3 month old baby - weight now off the charts (bottom of the charts that is!!)

[Annie77]

My first was born 6lb9 but fell to 5lb9 within days to the point i had to syringe feed EBM for a week. She only weighed 9lb9 at 14 weeks, 5lb heavier than my cousins baby born that week! At a year she only weighed 16lb. She is now a petite little 8 year old who is a competitive gymnast and has endless energy. Her 6 year old sister is about half a stone heavier and a few inches taller. Both fed exactly same since birth.
Those charts are based on formula fed babies also. As long as baby is well, passing urine and poo and meeting milestones you shouldn't worry.

 

[moomin_troll]

Exactly! The charts aren't based on bf babies but then again my eldest was ff n wasn't high of the charts, they are a total waste of time. For length my eldest was long, his height wasn't even on the chart but no one blinked a eye lid

 

[Eleanor ace]

My LO was on the 98th centile at birth, he's now just above the 2nd (although actually he's probably dropped as he's been poorly ). He gets weighed every 2 weeks and sees a pediatrician but they aren't overly concerned as he is hitting his milestones and is a happy baby .
It sounds like your LO is doing well- good sleeping, wet nappies and not acting hungry. You could ask to be referred to a pediatrician, for reassurance?

 

[nickyXjayno]

sorry I didn't mean to be unhelpful which is why I mentioned my nephew who was also small but seems to be catching up now.
I just gave my honest opinion that I would be concerned if it were my baby.
I look at it in the way that if you saw a litter of kittens & one wasn't growing like the rest you'd instantly think it was failing to thrive.
people get really defensive over breastmilk even to the detriment of baby at times, not saying any of you are but my opinion is if a baby isn't gaining or growing he/she isn't getting enough of something.

 

[summer rain]

If the health professionals involved in OP's LOs care are not worried then why should we be? As OP has mentioned before her baby has been gaining average amounts of weight; he was just born smaller; the charts are drawn up with the assumption that babies born more petite will gain more than average in order to 'catch up' but this isn't always the case. Just as a baby born on the 98th centile isn't going to necessarily gain 1lb every week from then on because they were born big.

I have had four boys and have tens of nephews, nieces and small cousins in both mine and OHs family, one of my boys I switched to formula because he was reacting seriously to something in my milk and stopped gaining weight but while his allergies resolved on formula he didn't gain weight very well at all-he went through a chunky phase at the age of 2-3 but stopped gaining weight, lost some after an illness and is struggling to put on weight once again. My other son who had the same issue but who was deathly allergic to milk products and so had to be BF until 12 months, didn't gain much in his first year but after about 7 months of age started piling on the weight and has always been on the 50th to 75th centile in weight and around the 75th in height ever since. Also my eldest who gained very little weight in his early days; was combi fed at first and it did sweet FA to help him gain weight better; the time he started gaining 8oz a week was the short period of time where I don't remember him having any formula top ups.

It is not that people are defensive of breastmilk to the detriment of babies; but that formula top ups are not always a solution to growth issues; in fact they very rarely are. Babies failing to gain loads of weight can be due to other underlying issues as well but the assumption is always they are 'not getting enough'. By the time it has been found that it was something else causing the lack of weight gain BF has usually been completely discontinued-there are loads of ladies who have had this experience on this forum. I would also recommend OP to get a referral to a paediatrician if only for her own peace of mind xx

 

[summer rain]

Exactly! The charts aren't based on bf babies but then again my eldest was ff n wasn't high of the charts, they are a total waste of time. For length my eldest was long, his height wasn't even on the chart but no one blinked a eye lid

The new charts are based solely on BF babies; however they are going to be reviewed because they are based on babies in various different countries not including the UK (the old ones were based on UK babies) and it has been brought to light that many BF babies in the UK are not following the same growth pattern as is laid out on these charts xx