Baby girl is only 11lb 2oz

Cassandra - posted on 01/20/2011

I do think her not eatting long enough to get the fatty mild may be behind it. I have a really strong letdown, it seems like that satisfies her and shes done. No matter what I do she does not want to eat longer and she wont drink a bottle! so pumping is a waste.

Cassandra - posted on 01/20/2011

I waited till she hit 5mo and tried but she just spit it out . Really had no interest. She will be 6mo in 4 days and I just started giving it to her because she actually ate it. She is long and thin but I mean she has chunk, she just doesn't look like the marshmellow man. Her ribs don't stick out or anything. I have never had anyone look at her and saw wow she looks small or thin. BTW I am almost 5'9 and am only 125lb..just my build. my son is going to be 3 in April he is Tall but is only like 23lb. I just think that is how we are built. Thank You, not that other responses weren't good but you backed your opinion up well.

Jaydensmommy - posted on 01/11/2011

please do what your doc says mommy.

Kathryn - posted on 01/10/2011

My little girl is the same way. she's 5 months and barely 12 lbs. she only feeds 5 minutes at a time so she was only getting the more "watery" milk so I started pumping to feed her the "richer" milk. she feeds more that way I find. I'd never giver her solids until 6 months no matter what anyone says. my health nurse says that would be bad cuz they can't properly digest food yet .follow your instincts. your on the right track.

Kasie - posted on 12/30/2010

I say give her oatmeal only if you want to. You don't have to give her anything until she is 6 months old and it sounds like she is fine and just small like you said so you decide if you want to give it to her or not. You are her mother and just remember, all of these should just be suggestions to take into account. In the end, it's what you feel is best.

Alli - posted on 12/30/2010

i'd give her the oatmeal, not only will she like it, but it'll keep her full, even though she doesnt fuss or ne thing. it wont hurt any,

Alli - posted on 12/30/2010

give her oatmeal

Kinshasa - posted on 12/30/2010

Do not let your doctor worry you. My daughter was born 07/07/2010 so she will be 6 months in a few weeks and she has been in the bottom percentile for everything since she was born. However, I started her on rice cereal and baby food when she was 4 months because she would lean her head towards the spoon and she was a supported sitter all tale tale signs that baby is ready for solids. My baby weighs 13.4 lbs at 6 months and at her 4 month check up she weighed 11lbs 14oz. I breastfeed her so she also eats on demand and she is just fine. When you feel comfortable start her on solids.

Natasha - posted on 12/30/2010

6 months was the old age. it is now anywhere between 4-6 and my health nurse doctor AND pead say they can digest from 4 months. My son started at 4 months he is pooing absolutly fine never had the runns never constipated never vomited or been in pain from starting solids..

Kasie - posted on 12/29/2010

My replies were to Tarina

Kasie - posted on 12/29/2010

AND babies get ALL the nutrients they need from breast milk if she's breast feeding. They don't need extra of those.

Kasie - posted on 12/29/2010

it doesnt matter if its infant oatmeal they still can't digest it properly until 6 months. For ALL babies. It can fill them up but they still can't digest it properly.

Jennifer - posted on 12/29/2010

This is little but follow your instincts.....Is she 5 months? You can totally start cereal with her. We started at 5 with my first son and 4 and a half with this one. my son was 15 pounds and 26 inches at his 4 month check and he was 12 at the two month so you have quite a peanut there or I have a BIG BOY!!! Either way, as long as they are healthy! My first son was small too and as long as they are growing consistently and healthy, they are fine. But it will not hurt to start cereal or supplement with formula if you are concerned.

Gwen - posted on 12/29/2010

Im sure shes fine if she wasnt you would know if anything give her a bottle of formula once a day atleast and see how she goes i did that with my daughter only because she was hungry before i started the food which is only recently.
Goodluck im sure shes fine

Tarina - posted on 12/28/2010

so to clarify, i would imagine the dr is recommending INFANT oatmeal... its infant cereal, like the rice stuff... its not actual thick adult oatmeal. My girls are 5 months and at their last check up 3 wks ago I was encouraged to start oatmeal or rice to help them gain alittle weight also. IF your child has gotten rid of the thrusting reflex (sticking the tongue out and pushing food out of the mouth) then your child is ready to give it a try. 5th percentile means 5%of the population of the US weighed less at that age, it doesnt mean they are unhealthy, but being so long, it seems to me your child is alittle on the thinner side -- imagine a 5 ft tall woman being 100 lbs, or a 5 foot 9 woman weighing the same -- Point being, if your pediatrician recommends it, its not going to hurt your child, they will still brastfeed at normal times, they arent going to eat full meals of oatmeal.. a spoon or two at each "mealtime" then a bottle, but the extra nutrients might help her gain alittle more weight to ease your mind and your dr', and it is good practice for them to learn to eat from a spoon, and sitting up, to transition to meal time at the high chair. Many moms breastfeed well into the 2nd year but that doesnt mean they dont also feed their child regular food too

Kristy - posted on 12/28/2010

Try the oatmeal..it won't hurt! I mix the oatmeal with my breastmilk to make sure my little one is still getting a few ounces of my milk. I only do one feeding of oatmeal a day and I nurse at least 5 times a day. A friend of mine had to feed her son oatmeal at 4 months of age due to weight/sleep issues and he is a very healthy and active baby at 10 months now! Give it a try and see how it goes.

Destinee - posted on 12/28/2010

Hmmm...well, I'll tell you, I started my son on food VERY early-he was about 2 months old. BUT I did it because a) my parents did it with me and I lived and b) he was a TINY baby-born at just over 5# and left the hospital at barely 4#. He is now 5 months old and the doctor still says he is a little underweight-he is 20 lbs and 28 3/4" long. He is TALL and it sounds like your daughter is too. Some babies are just like that-tall and skinny. If you don't feel comfortable starting her on solids now, don't. As long as she is happy and acting like she is full after she breastfeeds, there is no reason to be concerned UNLESS you are worried that she is having absorption problems. If you are worried about that, go with the doctors advice and see what happens between now and her next appointment. Otherwise, just keep doing what you're doing :-)

Kasie - posted on 12/27/2010

Every situation and every baby is different, thats all I'm gonna say.

Elizabeth - posted on 12/27/2010

This isn't steady it's not even close to where a child that size should be. My son's the same height, barely 15lbs and I know I can almost cross the diaper tabs on the size 2s much less then that and you can count ribs. Breastfeeding and formula makes no difference in weight gain if anything breastmilk is usually more fatty which is good cause fat is needed for normal growth and development,so for my point fat is needed for normal development if you don't have it your body can start eating things it shouldn't(ever seen a five year old with osteoporosis? I have it from long term malabsorbtion starting from infancy).

NeQuitta - posted on 12/27/2010

My son's pediatrician said that he has to be at double his body weight by 6 months...but yours is tellin you at 4 months....I'm so confused. But I can say this...My son seems fine to me and has always been an agressive eater. What one person may consider normal, another finds it abnormal. Like 150 is fat to some people but fine to others (just an example) or how some people may think its fine to mix their food but others wants theirs separated. If you want to feed your infant oatmeal...that's your choice, but do the research, because (SUPRISE SUPRISE) doctor's don't know everything.

Kasie - posted on 12/27/2010

she never said the weight change was drastic, just that she hasn't gained the normal double. Plus if it's still a steady gain then it should be fine.

Elizabeth - posted on 12/27/2010

With a weight change that drastic something is highly abnormal. It can be things such as a not absorbing nutrients correctly trying the oatmeal can tell them if it's that or just that she's a light eater. Please don't ignor the doctor this does get dangerous if the fat is not being absorbed.

Kasie - posted on 12/27/2010

NeQuitta, I can't believe they told you to cut back on milk!! I know some big babies and you know then that they are getting everything they need. You don't want them to be malnutritioned that's for sure.

NeQuitta - posted on 12/26/2010

See that's what I'm not getting. When I took my son to his 4 months check-up, they said he's gaining too much weight. He's long also, 25 1/4". He's 16lbs 2 oz. I think he's still small especially compared to some other babies I see. They told me to cut back on his milk otherwise he has a chance of becoming obese. He's 5 months now. OBESITY???? I've also seen many kids who are "big" as infants and end up skinny. I do NOT recommend oatmeal for an infant that young. I thought to give my son some because of the fiber. DON'T DO IT!!! He became constipated really bad. Doctors can recommend things all they want, but as mothers, we're with them 24/7 and we know if our children are happy or not. I'm not saying disregard EVERYTHING a doctor says, because you can be causing your child harm. But somethings are a follow your instinct kind of thing. I think everything has become so "medicinalized" ( I totally made that up, but some people might understand what I'm talking about). Let a mom be a mom and stop putting children in a box. Not every child is the same and can take what the "majority" can. I learned that myself.

Allison - posted on 12/26/2010

i wouldn't worry.. my Caroline was only 5lbs 2oz at birth and now at 5 months she is only 12 lbs. they told me she was underweight too. but she eats baby food and rice... so i say she's just small. she's 25 inches long too. babies come in all sizes... doesn't mean there is anything wrong with her! you breastfeed her as long as you want to!!!

Natasha - posted on 12/26/2010

i think it is totally fine to start on solids but if you and yoyr pediatrician think sheis ready. And Kirsten yes they say breast is best but also a baby has never died or had major problems from drinking formula. For a mother who is now formula feeding her child i find your post rude, not everyone can breastfeed and others dont want to for reasons.

Doti - posted on 12/25/2010

I am not sure on that one. I know I was breastfeeding exclusively and my daughter was 7.10 at birth and at her 4 month checkup was 14.12 and 26". My doctor told me to starting feeding her cereal but only to give her a tablespoon at a time mixed with breastmilk and work up to more which is what I have been doing for the past 3 weeks. It is only a supplement to her brestmilk and my answer is I picked her as her Doctor as she is an expert and I am not so I would listen to your pediatrician.

Marsha - posted on 12/25/2010

At my daughters 4 month check up she was only 13lbs, small as well... she is the same as your baby, happy n never hungry.. She is now 5 months and wants some rice cereal, she gets excited when we make it and gobbles it up. We only feed her the pablem twice a day, and usually if she wont take a bottle.
It doesnt hurt to try your little girl on a wee bit of pablem but you will probably find she isnt ready for it or isnt interested. If not you can atleast say u tried. Or just keep doing what your doing until her next check up, if she still isnt gaining much i'd for sure start on rice cereal. by then she'll be 6 months anyways and ready for rice cereal..
Good luck with whatever you choose.. Do what feels right to you as long as its helping your little girl..

Kasie - posted on 12/25/2010

I also wanted to add that until a baby is 6 months, they can't digest adult food properly and so the food will fill them up longer because their body isn't digesting it right and another reason for constipation.

Kirsten - posted on 12/24/2010

I agree with you and some others. My baby had the same problem. She wasnt gaining what the doctors claimed as "normal precentile." I at first took it to heart, trying to feed her more than demanded, but then I realized, Jane isnt a bottle fed baby. shes strictly breastfed and my doctor is just too finicky. my older sisters son is almost two and hes "under weight" and thats because hes picky. if you look at one of the first ingrediants in formula, its sugar. i mean yea our milk has natural sugar, but its still WAY more healthier than the crap they are selling now. Jane is 24 and a half inches long and she now weights 13lbs 8 oz still a little on the undersize. but i wouldnt worry about it. if shes eating enough, if she has plenty of diaper changes a day, and if shes not cranky and showing signs of malnurishment, then dont do anything outside of your normal routine. startt your baby on food when YOU want to start her on food. I once had someone tell me that you'll know its time to feed them food when you start feeling guilty at the dinner table when they watch you eat. at 6 months they start mimiking, and will want to try to eat food. I did start my daughter on a bit of rice cereal this month, but not much. im just introducing it. slowly. YOUR the mother, so do what you think is best for your child and if you have doubts. ask in these forums for extra advice to weigh your decision.

Karen - posted on 12/22/2010

Good point, Melanie, about the charts being based on formula fed babies. The size/weight thing is really skewed for bf'd babies.

Rice cereal can be terribly constipating so that is why some babies start and do better on oatmeal. Too early, though, and any cereal can cause some upset tummies/bms in these little ones.

Kasie - posted on 12/22/2010

I think if everything seems normal and you have all the wet diapers and you know she is getting enough to eat then just keep doin what you're doing. You don't have to start oatmeal until 6 months if you want to, some babies are just smaller like you said. Plus you know your baby isn't mal nutritioned cause she gets everything she needs with your milk. I don't think you should really worry about it.

Melanie - posted on 12/22/2010

No don't worry, if she is happy between meals she is probably fine, though like Julie said try and get her to the hind milk. My oldest was exactly the same, he was born at the 50th percentile and then he lost heaps of weight in the hospital but then once we left he hovered around the 3rd percentile and my health nurse was always freaking out but he kept on putting on weight but was always on the bottom end of the scale and 2 & 1/2 years later he still is. And now my youngest son is doing the exact same thing except this time he is not even at the 0 percentile, he's around negative 5th percentile, thankfully this time around she is not worried, my kids just do that. Also the REALLY IMPORTANT thing to remember is that those graphs are based on formula fed babies who are of course always going to weigh more, there is a reason you can demand feed breast fed babies but not formula fed babies. And the most important thing I have learnt is to trust your instincts regarding your own child, you are the one who is with them day in and day out, you know what they are like in every aspect, health professionals are just working on kids in general.

Anna - posted on 12/22/2010

I am on a feeding plan of a lady named tizzie hall. if she is 4 months, start her on solid foods, i recommend. RICE CEREAL, NOT OATMEAL! I don't know why in the world your donctor would recommend oatmeal. I would see a new doctor if i was you. Oatmeal can harm their digestive tract if you give it to them too soon- before 6 months. I would never wait until 6 months to start all food, because that can lead to her not wanting to eat or being a very picky eater. Also, at 6 months they need more than milk to meet their nutritional needs, so if you wait til 6 months to begin, they wont have enough different foods in their diet to be getting the nutrients that they need. I would start her on rice cereal and see how that goes. If you do that and it starts going well and you want the rest of the suggestions that i have, you can email me at pink_vixen92@hotmail.com. Or you can go to saveoursleep.com and purchase the book of Tizzie Hall just like I did and get your baby on track for starting solids.

Madison - posted on 12/21/2010

I had the exact same problem, my daughter is extremely active and so wasnt putting on the weight the health visitors wanted to. I found that by upping my daily food intake, she got more through my milk & put on more weight! x

Julie - posted on 12/19/2010

Maybe your baby is not getting to the hind milk if she isn't nursing very long. it is the fattier milk and helps babies gain weight. You might encourage her to keep nursing on one breast until it feels depleted before moving on to the other. The fore milk satisfies their thirst but doesn't fill them up. She also might hit a growth spurt and start nursing more. Every baby is different!

Natasha - posted on 12/18/2010

i would say if she is happy and content inbetween feeds she is clearly getting enough. if she seems like shes snaking eating less than every two hours then maybe she might not be eating enough for one whole feed. But my some started solids and this has NOT helped him gain weight (i didnt start so he could we started as he was ready) he actually has gone from 90th percentile to 75th percentile... If you are unsure what to do maybe take her to another doctor or ask for a referal to see a speciallist like a dietician or peadiatrician.

Ange - posted on 12/18/2010

Maybe she needs the extra nutrients from the oatmeal and the oatmeal will help her grow at a better percentile your doctor wouldn't say so if there wasn't something there maybe give it a shot with her and see how she reacts to the oatmeal I started my baby boy on oatmeal at 3.5 months old and he is doing fabulous on it but he is not on breastmilk either but every baby is different it won't hurt her to try alittle bit and you never know she might like it

Karen - posted on 12/17/2010

The fact that she has remained at a steady rate/percentile is encouraging and what I would focus on.

Cassandra - posted on 12/17/2010

She didn't suddenly drop last month. She lost weight in the hospital, as all do, and has been steady in the 5-10% since her first doc visit. She was only 20in when she was born so she has grown, 5 inches in 4 months. I think she is in the 70% they said for length.

Krista - posted on 12/17/2010

A child shouldn't really go from the 50-75th percentile to the 5th percentile in 4 months. This is your doctor's concern. Your child isn't gaining the weight that she should.
This signifies that something is wrong. If you feel she eats really well, then ask your doctor if there could be something else hindering her growth.

Karen - posted on 12/17/2010

Do NOT worry and no, you do NOT have to give her oatmeal! Your baby sounds just fine. Babies/kids come in all sizes and as long as your little one is eating, filling diapers and gaining consistently then keep doing what you are. Your milk is so rich in fat and other great things, you are giving your baby exactly what she needs. Honestly, I'd put my earplugs in as to your doctor's "advice" and keep doing what you are. If you really feel the need to do anything, perhaps try to feed only on one side so your baby gets lots of hindmilk, then use the other side. But really, she sounds just fine.