS was on the small side (as I said) and I'd get people telling me he looked so big. People just don't know what they're talking about most of the time anyway!