He was only 5lbs at birth and was exclusively breastfed until 6 months. Couldn't his low birth weight be the cause? And should I already be giving him 3 meals and 2 snacks per day?
My youngest was only 17 lbs at a year old and she's perfectly healthy. He weighs plenty. Talk to doctor about what to feed him. Right now breast milk or formula is what he needs and feed him on demand. Food is just practice before one year and should never replace main nutrition of breast or formula.
Well, you should really talk to your pediatrician if you have any concerns or questions about your child, but ...
Since babies are supposed to double their weight by 5 months and triple it by 1 year, it sounds like your son is doing just fine.
And, no, you should not be giving him 3 meals and 2 snacks per day. He is still less than 1 year old. He should be breast fed or formula fed on demand.
First off - anything 5 lbs or over at birth is a respectable birth weight.
Second off - the general rule of thumb is - they about double their birth weight by their 5th month (that would be 10 lbs in your case) and almost triple their birth weight by their first birthday.
So - 15 lbs by first birthday is fine - and yours is over that well in advance of his birthday.
It's ok to introduce solids at 6 months - BUT breast milk or formula is what he needs for his first year - that's where he'll get his nutrients for growth and development.
Our son was 9 lbs 2 1/2 oz at birth - 20 lbs at 5 months - and 25 lbs at 1 yr (which wasn't quite a tripling of his birth weight but we (parents and his doctor) were all quite happy with this.)
I'm not sure where you got the idea that feeding an 8 month old 3 meals and 2 snacks a day is a good idea.
PLEASE talk with your pediatrician about anything that is worrying you.
And consider getting "What to Expect the First Year" and "What to Expect the Toddler Years" - they are excellent books that will tell you a lot about child development.
Please consult your pediatrician. He/she will tell you how his weight is. At 8 months, there are no "meals and snacks." A baby this age needs to feed from the breast or bottle when he is hungry and you feed him on demand. Again, consult your pediatrician about any solid foods you are feeding him. We can only offer you advice, but the baby's doctor is the one to ask these questions.
It sounds like his weight is right where it should be. Some babies are just don't have the stereotypical chubby cheeks. His birth weight isn't really low.
You'll notice that his weight gain will start to slow. My son is 6 and still only weighs 42 pounds, and that's o.k. Let your pediatrician worry about this issue for you. He'll tell you when you need to be concerned.
If he's happy, developing well and it's just a weight thing then don't worry about it. Talk to your pediatrician but take what he says with a grain of salt if you're witnessing something different. Some doctors are more focused on weight than others.
Breast milk/formula will still be baby's primary source of nutrition but I don't see anything wrong with feeding him 3 meals a day if he's interested and his digestive system is functioning well. But feeding shouldn't be about consuming a lot, just about learning to eat.
Don't worry. Every child is different He's eating well so you are doing a great job.
Has he gained steadily since birth, or has there been a sudden pause in his weight gain? At his check-ups, do you discuss this? What do they say? Are they measuring his head size to be sure it's growing? Our pedi told us that was more important than anything. Does he appear to be hitting all his other milestones? Is he happy and active? Have you discussed everything you are feeding him with the pediatrician? Are you feeding him on demand? I think you should be. If it's 3 meals and 2 snacks, great. But if sometimes he needs more, then give it to him. While I don't think you should reward a child with food because it creates bad habits, I think food should be offered as needed and not entirely on a schedule if a child's needs dictate otherwise.
When you say "3 meals and 2 snacks," what do you mean? Do you include breast milk or formula, or do you have him entirely on solid or pureed foods? I hope he's on a good amount of liquid nutrition (breast milk, formula or other approved supplement for infants), and not just baby food. He's still probably developing his digestive system as well as his ability to maneuver/swallow solid foods, f if he's giving up because he's frustrated or tired, that's a possible problem.
If your doctor is not worried, but you are, are you saying that you don't trust the pediatrician? If so, then switch NOW and get your child's records transferred. You must have a doctor you trust.
However, if everything seems to be fine except that number on the scale, I'd wait it out without worry. Some kids are just little always, and some are little at one point in life and then get a growth spurt later on.
I would be concerned if he was not gaining weight. My firstborn were born at 3.15, 4.4 and 4.6 each. They weighed 20 pounds at 1 yr. They actually wore their age in size until 2 yrs old then quickly went to 3T. Perfectly healthy and now off to college this year. Feed him when he is hungry. You can talk to the pediatrician if you are worried.
The baby eats any time he's hungry Formula or breast milk first. That's where almost 100% of his nutrients should be coming from. Food at 8 months is a supplement to the milk.
When parents start feeding their infants baby food and table food they look like they're doing well. Gaining weight, getting chubby, etc...but they are not getting enough nutrients. Baby food has almost zero nutrients. It meets the bare minimum. They eat and eat and eat because they're starving for vitamins and minerals.
Formula is 100% nutrition. SO give your baby all the formula he'll take then give him a couple of bites of baby food to help teach him how to chew.
My daughter didn't weight much when she was a baby. She was always under for the percentage. On her 1st birthday she wore a dress that was a size 9-12 months. She is now the tallest girl in her class, which she hates. Some kids are just small but then will grow later. If you doctor isn't concerned then you shouldn't be.
Is your pediatrician happy with his weight? You should be breast/bottle feeding him on demand (which should be about every 3-4 hours most likely). If you want to try a little solid food, that's fine, but breastmilk/formula has a lot more nutrition than baby food.
If your pediatrician is happy with his weight gain at each appointment, then don't worry about it. Both of my completely healthy babies were 18-19 lbs at their 1 year appointments.
ETA: My babies were 8 and 9 lbs at birth, and still they were less than 20 lbs at 1 year. Low birth weight was definitely not the cause of my babies being on the smaller size at 12 months, but regardless, my pediatrician was very clear that their slower rate of weight gain was perfectly fine for them.
I wouldn't worry if your DR isn't worried. My daughter was about 15 lbs at a YEAR old. She was in the 1 percentile! She is now 6 and the tallest kiddo in her class.
