Dax is a big boy. Like 16 pounds at three months. When the pediatrician saw him, he smirked, "Well he obviously isn't having any problems gaining weight." And I laughed. He's well over the 90th percentile.
Part of me kind of thinks these growth charts are a little bogus though. Perhaps they might need to be updated or something. I mean if 20 percent of the kids these days are over the 90th percentile, doesn't that mean the chart is off? Only 10 percent of kids should be over the 90th percentile. That's how percentiles work. It sure seems to me like lots of kids are in that high range now. When was the last time they updated that thing? Isn't it possible that through growth and evolution and all that that we as a species ARE getting a little bigger?
I obviously love my little guy, big or small, BUT I can't help but wonder if I'm doing something wrong. Dax eats every 2-4 hours when he's hungry. He is exclusively breastfed. He sleeps in five to eight hour stretches at night. Everything I've read says you can't overfeed a breastfed baby. But then again, what does anybody really know? Isn't it all just speculation?
My mom instincts say that he is perfect and fine and that I'm doing everything right by him. His hefty weight makes me feel like he's a survivor storing up fats and food. If he were a cave baby he'd be mighty hearty stock. He'd definitely make it through the winter.
But still, one can't help but wonder. Especially with all the rounding out of kids these days. Is my adorable chunky baby going to be a rotund kid or adult? Everyone says, "He's going to be a linebacker." And I laugh. But inside I'm kinda like, "Really?"
Did any of your babies or anyone you know have babies in high percentiles? How'd they turn out? I've heard long and lean before. Fact? Fiction?
7 comments:
oh, both of my kids were enormous babies. E.NOR.MOUS. now they are both tall and lean. they still fall into the high percentiles, but it doesn't mean they are overweight. they are just big kids, and tall. their pediatrician told us when they were babies that if they were breastfed exclusively, they have a much lower risk for being obese and having diabetes later in life. i hope it's true!
you've got nothing to worry about, really! he's eating exactly what he's supposed to be eating.
Fiction! I'm a prime example of that and so is my brother and my nephew.... we were all 9 and 10 pounders... chunky monkeys as babies... tall and skinny as we grew! He'll be fine!
Dax sounds perfect. It's partly down to genes as well - ultimate size. My 3 were all breast fed, slept all night from an early age and ended up healthy and bright. I think lifestyle plays an important part in development.
On the other side your uncle was a tinny, tiny premature baby that took a couple of weeks to hit a weight that the hospital would let him be taken home. Now? Not so little! Quit worrying you will make yourself sick.
I have one of those babies too! He's huge! And I expected him to get a bit smaller on the graph because he was exclusively breastfed as well. Now he's having solids - he needed them. I think I should have started him earlier than I did even.
My brother was the same and is now long and lean, so I try not to worry about it.
Ok firstly I am loving your blog. love all your photos and I def. agree there is nothing wrong with following. ;)
I'd like to tell you that in my opinion you have nothing to worry about. Your son is healthy and beautiful and after talking with my sis-in-law who is a nurse. I too have peace of mind about my own concerns for my son. She said that for babies until well passed their 2nd b-day you feed them as much as they need when they need it. They are storing fat because that is needed for brain develpment. The more fat the more brain food.:) I think that is a good thing.
Around 2-3 years kids start to really lean out as they are a lot more mobile.
I have a friend with a little girl who is 13 mos old and just barely 15 pounds. She is worried because her little girl is really thin. the docs have done all kinds of testing and I would so rather have a chubby monkey then have to worry if my baby is not developing right or something along those lines.
I hope this was reassuring.
Thought you might find this interesting: http://thestir.cafemom.com/baby/113998/stop_the_growth_chart_mommy
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