Weight Gain Troubles

Melissa - posted on 05/28/2009

To Janel he will just keep at it one thing you could do is pump let the milk sit in the fridge the fat will rise you can scoop it out use that in his cereals or add it to a normal pumped bottle just right there you double his fat intake

Janel - posted on 05/28/2009

WIC is Women, Infants, and Children. They help families that have a limited income with vouchers for milk, cheese, eggs, and etc. My little guy will be 6 mths tomorrow and he weighed in 14 lbs, 9 oz today. He was 7 lb 12 oz when he was born. She he did double his weight. I am just struggling to get him to nurse more.

Melissa - posted on 05/23/2009

Sorry I am from Canada what is WIC?

Renee - posted on 05/22/2009

I once had a wic nurse tell me to give my child milkshakes to fatten her up, yet they would only give her 1% milk because that is what the system calls for. While MANY children are naturally skinny, there are some legitimate medical conditions that can cause "failure to thrive" in children, so talk to your pediatrician, without panicking. My 3 yr. has "Celiac Disease" which causes the body to not absorb what she eats. Fortunatatly, the diease is totally managable by avoiding certain foods. They can do a simple blood screening to rule that out. Its better to look into things and play it safe than to just assume she's fine.

Stacie - posted on 05/22/2009

I just heard a great quote from my doctor about this. He said anything between the 1st percentile and the 99th percentile is normal". He said "this is one test that it doesn't matter where your baby "scores" - you're not trying to get to 100." If you look around you, you'll see people who are super petite and extremely ... well, not petite. If you lined up 100 women aged 35 years old, you'd get 100 different sizes - and the smallest ones will obviously be in the 5th percentile. It sounds like you've just got a petite baby girl! That's OK!! She'll probably love that fact later on in life! My niece was also in the 5th percentile - and she still is at age 6. She's only 9 pounds heavier than her 3 year old sister! And they're both perfectly healthy little girls. My doctor says babies typically double their birth weight by six months. So if your baby is around 10 or 11 pounds, you're right on target. ; )

Kerri - posted on 05/19/2009

I used to be concerned about my daughter's weight gain as well because she had feeding issues due to her cleft palate. I did a lot of reading up because I was worried and wasn't sure if she was gaining the right amount of weight. I read that it does not matter what percentile you are in. You should only be concerned when they drop in the percentile. So if you daughter is in the 5 percentile and then drops below that to say 1 percentile on your next visit then you should be concerned. As long as she is gaining weight I would not be concerned. Everyone baby is different and it seems like she is gaining weight and eating fine. I wouldn't be concerned.

Amanda - posted on 05/19/2009

if she is staying on the 5th percentile than she is perfectly healthy. I would not listen to wic, this is the same organization that is promoting that parents of 2 year old children give then 1% milk!

There is no need to worry as long as your daughter does not have a sudden drop off the charts.

the average baby should double his or her birth weight by the time they are 4 months old and triple it by their 1st birthday. Your daughter should have weighed about 11 pounds when she turned 4 months and will weigh between 15 and 17 pounds by the time she is one. this is small but very normal. All babies that fall between the 1st and 100th precentile are normal.

If you are concerned about her weight yuo could ask her doctor about switching to a high calorie formula such as similac neosure or enfacare A+.

Melissa - posted on 05/19/2009

Just something I forgot to add is once you start solids weight gain does decrease this may be something to consider. There are ways to bring your breast milk back if you are thinking of that.

Katherine - posted on 05/19/2009

Are you kidding me, the doctor got you to stop breastfeeding. That is ridiculous!! That liquid gold is exactly what she needed. My little guy also needs to gain weight although he was 10 days early and weighed 8 pounds, 4 ounces!! He now is 13 Pounds and 8 ounces. The doctor also told me to feed him more meals, but he is only 6 months and will polish off all the food you can give him, but rice cereal really doesn't have a lot of nutrition. The dietican I seen and 2 health nurses, say breast milk...Sometimes a doctor can be too focused on results not the process. Don't stress though, babies will be babies. And the "grid" isn't super accurate when you look at all backgrounds and ethnicities!! (But at 6 months, they can start having Avacadoes, and that is great good fat for them)

Katherine - posted on 05/19/2009

Quoting Christie:

Hi, I totally know what you are going through and it is terrible when the dr's tell you your child is too little when you are doing everything you can to get them to eat.
My daughter was 5 lbs 13 oz at birth also not early just little, all along my dr has been saying she is too little even basically making me stop breastfeeding at 4 months so we could make sure she was getting enough, as of right now (she was 6 months on friday) she weighs 12lbs 14 oz, not sure what you little one weighs but if its near that dont worry your not the only one.
My daughter is healthy and very happy and eats a ton... she also is ALWAYS moving when she eats, when she is just sitting in your lap always moving maybe they just wear it off before they can store it..... Hope I made you feel better, just know you are not the only one with a "little" girl
P.S your picture is adorable she is soooo cute!

Melissa - posted on 05/18/2009

My daughter was the same exactly she is now four still petite but never has been sick. She was 5lbs 10 ounces always in 5 percentile here is the thing every body gains weight differant ceral however only has few calories and placing it in the bottle is very dangerous for choking especially as she is a smaller baby. Food you could introduce which are fatty are custards, avocado if she doesnt like the taste mix the avocado with banana or something she enjoys also look aroundd baby food recipe pages for ideas you like even buy a high calorie formula my MODERATOR Amanda Passmore could tell you more of that if you message her about it. This is only if you are worried about her weight my daughter was the same and perfectly healthy I did try fattier food but her body was just not taking the fat. I hope this helps and please stop putting the cereal in the bottle if something does ever happen you cant take it back

Christie - posted on 05/18/2009

Hi, I just saw your post on the other page with her height and weight.. my daughter is the same weight (little smaller) and only 62 cm so your little girl is just a little bigger.. hope that makes you feel a little better.. shes not alone!

Christie - posted on 05/18/2009

Hi, I totally know what you are going through and it is terrible when the dr's tell you your child is too little when you are doing everything you can to get them to eat.

My daughter was 5 lbs 13 oz at birth also not early just little, all along my dr has been saying she is too little even basically making me stop breastfeeding at 4 months so we could make sure she was getting enough, as of right now (she was 6 months on friday) she weighs 12lbs 14 oz, not sure what you little one weighs but if its near that dont worry your not the only one.

My daughter is healthy and very happy and eats a ton... she also is ALWAYS moving when she eats, when she is just sitting in your lap always moving maybe they just wear it off before they can store it..... Hope I made you feel better, just know you are not the only one with a "little" girl

P.S your picture is adorable she is soooo cute!

Kristina - posted on 05/18/2009

i agree as long as she is healthy, happy and eating till shes content I wouldn't worry, all babys are different, my daughter is in the 25th % for weight and my Dr said that as long as she is doing what she is supposed to be doing then i don't need to worry abut it.

Kelly - posted on 05/18/2009

From what you have said it sounds like she is eating enough, but they do say that a 6 month old baby should be eating 30-40 ounces of formula a day, i myself wouldn't worry about it, she is not starving, and she is obviously healthy they just think that every baby should fit into the "average" weight and height range.......but not all babies are average.......so long as she is eating and meeting her milestones than i wouldn't worry

Tara - posted on 05/18/2009

I can't get her to eat more than 6oz. of formula at a time because she throws it back up.