suggestions for low weight baby

Ginger - posted on 04/30/2012

Maybe replacing the regular milk with a Toddler Formula ( like Enfamil Toddler Formula or similar brand) or Bordon extra Protien milk or even adding a supplement drink like pediasure or boost for kids. Greek yogart has more protein per bite than meat and if you put a little honey or fruit on top, it tastes like dessert. I know it is tempting to fill her full of fats, but please be mindful of her saturated fat intake and instead opt to add in plenty of unsaturated fats to insure her propler cholesterol health. Whole grains provide sustained energy that can last through a young child's long energy span. Even though I choose 2% fat for my kid because the whole fat made his allergies act up, i made sure to see he was intaking enough healthy (un-saturated) fats. Please don't forget about the fiber when you give a kiddo a high protein diet they can probably get constipated and that will turn them off from those foods in the future.

Heather - posted on 04/13/2011

My daughter is very small too for her age. She is 17 months and weighs 20 pounds. She is super healthy though. They did all sorts of tests on her and took her blood as well. She is just a tiny girl. She still does drink pediasure every day. I'm surprised your doctor only said 6 weeks, Marlie's doctor said 6 months atleast to keep her on it. Marlie never has been a big eater or drinker. Just last month she finally started drinking a 7-8oz bottle at a time. As in food, she likes alot of things but sometimes she will eat them and other times she wont. I really never know what to give her so thank god for those gerber graduates. She will actually eat those so when i do make her something she wont eat I'll heat her up one of those.
If I were you, I honestly would not do anymore testing at this time. She is healthy that is what matters. Especially if it runs in the family.

Natasha - posted on 04/12/2011

If everyone in the family is small and she's meeting all of her milestones then I'm sure she's fine. Only you know what's best for your child! Sorry to say, but doctors don't know everything. Breastfed babies put on weight more slowly, at a Healthy rate! Make sure they're using a breastfed baby chart by the WHO to measure her height and weight. Most charts doctors have access to are for for formula fed babies.

Melanie - posted on 04/12/2011

i can understand your stress. and if you think shes healthy then she probably is. on the other hand being a worrying mom my self. if i had a similar situation and didnt take her in i might constantly be worried i was missing something. if it were me id let them prove me right. they will either find something they can do to help or find that you were right the whole time and there can be no stress over it if you KNOW shes ok.

Marlyn - posted on 04/12/2011

My daughter is small as well. She has been to see a genetics doctor had all the blood work done and everything has always come back normal. I was a small child and wasnt until I was about 10 til I started picking up weight... Don't worry as long as she is on track with everything else she will be fine!

Mercy - posted on 04/12/2011

Good eve mum,i will sugest you don't worry yourself,since you are sure she is o.k,healthy and eating well.You already have a clue to the small
weight of hers it may be hereditary and so if it is there is little or nothing doctors can do.Well am speaking from experience cos am having same experience with my daughter who is even weighing less than your child's weight,of which they concluded after much examination that it is hereditary cos am small in stature and weight and the dad is just a little bigger than i am.So am not worrying myself.If i tell you my weight you will be much surprised ,no matter the fatty food chocolate and jungs i eat,i never add weight so i just believe she is taking after me cos she eats very well and alot,she not sicky.so just give yourself peace of mind.All is well.

Truepulse - posted on 04/12/2011

Well, my First one whose november 09, born had the same issue, she was very healthy when she was born, but had partial lactose intolerance when she turned around sixmonths... since then the trauma of antibiotics and all that, she had the same weight for 3years which she had on her first birthday that was 9 pounds and wouldnt gain anything more than that, i was so worried, i use to always inquire with other parents and the doc herself use to assure me, as long as she is active and kicking dont you worry... and my daughter is "hyperactive kiddo". She has a very slow eating pattern till now but she gained weight, when the growth spurt hit her, she suddenly started gaining good weight and also height.
SO i would suggest as long as she is active and happy, dont worry... just remember to give her healthy food, lots of milk, butter, cheese and yoghurts... she will be fine...
Hope this helps.

Kim - posted on 04/12/2011

My daughter was born full term and weighed 6 lbs. At one she was 15 lbs, at two she was 20 lbs. So on and so forth. She fell off the weight chart at six months, went through a battery of tests. It was determined she is perfectly healthy and naturally petite. My daughter is five and finally hit a whopping 14% on the chart at 32 lbs. Ive tried many different methods, food to no avail. I realized in the end she is perfectly petite

Bonnie - posted on 04/10/2011

My daughter was born 9lbs and was in the 75th percentile for weight and height; 50% for head circumference. She gradually went down to the 50% for weight, then 20%, then 5%, 0% (red), and now is in the 2% for weight.

She has always maintained her 75% height at every check up and 50% head circumference. Her doctor was very concerned about her weight, but her dad and I never was. She's strong, graceful, agile, and happy.

The reason for her weight drop was due to food allergies. She is allergic to dairy, eggs, and peanuts. As a result, her diet is very low in fat and calories.

In an effort to "fatten" her up, I now leave food out for her on the coffee table so she can just go over and help herself whenever she's hungry. Also, at mealtimes, when she doesn't eat too much of one thing, I give her another thing that she might like more. My old self would have assumed she wasn't hungry if she ate only a little bit, but I have learned that she has a very refined palette even at this young age and will only eat foods she thinks is yummy. I try and also make all her food myself using organic whole foods so she gets the most nutrients per bite. As a result of my "buffet" feeding style, she has gained 2 pounds in two months. When she was 14 months she weighed 17lbs and now weighs 19lbs at 16 months. Hope this helps and good luck!

ps- I also still give her soy toddler formula. 5 oz/ bottle 2-4x per day.

Brittany - posted on 04/09/2011

I would worry more if she wasn't gainning weight. It sounds like she's gainning slowly. My daughter dropped to the 2nd percentile at 4 months since she wasn't gainning weight. She's now in the 20th. She eats like crazy and is maintaining around the 20th.

It certainly doesn't hurt to check over everything, but it is most likely nothing but genetics.

Heidi - posted on 04/08/2011

If she is hitting all her milestone and isn't getting sick a lot. I wouldn't worry about it. If you feel she is happppya nd healthy then I'm sure your right cause moms always seem to be able to read their kids. If she is eating good and sleeping good and having lots of normal B.M.s then she is probably just fine. Sense your husband has a lot of short, thin people in his family she probably just takes after that side of the family more.

Melissa - posted on 04/08/2011

You are absolutely correct, Chelsea, with your belief that your daughter is a healthy little girl. I am in my third year of acupuncture studies, and at school we learn that the body is automatically programmed to want to be healthy. And, of course, with children there is no such thing as "one size fits all" when it comes to developmental milestones like height and weight. Sometimes babies are smaller than the "average," and that's perfectly fine. My son is off the charts large for his age in height, weight, and HC which is also okay. I have some friends who have struggled with situations similar to yours and have been able to help their children thrive and gain weight. In those cases, their children failed to grow not because they weren't feeding their children enough but because the Pediasure their doctors recommended and the regular baby foods on the market weren't providing enough nourishment for their children's special needs. Also, there was an aspect of feeding their children on a set schedule of 5-6 small meals and snacks consistently that seemed to make a great deal of difference. That is why I was inquiring about what your daughter typically eats, what she won't eat, how often she eats, and whether she is on any kind of feeding schedule at all. Along with that, taking a look at how much sleep she's getting at night and during naps can make a huge difference as sleep-deprivation can drastically impact hunger sensations and digestion. I swear by Ruth Yaron's Super Baby Food book which is full of organic, wholesome, fast, and easy-to-make-ahead and freeze meals and snacks to ensure proper nutrition for children from birth throughout toddlerhood. It might be useful to you, or not, but I it thought it might be something to look into. All the best to you and your little girl! :-)

Naomi - posted on 04/08/2011

Some babies are just small. My girl (10) is very tiny and light. She eats a ton and is very healthy!

Elizabeth - posted on 04/07/2011

I agree with you completely. I would be concerned however that they might get child services involved if you don't get it checked out.

Lindsay - posted on 04/07/2011

If she's hitting all the milestones, I wouldn't worry!! Esp with the family history!!

Melissa - posted on 04/06/2011

What types of food are you feeding her and how often does she eat? What is her sleep like? How many hours per night does she sleep, and how often, if at all does she wake in the night? What are her naps like?

Tiffany - posted on 04/05/2011

And shes also been in the 0-5 percent tile all her life.

Tiffany - posted on 04/05/2011

My daught is 2 years and 7 months old and she only weighs 22 pounds. The doctors and everyone were worried too but I only weigh 110 pounds and im 5 feet tall. Her dad is only like 5'6 so I just tell the docs that no matter what she IS going to be small lol As long as she is healthy and eating and hitting milestones like shes suppost to i dont think the doctors should worry about it if everyone in your family is also small. My daughter is on the pedisure too and she hasnt gained any weight either.

Chelsea - posted on 04/04/2011

Also, her height and head circumference are fine, and her growth curve is a nice upward curve, so her doctor told me at 12 months she will probably just be small and not to worry as long as her curve continues upward