Question for Moms of Babies Who Are 5 Months Old

L.,

They tend to level out at some point. My friends baby at 6 months was 19 pounds 12 ounces and that was only the 66% when at 4 months he was in the 95%. It all evens out apparently.

Really? That's 90th percentile? My 2 month old is over 13 pounds, 23 inches, and my friend's 2 month old is 17 pounds, 27 inches. Her older son was also very large, he's 2 now. Still a big boy. I don't pay much attention to percentiles as long as the height and weight are in sync with each other.

No worries! My son was 18 lbs at 3 months old (he was also breast fed & was a non stop eater). He was also in the 90th% for height and weight. He is now 20 months old & very tall for his age but a little under weight for his height (but he was also sick with a stomach bug & lost weight) so the doctor is not worried said he'd gain it back & more. But he is so skinny now you'd never know he was chubby. But is also looks like he is 2 1/2-3 years old due to being so tall.
I was the same way as a baby but thinned out and got taller.

My kid was always in the 90-95% for height and weight. Do you breastfeed? Studies have shown that for the 1st 6-12 mos kids who are breastfed tend to be bigger than babies who are on formula--but once they start crawling and moving more--they go back down in weight (and tend to be lower in weight than formula fed kids). Right now, about 30% of mom's breast feed--but the growth charts are based on all moms--so if you're breastfeeding,the height and (especially weight) numbers will seem a little low for your child. Even if you're not, what doctors look for is overall trends. If your kid is in the 90-95% they want to be sure s/he stays in that category and doesn't suddenly drop down to a significanty lower percentage category without some medical reason.

Hi L.! Babies come in all shapes and sizes! And 15 lbs at 5 months sounds very petite to me, not large at all! My son was born 8.15 and was 14 lbs by is 2 months check up! He stayed big all along, although never chubby just a big long healthy boy, and now that he is walking and eating table food at 14 months he is 24 lbs and looks completly normal. Keep in mind that if they are using a national average, New England babies tend to run much larger than the rest of the country! I dont know why, but my midwife said most other parts of the country giving birth to an 8 lb baby would sound huge and here its pretty normal!

hi!
my son weighed the 16.8 at his 5mth appt. no worries!

Uh oh! My son is 4.5 months old...weighs about 18 lbs and is about 24 inches? Chunk-o-rific! And my doctor didn't say a thing about it!

My baby girl was a lot bigger than that when she was about that age (6 mos). She is now a year old and she's thinned out a bit but is still very healthy. I also know a friend of mine who's baby girl is only 4 mos. and is also bigger than yours. A lot of times, they slow the progression of growth as they get older. I wouldn't worry. My four year old son is 60 lbs but he's extremely tall (almost 4 ft.). Maybe your child is destined to be tall. I wouldn't worry about it. Oh, food for thought, those charts are old and they average children from years ago so what is average on the charts isn't necessarily what is average today.

I just checked my growth charts and for 5 months, those both fall on the 50%. Maybe he misread the number. You can check on line if you google "kids growth percentiles." That will bring up the charts that pediatricians use. At 6 months my baby girl was 17 pounds and 27.5 inches. The charts and my doctor say that was about 75% weight and 97% height.

My daughter was in the 90th percentile at one point as well. Don't worry about it at all! As long as she's happy and healthy and developing well, she's just fine. All babies grow at different rates and as long as they're meeting basic standards she'll be fine! My daughter is 15 months now and is at the "average" height & weight.

Hi L., My girlfriend and I were talking about this same exact thing last night. How whenever you go to the ped's office you come home and worry about way more than you ever did before you went. My three children have always been on the small end of the scale, we know they are getting enough to eat/drink and that they are happy healthy kiddos, so we figure somebody has to be on the small end...and the bigger end so that somewhere somebody can feel "normal/average". If your daughter is a happy healthy well adjusted baby isn't that all that matters at 5 months of age? Just enjoy her! M.

My daughter is 5 months and she is 17lbs 25 inches long. Don't worry too much about the average. I'm sure you little one is just perfect!

Hello L.!
PLEASE DO NOT WORRY!! My 4mon. old is 17.4lb (born @6lb 15oz), my middle was 20 lb at 3 months(born @ 9lb)!!, and my first was under the charts till he was over 1yr (born @ 7&1/2lb).
As another mom said, as long as she is happy & healthy, no worries. One can't tell that my middle was huge as a baby!
Take care and enjoy snuggles with your "little" one (wink)
M.

Hi L.
I have a 5-month old son who weighed 6lbs1oz when born. He weighed almost 14 lbs for his 4 month check-up and they told me he was in the 28th percentile (which I still think is wrong) I'm not sure how much he weighs now because he only has a 6 month apt. coming up but I bet he's somewhere around 15 to 16 lbs. I think the average for a 6 month old is 17 lbs.

Hahaaa! This made me laugh because I have a 4-month-old boy who is 26.5 inches and nearly 22 lbs. I think that as long as the baby is basically in proportion, there's nothing to worry about. Yay for your big (little) girl!

My little girl just went in for her 6 month check up and weighed 20 lbs. and was 27 inches long. She is in the 97th percentile for weight and the 90th percentile for hieght. The doctor sdays thios is good.

Hi L.,
My son is 6 months old and weighs 21 pounds and 12oz. he's about 28+ inches long. Yeah, he's off the charts. Our pedi said he was perfect! He's a healthy, happy baby! My husband is 6'3". Our little guy is built just like his daddy:)
Take care,
J.

Hi L.,
I think your doctor made a mistake. It doesn't sound right to me because my daughter is right around the same size at 4 months and I know she is not in the 90th percentile. I have a copy of the growth chart at home and 15 pounds at 5 months is a little over the 25th percentile for weight. 25 inches for height is around 50th percentile. I'm sure that you could find a copy on line. I'm sure she is perfect!!

All 3 of my boys were like that and now you would never know. Around 10-12 months they slowed down and thinned out.

Don't worry about it, as long as your baby is healthy. My daughter was the other extreme in the 2 percentile for weight. She weighed 10 lbs. at 5 months. She has now evened out at 2 years.

Hi L.,
Try not to worry so much about the %. As long as she is doubling her birth weight by 6 months and tripling it by a year she is fine. Also she should appear healthy and reaching the developmental milestones. For more information on the milestones and activities to do with her call your local cooperative extension service under the state university in the phone book. Ask to be sent the Cradle Crier.
D. C
Mom of 4: 16, 14, 11 & 8
BTW the 16yo was a month premature, 5lb 14oz & 21". She barely made the weight milestones and was in the 2% for her weight. She is now the same height and weight as I am now 5'2" 120lbs. My husband is 5'10". Her cousin born on time a month later was 10lbs at birth. He is now 6'2" 220lbs. His dad is 6' and mom 5'7".

My son was 18.8 at his 4.5 months! Once they start moving they will slim down!

My daughter was born on 3/7 and she was 16 lbs 8 oz for her checkup at 4 1/2 months and 26 inches. Our doctor talked to us about her growing out of her infant carseat! She must be 18 or so pounds by now.

Every child is different and grows at different rates. Both mine were in the 90th for height and lower in weight. But other friends kids were the other way around. It doesn't mean that you'll have a chubby baby and if you did so what. KIds grow out of the chubby baby stage. My nephew was huge as a baby and at 13 he is taller than me and very slim.

My daughter is 5 months as well and right in that same range. 90% for weight 95% for height. They told me it was nothing to worry about - she wasn't overweight etc. She's actually quite proportional and looks great - only thing is that people think she's older than she is. Once these kiddies start moving they'll "slim" down a bit. My 1st went from 90th% in weight to 15% (that's when I worried but they said it was absolutely nothing to worry about, she was just very active). Just remember a "giant" baby doesn't mean a big/overweight kid.

One other benefit - more baby to love!

Hi...I have a son now 6 months old and we go for his checkup next week, but at 4 mths, he weighed in at right under 18 pounds and 26 inches long. He's also 90th percentile. Everyone says he's such a big baby...I dont know any different though since he's my first child. Although he is in 9-12 mths clothes now. He might be in the 90th percentile, but I figured if he's healthy, then it doesn't matter....besides, I'm sure once our little ones start crawling, and running, they'll lose their cute baby chub!

I'll worry about his weight when he gets a little bigger...I think his rolls are quite cute right now haha

Hello L.,

I forget what my son weighed at 5 months but at his 12 month visit he weighed 17 pounds. I was always told he was on the small side and to feed him more. My son is a human vacuum cleaner! LOL

HA,my son was 17 lbs at 3 months!!
so don't worry, babies come all shapes and sizes. you may just have a big girl. and because both her height and weight are equal percentages she has the right proportions.
hope this helped :)

Hello,
My daughter is 5 months and she weighs 14LBS. I was told she is in the 50%. I am always hearing from people how small she looks. I am sure your daughter is just fine the way she is. =)
Angie
Taunton

Don't worry. Our daughterr was in the 95th at that age. she is 9 months now and is 27 pounds. Dont worry. Whgen she starts walking she will slim down. Just keep doing what you are doing.
;)

How much did she weigh and how tall was she when she was born?? My son was 9 lbs 4 oz and 21.5 inches long......

My son fit your daughters description desciption when he was 5/6 months old (whenever the checkup was, I don't remember) ANYWAY he will be 3 years old Oct. 7 and he is currently 42 inches tall and roughly 45lbs.(5T clothing is being purchased for the winter!) He is NOT fat at all, actually really tall and average. I get about 3 times a day "oh you got a basketball/football player (or more recently potential Olympian) on your hands there don't you!?!"
Only thing I worry about is that he has grown so fast and he is clumsy. Almost too much for his age.... but nothing serious!
Offer lots of heathly snacks and meals when you child is old enough for table food and get outside for at least 1/2 an hour every day (unless it is raiing or snowing!) Eventually one (weight or height) will slow down to the other and "even" her out.

Hi...our baby at 5 months was 12 lbs....can't remember exactly what the height was. I think he was 24 inches.

L.,
I have a girl who turned 5 months yesterday. I think she is somewhere near 13 pounds (she was only 5lbs 11oz at birth) and 26 inches long. She is a stingbean. It sounds like you have a healthy baby on your hands. I wouldn't worry about the percentiles now. They really don't mean much. I think it is funny though because my daughter was 25 inches at 4 months and we were told that she was in the 50th percentile for height. Unless kids are shrinking at 5 months our doctors must be using different charts.

At 5 months my second daughter weighed 12 lbs. 3 oz. I had to check the baby book. She's a tiny thing though. Still isn't on the charts.
Babies come in all shapes and sizes- don't sweat it!
-S.

Hi there-

I too have a 5 month old, though ours is a boy. He happens to be on the big side too - 25 inches and 18lbs 3 oz. Interestingly, our ped told us he was in the 75th percentile for height? At any rate, try not to pay any attention to these percentiles. Just be happy that your little girl is growing and eating well - it doesn't really mean anything in the long run.