does anyone else's baby fall under ' the line'?

Vanessa - posted on 05/21/2009

hi when my daughter was born she was 9.5 pounds or 4.215kg she was a big baby now at 17 months she is 9.5 kg she still fits in size 00 cloths i always get told that she is thin but there is nothing i can do..dnt worry to much and i now how u feel cos i felt the same way .she is still on formula milk cos it has more vitamins and i give her a veriaty of food that is all i can do. just remember every chld s different n u r doing ur best so try not to worry

Amy - posted on 05/21/2009

does your daughter's body seem to be like you as a child or her daddy as a child? My daughter is very petite also, and the pediatrition wanted to have her tested for a tumor!! freaked me out in fact! When I told my MIL she said that my husbands sister was the same way. we looked at my SIL's baby book and found that my daughter was trending exactly the same in weight and height as my SIL did. No worries, and I told my pediatriction he would just have to trust me.

Nathalie - posted on 05/21/2009

It's best not to compare your child's development to others. You also have to wonder what demographic actually determines the 'line' or the average that has become a standard. There are many factors that determine weight and size like genetics or her activity level (crawling or moving more). The point is, your daughter is healthy and happy and eating well. My first daughter started at 95th percentile at birth and was at the 'average' mark by her first year and now, at 3, I'm chasing her around the house with spoonfuls of food. My younger daughter is underweight and height at 11 months but she outeats my elder daughter and is a happy little girl. She may experience a growth spurt at some point. In other words, don't stress and don't force feed to try to make the average and just keep doing what you're doing! Too much importance is placed on these routine assessments that only serve increase our insecurities!! Lastly, the amount of additives and hormones in our milk and foods as well as poor nutrition in North America and Australia has contributed to an increase in birth weight and baby size that would be a huge factor in determining the 'line'.

Cheryl - posted on 05/21/2009

I forgot to mention my grandbaby is just now wearing a size 9 months and the pants persistantly fall off, she is just that little.

Cheryl - posted on 05/21/2009

What was her birth weight and what is her current weight? Are you nursing or formula, because formula babies tend to be fatter because of the extra calories.



My grandbaby weighed in at 5.5 lbs and now weighs 16 lbs at year which puts her in the bottom 3% or so. But her dad only weighs 150 lband her mum weighs 100 lbs, she eats, walks and talks and is fine.



As long as your baby is gaining weight and head circumference is increasing she is growing.

Charlene - posted on 05/21/2009

There are many children who are considered small, but look at the dynamics of your family, mother /father / siblings etc. - if you daughter is eating well, healthy & happy, even though on the small size, relax keep on doing what you are doing.

Sarah - posted on 05/21/2009

My 10 month old was born 6 weeks early and she is very under weight she now weighs 14 pounds but as her doctor explained is that even though her weight has to be checked more often all babys grow at a different rate and some just stay smaller. Try not 2 worry 2 much u know ur doing ur best for u child and thats the most important!!! Try the formula made for premies it has more calories and helps with development more than the regular ones

Steph - posted on 05/21/2009

Rebecca, I have twins that are almost 3 yrs and the youngest twin is very petite! But like Melissa had mentioned...you have to look at genetics as well! I was concerned about my daughters weight because of being so low...she was way below the line, but our Pediatrician said that as long as she is growing and gaining weight steadily, that there is nothing to worry about. Her father is tall and slim and it runs in his family as well. But she is just taking after him. I wouldn't worry unless she isn't eating or growing! Everyone worries so much about weight and I can understand why, but as long as your child is growing, I wouldn't worry so much...unless she dramatically increases...I would just keep an eye on things if she does that.

If you child is healthy, happy, content (even if under weight)....just be blessed that you have her and enjoy her!!

I surely hoped that I helped!!

Take care!

Lisa - posted on 05/21/2009

My daughter is 17 months and hardly gained weight from one week to the next at the beginning but it was not a problem because she was still following the curve even though she had fallen below the line.Nothing was ever said to me as she is my fourth and the others are all healthy teenagers. They all had the same problem but then i am only 5foot 3 and fairly slim. It depends on genetics so dont worry too much. Tell them that they are making you feel like that as they may not realise.

Cathelijn - posted on 05/21/2009

I know what you mean about made to feel like a criminal! My daughter was pretty big when she was born 8 lbs 1 oz but at some stage she dropped under the line as well and they scared me so much and I was getting really worried because she has never been a big eater and used to spit a lot. I had to come in every 2 weeks to get her weighed however there is a new healt visitor and she said to me that as long as my baby is happy and active and not sleepy all the time and she is still gaining weight eventhough sometimes only a few oz I shouldnt worry to much. The stats are for average weights, average weights are made up out of low and high weight.

Rebecca - posted on 05/21/2009

she doesnt look underweight at all, she has a chubby face, legs and arms. Will try to put a photo of her in my profile. Take a look.

Rebecca - posted on 05/21/2009

my daughter is 11 months.

Toni - posted on 05/21/2009

When my daughter was a baby she dropped from being on the 75th percentile down to the 5th percentile. She was eating well but she had 3 bouts of a stomach bug (caught in hospital each time) and also reflux. She would have a couple of weeks not gaining and then only gain a few ounces. My health visitor wasn't worried because she didn't look thin or ill, there was meat on her bones but she was just destined to be a petit child. Once she grew out of her reflux she started to gain weight but also became a fussy eater only eating foods loaded in fat and refusing veggies etc. It's taken us a while to 'train' her into eating more healthily but we're finally there. She eats and exercises healthily and is now a happy, slim 7yr old. When she was 5/6 she was in danger of becoming overweight, so I took the bull by the horns, determined I was not going to have an unhealthy overweight child. To my mind this makes an unhappy child who becomes an unhappy adult.
I'm sorry I've gone way off track but I just wanted to show you how it all can change as they get older.

Mel - posted on 05/21/2009

they wont let me weigh mine on different scales...the hospital ones, the pharmacy ones and my child health nurses ones are all different. makes a big difference for an underweight child. i have to take mine to the hospital 30 mins away so they can do checks on their own scales as well as getting her done at the pharmacy.

Emily - posted on 05/21/2009

my little girl is 5 months and they weighed her the other week and she weighed 14lb13oz then 2 days later the health visitor came round and she had droped to 14lb 6oz i dont think so they say you should never weigh your child on diferent scales but you dont have much opption when there not your scales

Mel - posted on 05/21/2009

yeah mine is apparently "dangerously low". its all about genetics, some babies are just born slim, you look at your family how they were as babies and other kids, not their stats. the nurses at the hospital told us that they focas way too much on how fat and skinny babies are when it really doesnt matter. i have to get mine weighed every week to and shes 13 months, how old is your baby? just make sure she's having lots of fattening solids and if on formula get a higher calorie one, or add some calories. try not to worry about it

Mel - posted on 05/21/2009

yeah mine is apparently "dangerously low". its all about genetics, some babies are just born slim, you look at your family how they were as babies and other kids, not their stats. the nurses at the hospital told us that they focas way too much on how fat and skinny babies are when it really doesnt matter. i have to get mine weighed every week to and shes 13 months, how old is your baby? just make sure she's having lots of fattening solids and if on formula get a higher calorie one, or add some calories. try not to worry about it