Small Babies?

I can totally relate with you. My son is 16 months and has been non existent on the weight chart since about 9 months. He is very active and is a pretty good eater. He started walking at 11 months and has never stopped moving since! My doctor has recommended offering him food all the time just help keep his calorie intake high and offer lots of high fat foods (a little extra butter here and there). He is happy and developing so there seems to be no need to worry. He has been formula fed as we had major breastfeeding issues early on.

Just try to enjoy him and do not worry.

My son is 6 months and I have the same issue. I stopped breast feeding thinking that would help and it has not. I wish I did not stop because formula is so expensive, time consuming and breast feeding is so much better for the baby.

If the pediatrician isn't concerned, you shouldn't be either. All my kids (4) were breastfed at least a year and they were always on the small side of the growth charts. By the way, the charts are based on formula-fed babies. There is another chart for breast-fed babies. See link:

http://www.promom.org/bf_info/growth.html

Please don't stop breastfeeding. You're doing a great job!!!!

I had a similar problem with my daughter, who is now 3 1/2 and still very tiny (she's 26 pounds). She just recently made it onto the charts, but she wasn't on there at all after her first few months of life. For over a year I went from one specialist to another; they put her on a feeding tube,and tested her for many things. She is my 4th, so I believed deep down that she was fine. Developmentally I felt she was where she should be, but the doctors make you doubt yourself, so I went ahead with all the tests. I breastfed her for about a year and a half, and finally stopped as I thought that might help, but she continued to stay small. I spoke to a nutritionist several times, and tried to increase the calories she consumed, but she has never been (and still isn't) a good eater. Finally when she was 2 1/2 I went to the Children's Hospital in Philadelphia to see a gastroenterologist there, since I was not happy with the one I was seeing here. She was still telling me there was a problem with my daughter. I felt that this doctor only looked at the numbers and not at the healthy child sitting right in front of her. The doctor at CHOP did a few tests, and told me she believed she was healthy, just small (like me; I am 5 2", and was very small as a child). Anyway I had her tested for the pre school handicapped program about 6 months ago (as they also said her head was too small and she might have trouble due to that), and developmentally she is where she should be. At her 3 year check up she was on the charts (just barely, but she is there), and is thriving in all areas.
Good luck with everything, and I hope it all turns out well for you. I wouldn't give up breastfeeding if you want to continue it; I don't believe it will put more weight on your child, and I feel it is the best gift you can give your child.

I didn't quite understand what else your son eats except breast milk and formula. I'd think that at 9 months he can eat pretty much everything, regular table food. So, if he gets 3-4 regular feedings and still not gaining weight - I guess it's okey, as he's very active...that way you know you offered him variety of nutrition. And you can breastfeed him in the morning and at night (but at 9 months, it's more for comfort than for real nutrition,though it's still very healthful).
Offer him more variety of food and if it's not enough he'll ask for more. Don't worry, he gets there.

My daughters have always been below the growth curves. The key is if your child is growing on a curve, it is their own curve. Think of the percentages as someone has to be in each spot, not everyone can be 50% percentile or there wouldn't be a 1% and a 99% number. We went crazy with weekly then biweekly then monthly weight checks and every time the doctor said everything was ok. Don't get yourself all worked up about food intake. The great thing about babies is they stop when they aren't hungry and cry when they are.

Not all babies are cute and chubby. I have a 10 yr old granddaughter who is not as large as her 8 yr old sister. She has always been small but not at birth. She's a picky eater but the dr says she is OK. She plays soccer and swims whenever she can get to water. She is rarely out of school due to illness and same is true of home. If you are very concerned, get a second opinion.

Don't quit breastfeeding. Nurse as frequently as you and your baby want to - you can figure out how much he's getting by pumping out a full breast and then doing the math, if you feel that's necessary, but he really would be upset and drinking more formula if he was hungry for milk. Try out some foods with healthy fats, like mashed avocado, now that he's on solids too. And don't worry, and don't look at the numbers, and try to enjoy your son's babyhood :)

My oldest son has always been small. He was a skinny baby. I, too, was concerned about his weight gain with exclusive breastfeeding. Some people recommended supplementing, including one pediatrician. I was lucky enough to fall into a wonderful la leche league group when he was about 8 months old. These women werer incredibly supportive. They encouraged me to keep at it. As long as he was thriving and happy, there was no problem. His weight was always low, but his height was increasing nicely, like your baby's. Not all babies are supposed to be chubby. Mine was not, and he is now 8, still very lean, but amazingly strong. His body type is much like my grandfather's - a bit on the short side, very this, but strong as a horse. He seemed scrawny until the past year and now he looks as strong as he is.

I was concerned that maybe I did not make enough milk. Well, if you could see my exclusively breastfed twins - you would know that I have no problem making milk. They are very big and chubby, taking after my husband's stocky body-type. I suggest that you relax and try to enjoy breastfeeding and not worry so much about whether he is ok - it sounds like he is and you doctor has confirmed this. Breastmilk is the absolute best thing for babies. Formula is processed food, not as good. If you must use it or really hate the idea of breastfeeding, it is one thing. It sounds like you enjoy breastfeeding, though, and so does your son. Infancy is very short. Try to take your nursing time as a breather - your time to relax and enjoy the quiet closeness of your baby. Tell yourself to breath and close your eyes. I had a hard time relaxing when breastfeeding too for the same reason. It is a lot like learning to meditate. It is nature's way of teaching mom to relax and breath -- something that will be very helpful as your baby becomes a little monkey and starts making you crazy getting in to everything! Good luck!
L.

Hey R., I just wanna say that I always worry about my son as well. He seems like he never wants to eat and is very thin, but the doctor says he's fine. So I just try not to think about it, he seems happy. I don't think you need to worry about a certain amount of ounces any more. Just give him as much as he wants.

My son is the same way. He is 6 months old and 14 lbs, 7 oz and 25 3/4 in tall. He has always been small. He is between the 5th and 10th percentile for weight and 25 for height. He only gains about a pound a month. My doctor is not concerned because he has always been small and he is also very active and is growing consistently. He is breastfed and we just started solids last week. He also has a bit of a cows milk protein allergy and does not take a bottle so I was not able to give any regular formula. I also don't eat dairy because of his allergy. (I'm assuming that is your reason for the alimentum so remember that the milk and other dairy products that you consume pass into your milk and if he has a milk protein allergy it can cause diarrhea and other problems for him that will decrease his weight.) You should definitely keep breastfeeding. Also remember that your baby can get out more milk than you are able to pump, so just because you are not able to pump very much does not mean that you don't have enough milk. Your body will increase production with increased demand. So if you started breastfeeding him more often and decreasing the formula, then your body would respond by making more milk. I'm sure you have enough milk. Does he have enough wet diapers? As long as he has enough wet diapers then you know he is getting enough. I would not increase the formula. Some kids are just naturally smaller. Since he is growing taller and gaining weight, he is getting enough food. Another thing to think about is that those growth charts include all kids and breastfed kids are naturally smaller, because they are able to self-regulate the amount of milk they take in. in the first few minutes of breastfeeding, the milk is thinner and more watery (foremilk) to quench their thirst and then after that it gets thicker with a higher fat content(hindmilk) to help them feel full. So once they have had enough hindmilk, they stop. Formula-fed kids often over-eat because the bottles are easier to eat from since it just pours out of the nipples so quickly and there is no difference in the fat content from beginning to end. So they get full but their bodies don't get the chance to realize it so they continue eating. Plus, parents often encourage their kids to finish the bottle even if they are not hungry, while this doesn't happen with breastfeeding. Not only that, many moms quit breastfeeding by 3 months when they have to go back to work, and the kids are then exclusively formula-fed. This is why you have your 20 pound 4-month-olds out there. Formula-fed kids may be more at risk of obesity in the future. So our sons may actually be healthier than the others. They are getting the proper nutrition and immunities that breastfeeding provides. Also solid foods have less fat than breast milk, so feeding more solids is not going to make you son any bigger. Just keep feeding him as often as he likes and as long as your pediatrician is not worried, then be happy that you have a healthy son. By breastfeeding, you are doing the best for him!
Go to http://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns/growth/index.html for more information about this. This is a great site for breastfeeding moms.

I don't think you have anything to worry about. He's not gaining weight because he's burning it up too fast! Your son is lucky to have a high energy level and good metabolism. If he's getting taller, his bones (and everything else) are growing well. Believe me - if he were hungry or malnourished at all, he'd let you know, and he certainly wouldn't have the energy to be moving around constantly!

I have 2 little boys who were exactly the same way - 1-5th percentile. Breastfed babies are smaller than formula fed babies, and I'll bet you and your husband are thin as well. If your pediatrition isn't worried, then you shouldn't be. My 1 year old is still in the 1st percentile still but I'm confident that he'll follow in my 3-year olds footsteps and soon be in the 10th like he is.

Hi R., I did have a similar situation. Our first was breast fed for 6 months then bottle (formula) fed for 9 months. She was always 50% or above in weight. Our second has been excusivly breast fed for a year and she's only in the 5th % for weight. I believe the formula made the difference. Even though our second started table food almost two months sooner than our first she's still smaller than her sister was at the same age. To try to increase the calories in my breast milk to fatten up my second daughter I drank one to two Ensures a day. And I drink a whey protien shake made with whole milk once a day if I don't have the second Ensure. And believe it or not I haven't gained weight myself from it. Now that she's one and we're weening our ped gave us the ok to give her some healthy but high calorie substitutes; shakes made with ice cream and Carnation instant breakfast, one to two Pediasures a day, whole milk and cheese, a cookie every now and then and real butter on noodles and veggies. 9 months is a little too young for that but it's something to try in a few months. Plus it sounds like he burns a lot of calories with how active he is. I know it's hard to give up breast feeding, I've been there, but maybe some more formula wouldn't be a bad idea. Good luck.

C. R

R.,

I have nursed 4 babies...exclusively nursing, and all of them were different sizes. My girls are very small, but my boys are average, and all of them nursed the same. I don't think nursing has anything to do with it. Our society is so concerned about size, but the truth it, there is a great deal of variation, and size is not always and indicator of health. My last baby weaned at 17 months, ate solid foods from 6 months and was eating very healthy at that, but she still is around the 5th percentile for height and weight. Her brothers were always between 80 and 90 percentile, and her sister is only a little bigger than her at 10th percentile. I'm not worried, and I don't think you should be either. It is possible to be over or under the charts. My daughter's head is way off the top of the charts even though her height and weight are very low...does she have a brain problem...no...only a genetically large head she inherited from her father, poor girl!! Oh, but she is not freakish looking at all...just wears adult sized hats already at age 3!! My point is that there are incredible size variations between all people, especially as babies and children, and that is nothing to worry about.

As for nursing...I am a huge advocate of it and would never suggest someone stop nursing. It is a simple situation of supply and demand. Let your baby demand more...nurse more often...and your supply will follow. Be sure you are drinking plenty of fluids and don't worry about ounces. He could just be small...and that is OK!!

Oh, and any doctor who suggests formula supplementation is uneducated about nursing. Our bodies are designed to make everything our babies need. This supplementation can actually hurt your supply. Of course I'm not a doctor and don't know you or your baby's history, but I would not listen to that kind of advice!!

D.

I wouldn't worry about his weight if your doctor isn't. My daughter just turned 2 this month and is still 23 pounds. She has been this weight for about 6 months. She is just very active. My doctor just tells me that give her food when she wants something. Some kids just have a fast metabolism. As long as her is healthy you have nothing to worry about.
Jenn

R., I have 3 kids two of which were breastfed and supplemented with formula, b/c I too felt that the breast wasn't enough and those two were the smallest of my 3. They also were very active and were never "chubby" babies. Forget about those charts and statistics, as long as your pediatrician is fine with your son's weight and he is hitting his milestones don't worry. Plus I think the Alimentum, Nutramigen types of forumula's I think have something to do with it also. My third baby was not breastfed and had regular formula and she was twice the size of the other two. I also fed them both thru the night until they were 8 mos. hoping that would help with weight gain, but it didn't. If he wasn't getting enough food he would not be thriving, if he is active-he's thriving. My two oldest are now 8 & 6 and are still very petite for their age-but very healty.
Don't worry and enjoy your son.

Hi There,
I am in the same situation with my 2 year, 8 month old daughter. She has just re-entered falling on the charts after she slipped off after 2 mos of age. She currently weighs 23 lbs. and at 9 mos. only weighed about 14 lbs and a few oz. My almost 6 month old son weighed that a month ago! So, each child is different. My daughter has always been active and developing on target physically and cognitively, so the Dr. never worried. She was crawling at 7 mos, and walking at 11 mos. As long as your baby is developing normally and not acting hungry, I am sure he is fine. A young child will let you know if he is hungry.
One thing I did was to mix formula with cereal rather than water. Her pediatrician also said that once they start finger foods like pasta, add healthy fats like olive oil to it, and put butter on toast etc. At his age he may also like the yo-baby yogurt, but ask your pediatrician because he may still be young for that. Just read your babies cues and as long as he is happy and developing normally, he is fine. My daughter is still tiny, but is doing just fine (and she eats a healthy diet).

Good Luck!

Did you know that those growth charts are based on formula fed babies, not breastmilk fed babies? If your ped isn't worried, I wouldn't be either.

Is he guzzling down formula after nursing or not so interested? If you are tossing formula because he doesn't drink it, he may not need it.

Listen to your pediatrician and ignore anyone thats says your baby is skinny. Thin is good!!!Fat is BAD!!!!My biological babies were good eaters and healthy looking, but not fat. Then I got a 1 y/o foster child that was downright puny. I obsessed over his weight for a long time and then decided to listen to his doctor who said if he isnt sick and is active dont worry. That was 21 years ago and I eventually adopted that puny kid and he is now a very athletic and muscular 5' 9" adult. He has never had more than a cold and is still very active.

R.,
Good for you for wanting the best for your baby - and giving it to him! You will never know the exact amount your baby is getting - AND THAT IS OKAY. He is moving, he is happy, and he is not wasting away.

I just went down this road - it was a combination of too little nursing, too crazy hormones, ceasing oatmeal for 2 weeks, and not enough water. I increased the nursing - my son didn't mind at all. The hormones I can't do anything about, but the water and oatmeal I could! (My husband made me oatmeal cookies for months, and during vacation, we ran out.)

Don't quit because you feel like you don't have enough milk.

The more you nurse, the more milk you will create for him.

Drink water while you are nursing, not just after. (even if it is just a few sips - yes I know they are interested in what you are doing, but it helps!)

Pumping will help increase your supply too.

If you want, there are herbs that are supposed to help, too. Fenugreek and Blessed Thistle. They are both in Mother's milk tea (which I have to doctor with honey or brown sugar, but it's not entirely bad).

Overall, it is nursing more often that will help build your supply. The more your son empties your breast, the more your body will respond and supply.

Don't forget your vitamins, also, so you're not depleting all your resources in all this - I know when I've forgotten mine - I'm just feeling drained.

There is no need to quit - you CAN do this!

Good Luck!
M.

Well, you're worring because you are a parent and that goes with the territory (awful isn't it?). If your doctor is not concerned and baby is happy, everything is (most likely) fine. Someone else out there is probably worrying the opposite of you: Will my baby ever crawl and be active? My baby is so chubby (& cute), do I need to restrict his eating?

My son (18mo) is in the 3-5% for height and weight and is thriving. It's very cute to see an 18mo old walking and running around in his 9-12 mo size clothes. Strangers seem to *love* it!

Kids won't let themselves starve. As I've been reminded many times! He's going to start "real" food more and more and will maybe go through my son's five day phase of "I only eat bananas" Feeding was one of my big hot button concerns. You aren't doing anything wrong, I enjoyed "Child of Mine: Feeding with Love and Good Sense" by Ellyn Satter and actually am entering a new phase and may check it out from the library again.

Also, what is the range on those charts anyway? 1%=xlbs and 99% = x+5lbs or is it x+15? It's just general information and only guide. And a way to make parents crazy and competitive.

I wouldn't worry one bit! Some babies are small just as some adults are, plus he sounds very active. My baby loves mashed avocado and I add egg yolks to her morning cereal 3 to 4 days a week. You could try those kinds of things for added healthy fats and calories.

Breastfeeding is a wonderful benefit for both you and your baby. Continue as long as you can and supplement if you feel it's necessary. If he's hungry you'll know it!

Breastfeeding him should not really affect his weight. I breastfed both my kids and they gained weight accordingly. It could be genetic. Were you or your husband tiny as infants? I agree with another poster too....do you feed your child any food? At this point he should be eating baby food and starting table food. If he's only drinking, that could be the reason for not gaining weight.
Don't stress...they all catch up eventually.

I'm assuming that your son has an allergy to milk protein if he's drinking alimentum formula....this allergy alone could be why he's on the thinner side, and yes, that type of formula is absolutely disgusting compared to breast milk and regular formula. So, that could be why he's not drinking it. I breastfed my son for the first year, and he had an allergy to dairy (I couldn't eat any at all while I nursed him). At the end when I was weaning him, I got nutramagen (enfamil's version of alimentum) and I had to put a splash of white grape juice in it just to get him to drink it! I would keep doing what you're doing instead of switching him totally over to the formula, because breastmilk actually has more calories per ounce than formula so his chances of gaining weight are better when you're nursing. Babies all grow at their own rate, though and his size is probably more genetic than anything.

Hi R.!! Keep nursing that little guy!!!!!! It's important to you, your son is fine and your ped. isn't worried PLUS it's the best thing you can give him!! You had other good suggestions here as well to check out the other chart made for breastfed babies. Don't worry...if you notice a change in his behavior, if he stops playing as much or anything weird, then that would raise concern and I'd bring him back to see the doctor. Otherwise, don't worry. :)

Hi Rpz,

If your pediatrician isn't worried then you shouldn't. My daughter just turned 13 months and I breastfed her exclusively. She wasn't even 18 pounds at her 12 month check up. She's in the 5th percentile for weight. She's constantly on the go, she crawls everywhere. My doctor told me the same thing. I think it's pretty normal. Most of my friends have kids who weren't on the chart at all when it came to weight. I know it can be hard because as a mom you feel like you're doing something wrong - not offering the right food, formula feeding vs. breastfeeding, not offering food often enough, offering too much...there's way too much to worry about if you let it! If your son is healthy and happy and the doc is not worried, I would just try to relax and enjoy your baby. The time flies by! It sounds like you're doing a great job!

B.

I breastfed both my kids exclusively and they were both underweight according to the charts. As long as he is growing and the Doctor is not worried I would not worry. The growth chart is a wide scale and not every kid goes exactly like the chart. If he isn't crying to eat and he isn't eating the formula, you are giving him enough milk and I would continue to nurse him. My kids are almost 4 and 6 and they are still tall and underweight according to the charts. They eat a lot but just are on the skinner side. That is their body makeup. I wouldn't worry.
P.

It really sounds like you are doing everything right. If your baby isn't crying because he is hungry, then don't worry yourself sick about it. Although easy to say, not so much to do - I still worry and I am on my third kid. What also helps is that he is on solids, so although you are still nursing him he is getting a lot of nutrients from the solids as well as you. Then he might not need as much nursing or formula (think of it like a drink with your dinner). Do what you are comfortable with. There will come a time (each baby is different) where you will be able to tell if the nursing is really just the comfort of being close to you rather than a main food source.
That fact that your boy is growing well but not reaching some of the things on the charts - like weight and so on would be something to watch but if he appears happy and healthy, go with your instincts. Every baby is different and so what if he doesn't meet the average statistics of babies his age. I wasn't a very chubby baby according to my mom and almost off the charts for being underweight in comparison to my height - I was always very tall and extremely active - and through life until I had kids and my metabolism changed. Interestingly enough all of my kids have been almost off the chart in the other direction for height and weight (yet all are very healthy and slim, and active). So keep doing what your doing, trust yourself and stay aware of how your son is changing and growing (and relax enough to enjoy it). Good luck!

Please don't stop breastfeeding over this. I know exactly how you feel--had the same problem, only my doctor kept telling me my son was too small, that I needed to get more calories into him, etc. My son is in the 5th percentile for both height and weight! Same thing--he's always been small, but very active. I thought that giving him solids would finally make him gain. Then I thought that once I introduced cow's milk, he would gain. I thought I was making skim milk, because I saw so many other off-the-charts, big breastfed babies! Well, I finally decided to let go of my expectations, and I realized that he is who he is. He's a small guy--doesn't mean he always will be, but genetically, my husband's side of the family is slighter and on the shorter side. Small doesn't equal bad, abnormal or unhealthy. It's just hard to remember that when everybody loves a big baby!

Oh, and I ditched my pediatrician. I toook my son to another pediatrician for a second opinion-- this doctor took one look at him and said he's perfectly fine and healthy. (My former pediatrician had been pushing for invasive testing and extensive bloodwork, nutritionists, GI doctors, etc.) This new pediatrician does not rely on the charts, because he said the biggest indicator is genetics, and the charts do not take genetics into account! He said my son is healthy and active, and that there is nothing to worry about--no need to supplement anything, or increase calories, etc.

So please take it from me--take your mind off the charts, relax, enjoy your beautiful, healthy and happy baby. And keep breastfeeding because it's the best thing you can do! (Someone mentioned he is only nursing for comfort, not nutrition. That isn't true. He may be nursing for comfort, and doesn't need to rely solely on your milk at this point, but he will ALWAYS benefit nutritionally from your milk no matter why he is nursing or how old he is.) Good luck to you.

im probaly repeating some stuff so forgive me. i would wonder about the supplementation factor prescribed by the doc originally as if you had a true milk shortage, which is very unusual, she should have directed you first to someone who could have helped with that like a lactation consultant. but seeing the current situation, i would wonder if your body hasnt increased or "upped" it. every few weeks my daughter seems to eat continuously for a few days, then goes back to normal. i assume its her trying to get my body to make another ounce no different than a baby with a bottle wanting more after eating. maybe those times you fed him the formula, your body didnt get the hint to make more?
have you tried pumping after feedings or at night to build supply? and also i have heard lots about fenugeek? and just feed him more feedings, maybe even one in the middle of the night where he doesnt fully wake. if you are really concerned, get him to drink more breastmilk. solids are supposed to compliment formula or breastmilk, not replace it, as he still is getting what he needs from them. please dont think you arent able to make enough, you can if you increase the amount of times he is on you. if you are concerned, remember breastmilk is better nutritionally than the formula, so you are doing him more good by the breastfeeding, dont forget that. you cant go by ounces as all babies are different and all babies are eating different amounts of solids(just make sure he isnt filling up on the solids, get the breastmilk in him first, then the solids, to make sure he is getting enought milk).
is he gaining weight at all? how much has he gone down? is there anything else you may be concerned about that may be related? dont worry about the numbers. if he has always been 5%, thats better than if he was 5% then jumped to 55%. thats a concern, but if he is maintaining about the same, i wouldnt be concerned. but i may just ask for a CBC just to make sure everything looked ok. my neice is 8 yrs old and in the 2%. she got her hand xrayed and she measures as a 6yr old(hand measuring is the way they see if a child is truly small for their age). the doctor did a few tests to eliminate everything, and then said she appears fine. some kids are small and thats ok, its just you dont want a child dropping too much on the chart.
on a side note i fed my first daughter alimentum, and in reading, it would be preferred to be on regular formula vs alimentum/nutramigen from a nutritional standpoint, and i agree completely that its tastes awful. breastmilk is sweet tasting and your son probaly prefers that.
oh, another thing, maybe pump at night before bed, then freeze that. then you are building it up, and at the same time, when he is still hungry, have him suck for a few minutes to help you build, then give him the bottle of breastmilk, he may really enjoy the taste.
sorry if this is all jumpy, im tired but wanted to reply. you can make enough milk for him, so never doubt yourself or your body, you can do it. dont worry about the numbers too much but dont ignore them either. to set your mind at ease, maybe see a specialist, but dont go crazy. just follow your gut and take into consideration, if he is happy and appears healthy, dont worry too much. good luck amd dont give up on nursing, its the best food for him!!!

Hi R.,
I had the same issue with my son who is now 2 and still very low on the weight charts. My son in very active, eats well and is just a thin child. As long as your son in active, healthy and happy there is nothing to worry about. Since he is eating solids now, that and nursing should be plenty for him. If he doesn't want to take the formula it is ok. Children know when they are full and will stop eating. If you feel low on milk, then he may just be self weaning. My son stopped nursing at 9 months and I gave him 2 bottles of formula a day until he could go on milk at 12 months.

I also have a small boy. He was exclusively breastfed until 12- 13mo before he would even touch solid food. As long as he doesn't seem hungry, your ped isn't worried and he's growing you shouldn't be too concerned. The growth charts used by peds are normed on formula fed babies who tend to be chubbier. My little guy has been off the weight chart since he was a newborn but I found that he is steadily in the 10-25 percentile on the WHO (World Health Organization) growth charts. The WHO growth charts are normed on breast fed babies. Here's the link: http://www.who.int/childgrowth/standards/en/

Hi R.,
My little girl small, she weighs in at only 18 lbs and she is 14 months old, but she is healthy and active and an early walker and talker. She never stops moving and is into everything, but she is in the "less than 3rd percentile" on growth charts so I hope my experience with a small baby will help you.
First of all, if your son is growing, and not fussy and crying after nursing then he IS getting enough milk. A happy baby is usually a healthy baby, You definately do not need to give up breast feeding ( or even supliment in my opinion). Sometimes it is hard not knowing exactly how much they are eating, but he will let you know if he is not getting enough. Now is a great time to introduce some basic sign language so that your son can easily comunicate with you when he is hugry or wants to nurse. I introduced signs at 8 months and by 10 months my daughter could tell me if she was hungry, thirsty, wanted more of something or wanted to nurse. Because she can comunitcate so easily, it saves us both a lot of confusion and frustration.
If you are worried about your milk supply, make sure you are eating and drinking enough. To produce enough calories for your son, you need to eat a high quality diet full of healthy fats. Try eating more nuts, avacado, salmon, and whole milk ( try to get one w/o growth hormones though). Drink plenty of water and get plenty of rest. They sell fenugreek teas and supliments to help improve your milk supply. My lacatation consultant at the hospital also told me that a dark beer every night can do wonders for your milk, and I found it really works!
Try to offer your son food ( breast milk and solids) often. I sometimes find that it is hard for my daughter to sit down at the table to eat because she is so active, but if i let her snack and eat as she plays, she will eat a lot more. Introduce foods with a high good fat content for him too ( avacodo, salmon ect).
I recomend contacting your local La Leche Legue for more advice on nursing and nutrion for both you and your son.

Stick with it!

Best of Luck!

My advice would be, if your baby is hitting all his milestones, RELAX! Try not to compare him to what you think he should be doing(weighing) and just enjoy him...your peditrican is'nt worried...that's a really good sign...if he were tiny and not meeting milestones that would be a red flag but he sounds fine to me! Good luck and enjoy him!

Yes, I had the exact same situation with my daughter. All during my pregnancy she was the 75% to 80% percentile. She was 7lbs 11oz born, 19.5 inches long. A perfectly good size, and she was born 10 days early. So, I think that is a decent sized baby. She lost a little in the hospital, as all babies do, and then gained a bit of it back. But, then really wasn't gaining much more of it back. It took her all month to get back to her birth weight. I was a wreck! Breastfeeding was also not going well. She'd latch on (after 20 minutes) and eat for a while and either fall asleep or scream and cry at the breast. Wake up 10 minutes later, and want more feeding. I couldn't keep her awake to feed her. I started seeing lactation consultants, and we learned her latch was pretty weak. I was there for 45 minutes while my daughter was nursing, they weighed her and she only gained 1.5 oz. So, she was barely sucking my milk out. I had plenty too. My lactation consultant said I just had to let her keep nursing as long and as frequently as she wanted to. Well, 45 or 1.5 hours a clip? I was already a walking zombie! I tried, I did, but ended up supplementing. also, she had reflux. So, we took some medication for that too. After a couple weeks, things started to get better. But, she's always staying in the 10-20% percentile for weight, and 80% for height. It's just her frame. She still isn't a big eater. She prefers to eat lots of little meals, just as she did as an infant. BTW, she's 21 months now. She is healthy, active, alert... it's just her way. I know it's hard. But, really try to focus on how he behaves physically. You can also try to introduce one more bottle in his day...and extra snack...to get a few more calories in.

My daughter has always been tiny too.... But, you have to look at how big you and your husband are... if neither of you is big, or if one of you is small, then your son could be taking after you.
My daughter will be 10 yrs old in november but is the size of a 5 to 6 year old. When we looked at the charts to compare her to other kids her age, she was always 'too little' compared to them. But she created her own 'curve' on the charts and it was consistant.
By the time she was 4 years old, she wasn't even on the charts anymore, she was still on the 2 year old charts. My husband is a very small man (130 lbs) and I am very short....so she gets it naturally.

My doctors told me that as long as she kept her own curve (like the charts show) and it is consistant, not to worry about her size. She's just a small girl.

I do believe that if he is hungry for more he would act as if he needed more breastmilk. If you are able to pump on top of feeding him you are obviously producing enough. Plus, if he is eating solids now I'm sure it is easier to monitor his intake. With breastfeeding there isn't any true guideline to how many ounces a baby needs. I believe that they take what they need. He's probably just a little guy and giving him breastmilk for as long as you have is wonderful. He's getting the most optimal nutrients he can possibly get. I'm sure there is nothing to worry about when it comes to feeding him. I may get another opinion from a different doctor about his muscle mass if that seems to be a problem, but if he's very active then I don't think there should be any worry.

Hi R., It is very normal to worry especially when we are new at being a mom. You said your baby is small. Are the mom and dad small people? Even so, if the doctor is not worried then you can rest and just keep on being the great mom you are. Your baby knows when he has had enough. They are very smart, only small. He will grow at his own pace. Many Blessings, Grandma Mary

hi - i didnt read the previous responses so forgive me if i repeat anything...my son is now 13 months and has never gone above 10% for weight...he's just 20 lbs. now - He is a slim baby. i nursed him until 1 week ago, also supplemented with formula starting at 6 months and started him on table food. He east soo much now and is so active - i wouldnt worry about it! just make sure you feed him protein, chicken/pork/beans and lots of veggies! i wouldnt worry so much...as long as he is a healthy and happy baby, you are a lucky girl!

I'm sure you will get a lot of advice. If I were you, I'd stop with the formula. Nurse your baby untill he's done. If he seems like he wants more than put him back to your breast, if he wont take it, try breastmilk from a bottle, or offer some baby food. Remember to nurse before offering anything else, solids aren't ment to replace any breastmilk. After saying that. Take a look at your sons weight did he double his lowest weight around 6 or 7 monhts. Is he gaining weight and not losing? Is he meeting all his milestones? Is he happy? if your answer is yes to those questions then he's fine. Now after saying that...I nursed my daugher till she was 9 month. She was 5lbs 15oz when we brought her home, the first few months she gained 2lbs a month, then around 4 months it started to slow down. She seemed like she never wanted to nurse and I was offering every 2 hours. I was getting stressed which wasn't helping. She was such a busy baby and didn't want to sit still to nurse (she probably would have if I let her go longer between feedings) so I started giving bottles. She eventualy got used to the bottles and would be able to drink faster so she gave up the boob. Still she'll be 22 months on the 6th and is 33" and only 20lbs. I don't even think her weight is on the charts. She's a very busy little thing and never stops moving. She's healthy, and very advanced for her age. She has had blood work done a few times because the dr's were worried but everything came back normal. She's just a tiny little girl. So don't stress, some babies are just small.

If you want to know how much food he's taking at a feeding from your breast, lactation consultants can measure before and after a feeding... at least with newborns they can, to tell how many ounces they're getting from the breast. Maybe a 9-month ld would wander off the scale!

Our son hovered at the 5th-10th percentile for age until almost age 2, and it really was that he weighed so little he could be more active (lie jumping with both feet off the ground at 15 months). He's healthy as can be and has come to 25th% for weight. (Height was always 50th%).

Good luck with whatever decision you make. Don't second-guess yourself; don't let others judge you for the decisions you make. We could all drive ourselves mad that way!