A while back, I expressed concern with my doctor’s suggestion to fatten up my 18 month old. Benjamin has been in the 10th percentile for several months, save one spike on the chart. The doctor and I both agreed that this was most likely human error, but he scheduled a weight check for a month later, just to be sure.
I also assumed the doctor was uneasy about Benjamin’s previous perch at the top of the charts, during his 90th percentile infancy.
I didn’t like the idea of changing our diet, not when I put as much effort and research into food preparation as I do. So I whined a bit and drug my feet. Okay, I started making scrambled eggs with half and half. But they’re so much fluffier that way! And I began buying whole milk. But that was for the whole family. Because I’m trying to work my way through Nourishing Traditions, and that’s as big of a step as I can take right now towards raw milk.
I wasn’t sure what revelations the weight check would hold. Would Benjamin slip further down the charts, indicating a health problem or necessitating a drastic dietary change? Would he hold firm in his 10th percentile position, causing the doctor to seriously doubt my ability to raise healthy children? Or would a repeated 10th percentile standing merely prove my point that tininess runs in the family (paternally, that is…)?
Well, his weight didn’t change.
But he grew over an inch.
And the doctor smiled as he indicated the slight jump on the growth curve. In a “Relax, there’s nothing wrong” kind of way.
Just to be sure, I pointed to the beginning of the curve and asked if he was concerned about the drop in percentiles there.
He directed my attention to the ages beneath those dots. They were all six months and younger. And he explained to me that during the first six months of a baby’s life, their size has nothing to do with genetics. After that, genetics kick in – sometimes so strongly that all the food in the world doesn’t seem to make a difference.
We live in a largely mulitcultural community, and the doctor asked me if I had ever seen an Asian baby.
Why yes, I had. I used to babysit one. He said it always amazed him that for the first six months, they were about the size of their mothers. Then genetics kicked in and they drastically slimmed down.
The first six months’ growth is based on multiple factors, including hormones from the mother left from before birth! (Ahh, that explains it…)
So he’s skinny, and he’s short. But he’s healthy. So sorry, buddy, no ice cream for breakfast.
I’m so so glad that it turns out that your doctor is reasonable and that he was just being overly cautious. And yay for Benjamin for just being himself and for you for doing a great job! Big pat on the back to you!
Well that’s great news! Not only that Benjamin is healthy, but that you have a cautious and conscientious doctor. They can make you crazy, but you know they’re really paying attention to your children’s needs.
aww! yay! our kiddos are all huge babies, lol 🙂
I’m glad the weigh-in went well and I had no doubt that it would. You’re a great mom!
Glad everything went well! I had no idea that was true about the first six months of growth. How interesting! :o)
Oh, yeah, and my little boy’s 1/4 Oriental (I’m half), so I guess I should have figured that out, what with all the comments I received shortly after he was born — “Why, he’s almost as big as you!” Oh, wait. I still get those comments. I must just be little, too. lol
Check your baby book, Beth. It seems to me that you were small for your age for awhile.
Love you!!
Let me re-state that…
You, too were smaller than the norm as a toddler. Does that sound better?
My boy was a good-size baby (8 lb, 11 oz) and grew like crazy his first six months, but after that he slimmed down (his dad and I are both skinny…slender?). The doctor checked his blood at 15 months “just to be safe,” although he said he wasn’t really worried because he’d seen both his parents. He definitely went from the top of the charts to the lower part of the charts, but he is growing. Oh, and I have been working on incorporating Nourishing Traditions into my “routine,” as well! Definitely interesting!
My oldest was super chubby from birth to age 2. Seriously chubby. Born at 9’3″ and was never on the charts — she was over 100%ile. Then from 2 to 3 she gained 1 pound all year. I guess we could have been freaking out that she wasn’t gaining weight, but it seemed like her body was just working things out.
Figure most bodies know what to do MOST of the time. Glad you’re Benjamin is all healthy!
Our last 2 were 11 pounders but because of their long length, they slimmed out kinda fast. It’s good to look at genetics and other factors. If the child doesn’t show other ‘failure to thrive’ signs, just keeping an eye on growth is enough.
Speaking of NT, head over to realmilk.com for some good stats on the raw milk. It is THE best change we ever made in our diet (next to cod liver oil and coconut oil) and it is actually safer to eat than eating spinach or deli meat. I think Sally Fallon has the right idea…
So glad that your sweet boy is healthy and growing!