How does everyone respond when people say, "Your baby is so tiny!" ?

Elizabeth - posted on 06/01/2012

Anytime people ask about my daughters age I always use her corrected age. It is easier to explain her size. She was born 8 weeks early at 2# 1oz. She is now almost 10 months actual age and is over 16#. She is still tiny and wearing 3-6 month clothes, but she is perfect and healthy. If people are still pushy about her being too small I politely tell them her story and how I would rather have her be a little small than how we almost lost her. She is my little miracle and I won't change that for anything in this world.

Anna - posted on 01/22/2010

I used to love telling them "yeah he was born 3 months early only weighing 825 grammes, that's less than a bag of sugar!" And then watching their shocked expression!! But before now I've had people stare at me in horror when I've got him out of his rear facing car seat in Macdonalds, sit him in a high chair and feed him fish fingers and fruit... he was 23 months old but only weighed 21lbs (and was still in 6-12 month clothes!) But you get used to it after a while. I was told it was unlikely he would survive 24 hours so he is my little miracle... who is now 5 years and very healthy! Now people don't believe he was prem!

Kelly - posted on 01/22/2010

people say my sons small all the time he was born at 37 1/2 weeks weighing 6ibs 2oz 19 1/4in hes 33 1/2 months now weighing 28ibs 4oz 36in so hes catching up to an average size but what is corrected age my son was born april 6th 2007 was due april 21st 2007

Stephanie - posted on 01/22/2010

I say "Thanks he is small! He gets to use his clothes for a really long time, and I didn't get a single strech mark! Not only that but it only took me around 5 weeks to get back to my before pregnancy body." That usually makes them stop giving me that your baby is too small what's wrong with him look.

Christina - posted on 01/21/2010

Yes, I get this all the time. I had a women chase me down in Macys and ask me how old my daughter was becouse she was amazed a baby that size could hold her own bottle, my daughter was 9 months, 6 months adjusted. She was a 26 weeker, and was 2 pounds 2 ounces. She is almost 1 and is developing right on par with a term baby, but her size like her adjusted age, it really throws people off. I get told all the time how tiny she is. She is my little miracle and sometime thats just what I tell people.

Jennifer - posted on 01/21/2010

You could just say yes she is! she's a little peanut! and just leave it at that. My daughter weighted 4 pounds 12oz when she came home and people would stop me all the time to tell me how tiny she was. I would just say that. Because your right you dont need to give or tell anyone your business.

Brittany - posted on 01/20/2010

Happens to me allll the time!! I just say yea she is but shes healthy!

Samantha - posted on 10/17/2009

it mine are 18 months now twins came 12 week early , i get y cant they walk yet i find it annoying and wen i see kids there age running around but then i think im blessed to have them as babys that bit longer as they dont stay that way for long lol

Vicky - posted on 10/16/2009

My husband always ways replies with "What do you mean she is small? She is a giant compared to what she was." 1bl 12 ozs at birth

Nicki - posted on 10/16/2009

Yep all the time. My girl is very very small for her age. She is now 11 months old and was born 14 weeks early. She weighed only 440gms so was always small. Most of the local people know us now because she has been featured in our newspapers and in one of the countries gossip magazines.
At her age now she is roughly the size of a 1 month old, 10lbs, developmentally she is at around a 5 month old so when I tell people she is about to turn 1 they look at me horrified. I don't think they believe me, some people will ask me why she is so small and I give them a brief run down of her history. There is too much to explain with her so sometimes I don't even bother.

Georgina - posted on 10/15/2009

My son was 9 weeks early & I too get sick of the questions from strangers. I also use his corrected age & when I'm really not in the mood to discuss it, just nod & smile, nod & smile! :-)

Pamela - posted on 10/15/2009

My premie was 30 weeks, 2.6 oz. I tell her actual age and usually say she came early or she's a premie. Sometimes they as for more, so I have the speech memorized: 10 weesk early, 2.6 lbs and spent 38 days in the NICU. That usually answers all their questions.

Monika - posted on 10/15/2009

Quoting Heather:

I get that everywhere I go, I just recently started using her corrected age or I'd find myself in a store forever answering a strangers questions. But then I get the question, well isnt she too young to be taken out and about just yet? I can't win either way! =)

LOL same thing here!

Leeinda - posted on 10/14/2009

I was 16 when I had my daughter at 28 weeks and 2lbs. She came out of the hospital at 4lbs and people used to look at us like we were doing something wrong to her. That we wernt feeding her or something. I always wanted to cry because I hadnt done anything wrong. It was so frustrating. WalMart was terrible. I'll never forget all the little grandmas who would give me looks like I was neglecting her.

Jennifer - posted on 10/13/2009

Yes my daughter was 11 weeks early and she is a little small for her age. I would just say she was born a little early,but that she is doing great for being born early. As they grow people don't ask as much.

Whitney - posted on 10/13/2009

My son was born 7 wks early at 3lbs 11oz. He is 3 months old today and still weighs less than 10 lbs and wears only newborn clothes! When he came home from the hospital after 25 days, he was less than 5 lbs. Everywhere we went people said he was the tiniest baby they'd ever seen. I just smile and say "If you think he's small now, you should've seen him when he was born." Your baby has come a long way & no one appreciates those milestones like you do!

Jill - posted on 10/12/2009

i usually just say, yupp shes my little peanut. i only explain to people that matter to me

Tinsley - posted on 10/11/2009

ugh, isn't it just f*cking annoying, i cannot stand it. but i reply shes my miracle and a blessed and smart preemie. and then they say oh wow or shes beautiful and i respond yeah i know instead of thank you, cause they've already insulted my child........and that is why our childre are far more advanced than theirs.

Caroline - posted on 09/02/2009

My little Montana is now just over 2.5yrs and fits in nicely with 18mth olds. At one she was only 6.4kg and 64cm and at six months she was only just hitting 3kg and still in 00000/0000 clothing. I use to get asked all the time how old she was, and then watch the shock on peoples faces! I use to hate other mothers telling me off for having such a young baby out without a hat on (newborns loose heat through their head i'd get told all the time) and she would be 6 to 12 mths old!! It drove me insane. Still does. Just tell people that she is just perfect and walk away!! After all the best things in life come in the smallest of packages and out of little things big things grow!!!

Caitlyn - posted on 09/01/2009

I absolutley hate responding to the "s/he's soooo small" thing. I took my baby boy (Chase) to the mall the other day to pick up a few things. Chase is still 10 days before his due date (at the time he was 14 days from his due date), people would see him, and comment how small he was, and ask how old he is, and i eventually got so fed up, that when asked how old he was, i responded with "minus 14 days" and they looked at me like i was crazy. I think that the idea of premature babies scares people who don't have preemies. they dont know how to handle the fact that the baby is premature. What i hate the most about the "s/he's sooooo small" and "how old is he" is that they look at you with such a sad look on their face. It wouldnt be so bad to answer the question is they all didnt ask the same thing

Nicole - posted on 08/29/2009

Im lucky my premmie boys are now really big boys they are in the 75% for 5yr olds and have just turned 4. However my full term girl is really little I got sooo sick of everyone saying that she looked like a little doll. I just smiled and gritted my teeth, reminding myself that they mean well and eventually she'll grow.

Beth - posted on 08/28/2009

You know...having a preemie that makes it out of the NICU is a blessing in itself. Other people cannot understand what it means to watch your tiny baby struggle for every breath, struggle against all odds to 'make it'. I used to cry when people would say something about either one of my preemie kids, not because I was sad, but because I was a lucky mom who made it out of the hospital with my 'special present'. Remember God has blessed us with 'special' babies because we are special mommies!

Shiloh - posted on 08/28/2009

You get used to it. When people find out how old my son is they are amazed. He is 8 but about the size of your average kindergartner. I just say he is a big kid now since he started his life two inches taller than Barbie. People come in all shapes and sizes. just wait until you're potty training and you take your child in the bathroom at the grocery and he goes in and comes out by himself. That's when the comments and odd looks really begin! People crack me up. BTW my son was a 28 weeker.

Kelly - posted on 08/28/2009

Just smile and say, "Yeah." :) That's my response.

Tonia - posted on 08/28/2009

Post a reply i know how u feel ,my baby is 2 but looklike he is 1 ,i get it all the time ,i say yeah i know right ! im so blessed an so is he .

Sandra - posted on 08/26/2009

I have it both ways, boys were 11 weeks early and yes small, girl was 4 weeks early but big! Cope with the comments the way you feel on the day, if they look at you strange it's their problem not yours! But good things come in little packages and the hugs are even nicer! Just to let you know little things grow... my boys are now nearly 9 and the tallest in their class, they now look 2 years older. Ho Hum what is average height and weight??

Melissa - posted on 08/26/2009

Yep happened all the time I just kind of smiled and nodded lol! It got even worse when he got glasses because he was only about 8 mos old and I always got the stupidest questions about it like oh does he really need those? One time I snapped and said no I just tried them on him at walmart thought they looked cute and got them for him! I was so mad!!! I guess that the lot of a parent of a preemie but now when people see my son they cant believe hes only 8 because he is a BIG boy hahaha so its flipped now...

Roxanne - posted on 08/25/2009

Yes, and healthy now too! Even if baby is not as healthy as some, I find saying he's healthy out loud makes me thankful that he's doing better than before!

Sondia - posted on 08/24/2009

my baby was born 10weeks early and when people say oh she is soo tiny i say yep she sure is but a hell of a lot bigger than she was and walk off...

Kayleigh - posted on 08/24/2009

hiya ya i no how u feel, my little girl was born 4weeks early and weighing 5lb she cud fit into dolls clothes... shes now 14mnths and only wearing 6-9 clothes ppl are always tellin me how tiny she was and old is she ect... i just say she was prem and at least im gettin proper use out of clothes lol best part,, my little girl is a little behind on development, she not walkin yet but were hopin it wont b long now,,
i defo now wot u mean about havin to explain every little detail from size, age, clothes even birth wether it was natural or section

dont worry mums like us av been though enough a few noisy ppl wont put us down

Amanda - posted on 08/20/2009

My son was born 8 weeks early as well.. Everybody ask me.. and I had no problem telling the story.. b/c it is amazing that he is still here.. and i am proud of him. Everyone just told me "he is so small" and I always respond by saying.. yeah but he don't let nothing stop him.. he is learning so fast..He is doing more at 19 months than my sisters baby is a year older than he is.

He is still small for his age.. however he is very healthy..

Staci - posted on 08/20/2009

Oh my god all the time. I just smile and say that she's just the size she's supposed to be or I tell them she takes after her mommy because I was a tiny baby and I was full term. You're right it is so rude!!! I've also had people ask after they find out she was 6 weeks early what I did wrong. That makes me so mad!!!

Elizabeth - posted on 08/20/2009

i still get that with my boys my smallest one is a lil over 10lbs and is 9 months old he was 13.5 oz when he was born so he is still tiny for his C.A. i tell them he is small but he is the strongest person i know...

Heather - posted on 08/20/2009

Quoting Jessica: I agree, and it usually works, it did for me.

Just say "good things come in small packages", thats what i siad with my kids. My second bub was 8 weeks prem.

Heather - posted on 08/20/2009

Quoting Heather: My son was 3lbs 151/2oz at birth and spent his first month in a half in the hospital before I was able to bring him home. It was a long time before I took him out in to the public, but when I did, I too got questions. My response was to answer and questions asked. The more information another person can give that has knowledge is passing along that knowledge in making people more aware. As for the being too young, I would say that most of us who have preemies have to wiat months before we are even able to bring our children home and I would say this to people. You will feel like you can't win lots of the time but be assured you are not alone your feelings. Knowlege is power and you have that!

I get that everywhere I go, I just recently started using her corrected age or I'd find myself in a store forever answering a strangers questions. But then I get the question, well isnt she too young to be taken out and about just yet? I can't win either way! =)

Jessica - posted on 08/19/2009

Just say "good things come in small packages", thats what i siad with my kids. My second bub was 8 weeks prem.

Carissa - posted on 08/19/2009

my son was also born 8 weeks early. i hate when some people ask me in a way that they are wanting me to explain. i usally dont have a problem with telling them he is that early. but it does get tireing. the most when im somewhere with my friends who's babies are the same age, and bigger than him.

Chrissy - posted on 08/19/2009

I've gotten that a lot with my daughter. At 15 months she's not yet 19 lbs. It honestly depends on my mood how I respond.

1) She's bigger than I was at her age! (True, and I wasn't a preemie either).
2) Yeah, she was a preemie
3) Oh yeah, How big is Abigail (talking to my daughter - she'll reply by putting her arms up), "So big!".
4) I know, isn't she cute.

I think people are surprised, and maybe a little caught off guard. I don't think they intend to be rude, but sometimes I take it personally. I think I still have some issues with the fact that I didn't carry her full term (though the day I went into labor I had people telling me I was huge and looked ready to pop - I REALLY didn't appreciate that). One of the biggest mistakes people seem to make is comparing kids to one another, rather than just appreciating the miracle of each one. Children are each unique.

Christina - posted on 08/19/2009

I experience that quite frequently with my little guy. Lots of questions are always asked. Yes, it feels like I am always explaining where we have been. But I appreciate the miracle that happened and though it was hard or family grew from the experience in more ways than one. I know that it is annoying and it does feel like people are being nosy but that is because we are natural curious people and we must ask questions when things are unfamiliar to us. I know it is time consuming stopping and answeing questions all the time. Just remember that she will catch up and this season in your life will soon just be a memory so take a deep breath. You are doing great!

Kristi - posted on 08/18/2009

I just wanted to mention - I don't think that people are necessarily "nosey" as they are interested in babies. I know that even before my son came along, I was ALWAYS looking at other people's babies, and wondering about them. I know that most people WANT to talk about their babies, and how beautiful they are ...

Kristi - posted on 08/18/2009

I get the opposite with my preemie, because he is just massive (he was born 5 weeks early at 7 pounds) ... but I can imagine your situation! I think people just say crap, and don't think about it at all - and if we think back to before we had our preemies, I think most of us said those things too.

People will always say things, that's just people, right? Maybe you could respond with "I know" or "she's my little princess", and leave it at that. It really isn't any of their business, but just saying nothing will probably not make you feel any better!

Good luck!

Christie - posted on 08/18/2009

Yes, I recall feeling so tired of explaining about my son's "beginnings", too. But, you know what? You only need to say what you feel is right for you. If you don't want to respond, don't feel like you're being rude in turn. Good for you, if you don't take it personally. Pride is all you need to feel, really! Usually, I'd just smile, and say something really, really simple, like, "Yeah, he is..." and leave it at that. Or, "Yes, and we're so proud of him!". You are so right, you don't need to give anyone an explanation. My son was a micro-preemie, having been born at 26 weeks, 1 1/2 lbs., 12" long, so I know just how you feel!

Right now, Cam's watching a cartoon, and just turned to me to say, " Hey, Mama. I luh loo! ( I love you!). " Is there anything more important? LOL. He has come a long way, and your baby is doing so, too. God bless you and your sweetie!

Lindsay - posted on 08/18/2009

I didn't mind explaining to people when they questioned or commented on my daughter's size. She was a 27 wkr and weighed 2 lbs 11oz. I figured that with everything she had went through already in life, why not let her story be told. If I was in a rush, they would get a quick "she was a preemie" answer, but if I had time, I would talk.

Heather - posted on 08/17/2009

I get that everywhere I go, I just recently started using her corrected age or I'd find myself in a store forever answering a strangers questions. But then I get the question, well isnt she too young to be taken out and about just yet? I can't win either way! =)

Shona - posted on 08/11/2009

i suppose people who have huge babies get oh my god he/she is sooo big thats just how we are i guess

Jennifer - posted on 08/11/2009

If people seemed politely curious I would explain. I know that responds is not for all moms. After about a year people stopped asking. She reached a point were her size, age and developmental growth were not as relevant in relation to each other and people won't think anything of it. My daughter is now 3 years and miles ahead of her friends that are 3 and full term. She taller than half of them and way smarter, of course I am not bias.

Sarah - posted on 08/07/2009

I hear this all the time my daughter is now 1 yr old and weighs 16 lbs. she was only 2lbs 8.9ozs when she was born. I just tell them that she was born petite or yea she got the good genes, when I don't want to explain. Sometime people just look at you when you say preemie like it was something you did to cause it. Drives me crazy!

Dianne - posted on 08/05/2009

I was asked all the time how old is he and got the same response as you - i would always have to say he was 8 weeks early and then they realised, but if I wasnt in the mood to explain i would just smile back at them proudly of my wonderful baby and they would go away. I would never answer strangers because like you i felt it was nosiness so they got the big smile:)

Kristie - posted on 08/05/2009

Just remember that in most cases, this will not last forever. My son was born 16 weeks too soon and I was constantly asked why he was so small, or received little comments like you when I was asked how old he was. Only once was I really offended and that was when we were at the doctor and another mother asked me how old he was. When I responded 6 months, she said, oh, you mean 6 weeks. It was annoying. Really though, most people don't mean any harm and so many people don't know anything about premature babies, so I started using it as a gateway to create a little more awareness and brag a bit about how far he had come from where he started. Now at 5, no one asks me why he is so small, because he isn't anymore. By the age of 3, he was catching up growth wise, although was still the smallest in his preschool class. This past Christmas, when his school was doing a holiday program, I realized that at 4 he was neither the smallest, or the biggest, but an average height and weight. Many babies born too soon and very small do grow so try not to let it get to you so much and enjoy the perks of a smaller baby (but hopefully healthy) when you can, like being able to use that infant carrier for a much longer time than the average baby, really getting your monies worth. Mine didn't grow out of it till he was 14 months and already walking :)

Traci - posted on 08/04/2009

It never gets easier!!! Kenzi was 10 weeks early with IUGR so she was the size of 14 weeks early (1lb 14oz) and now at 19 months she is 18lbs and still wears size 6 month clothing, sometimes 12 month but it's usually big. When people go OMG.... I simply just say don't let her hear you say that, she bites! lol I don't take anything personally, because people these days are very forward and don't think before they talk, and I can't hold judgement on them for that. So I just make light of it, or a joke, cause really, at the end of the day, all that matters is me and my family.