6 Month Old and Weight Gain

Was the doctor concerned? If they didn't tell you there was a problem I wouldn't worry about it at all.

Kids will never starve themselves. I have 4 kids and there will be times when them will eat anything that isn't nailed down and other times they will barely have eaten enough that day to to fill a cup. Don't worry.

Unless the Dr said there was a problem you can rest assured that she will be ok.

Gosh, you sound like me when my daughter was that age. My daughter is very petite also. She's as healthy as can be. Don't worry. If she doesn't eat, she's not hungry. As I've been told by everyone, children will not starve themselves. My daughter's three and she's 25 - 27 pounds. I wouldn't worry about it because she sounds like a healthy eater.

Hi R.,

I just had the same situation with my girl at 6-month checkup. She's 15lbs now, but only gained 2-3 lbs since her 4-m checkup. I could've sworn she had gained a bunch and I was quite surprised of the result.

I suppose part of it is that she feels heavier after I carry her around all day long. Then again, the growth spurts may happen sporadically - one just before 4-m checkup and the next one now after 6-m checkup. I also breastfeed and she's been getting some cereal and fruit sauces (mainly for taste) since she was 5 months old.

My girl is fed on demand and she's been completely healthy since birth, so I suppose I shouldn't be too concerned about her weight. Good luck with your mom-journey!

Good advice from all the moms who also breastfed. It truly is a different scenario from formula-feeding! I had the same issues with both my kids (who were both breastfed), and just like Michelle S. had a doctor who made a huge issue out of it and wanted me to stop nursing. I ended up switching pediatricians over it! My kids gained weight very quickly in the first 2 months and then tapered off and slowed way down between 4 & 6 months (and yes, GASP! actually dropped percentile points!) You'll drive yourself crazy looking at the growth charts and percentiles, because as Katrina G. says the growth charts are based on formula-feeding, not breastfeeding. If your daughter appears healthy and is hitting her milestones, relax! You're doing a great job. And keep up the nursing!

Breastfed babies will start slow down in thier growth at about 6 months. This is normal. I wouldn't worry to much about the growth charts either. They are put out by the formula companies and the numbers are based on formula fed babies. BF babies grow at a diffrent rate than formula fed babies. You might want to read this article by Dr Jack Newman, he is a BFing specialist! http://www.nbci.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=...
Blessings, K.

Hi R.,
I wouldn't worry to much if your pediatrician isn't to concerned. My daughter at 6 months weighed a little over 13 lbs as well. I am very petite and so is my mother and her father. I am sure she is just fine and it is genetics. My daughter now is a week shy of 11 months and she is still very little at only 16.6 lbs. She is VERY healthy and eats all day long. If it worries you, bring it up at her next visit.
Best wishes!

Hi, I had the same issue with my daughter. Her pediatrician made such a big deal of it, I thought I was starving my daughter, etc. She wanted me to stop nursing, and all that. Well, my lacation consultant told me that sometimes it does take longer for a breastfed baby to gain the weight, especially the 1st 3-6 months, so I am sure all is well... If YOU, the Mom thinks she is OK, trust your instinct. I still nursed, but did give her 1 bottle of formula a day (each night). Although it depressed me to do it, it ended up being ok, cuz' I was able to do stuff in the night if I needed to leave the house, etc... Then I fired her and went somewhere else! ha! The other thing that I did was go to either the lacation nurse (they had weekly meetings at Palos), AND I went to Christ Hospital and I would weigh the baby, feed the baby, then weigh the baby....this way you could tell exactly how much your baby is eating!!! It always made me feel better.
The best of luck to you and your baby!!!!

The biggest question is not how much she weighs, but how she looks on her growth chart. My 6 month old weighs 21 lbs:) which is also perfectly healthy for her. She has always been in the 95% for weight, off the charts for height, so its fine. Dr.s become concerned when they see a drop in those percentages. Was she in the 25% and now she is in the 10% for her age? Then, I might be concerned. However, if she has always been in the 10% range..then no worries, she is just little:) If your doctor did not express concern, then it is likely not an issue. I would weigh her more often to see if there is a trend of gaining or losing, and then bring it up with the dr. if you notice something. Good luck..I am sure she is a happy and healthy little girl! ~A.~

She will be fine. My son was the same way. He's now 5 and just weighs 31.2 pounds and the average 3 year old is about his size or taller. In fact, his 3 year old sister is 5 inches shorter than him and is 4 pounds lighter. We took him to a growth specialist and after many tests and follow up visits, we were told not to worry and that we are on the short side (me, 5.2 an dmy husband is 5.7) so we should expect smaller sized kids.

I was told my husband was on the short side all the way thru highschool and then shot up (obviously not much). So, we are just playing the waiting game.

Oh, our doctor also suggested at a very young age (like your daughter) to give her lots of butter (it's good for brain development)

I wouldn't worry at this point, especially since you just started solids. That might make a difference. If you have a scale at home, I'd try checking her weight based on your scale and write that down. (Weigh yourself first, then weigh yourself holding baby & subtract your weight). Then, you can check it again in a couple weeks or a month & see how much she gains. I just looked up the weight chart & she her weight is on the low end of the chart, but not off the chart!!

I'm sure she will be just fine. Relax!

Sounds like my daughter. My daughter was an extremely slow weight gainer. She didn't double her weight until she was 9 months. At 12 months she didn't weigh 16lbs. She did finally make it onto the growth charts at 18 months and is. We went to see a lactation consultant a few times and she always ate the amount she should. We also went for weight checks and had blood work to make sure everything was fine. She is fine, just petite. I wouldn't worry.

Hi R.,
I wouldn't worry about it too much. My daughter has been in the 5th percentile since she was born. Her pediatrician kept telling me that as long as she stayed within her "growth range" (contined to grow and gain) she was fine. She was just like your daughter tiny but healthy. She is 1.5 now and still very petitie but has a really healthy apetite (she eats more than her 2.5yr old brother) and still in the 5th percentile. As long as you see that she is healthy and is growing she is fine. I hope this helps