What can I do to make my 5 month old gain weight?

Question

My son turns 5 months this week. When he was born he weighed a normal 7 lbs 1 oz. Now he is hardly on the charts in the one percent range. It took him a month to gain his birth weight back and the doctors have always pushed to give him formula. I am not able to pump enough while I am at work so he does get about two bottles a day. When I nurse him I nurse on demand and make sure he finishes. He always seems satisfied and is actually quiet a normal 5 month old as far as milestones. His doctor even told me he is about two months advance. But I am worried about his weight. He is so small! I am not going to give up breastfeeding as I want him to have all the good antibodies that are in my milk. Also if I start giving him solids that might be more of a problem because most solids do not have a high calorie or fat intake like formula or breastmilk. So does anyone have any suggestions or ever had a baby that was healthy but just small?

Answer 1

Im going through a similiar thing. If your baby is reaching all the milestones and doesnt act hungry or crying alot, then I wouldnt be to concerned. If he seems happy and content then maybe he just wont be a big baby. At his next checkup, Id ask the doctor what he thinks about the weight gain. Good luck!

Answer 2

i wish i knew. personally i have the same problem with my daughter she is 18 months old. she weighs 19 pounds. my son is 4 months old and he weighs 18 pounds i weighed them at the doctors yesterday. i have tried so hard to make my daughter gain weight. and she just doesn't. she is skinny as a bean pole. my son i feed him the same way i fed my daughter. and he has gained alot of weight. he was born 8.8 pounds but has gained 10 pounds since birth. my daughter was born at 5.12 pounds and has only gained 15. and there is 14 months age difference. i mean as long as your child is healthy and happy and is eating well balanced meals, don't worry about it. my poor daughter isn't even on the line of the 10th percentile. she is below it. my daughter has never been sick except 1 bad cold she got from my husband and 1 fever that lasted only 1 night. so she is very healthy no allergies nothing. i say that is the way God made her to be i m not doing anything wrong, because like i said my son eats now as she ate at that age and he is huge. so it is all about metabolism and different body types.  

Answer 3

I've attempted to help a few women in similar situations, however they ultimately turned to formula despite the fact that for at least one they pumped and supplemented (at the breast) more milk than a baby should drink during a day.  Most moms do not see any improvement to gain once they add formula, particularly those have diligently made sure that their baby is getting enough breast milk.

There is some blood work that should be done if it hasn't already, basically to check that the baby is getting enough of certain nutrients (particularly iron, zinc and B vitamins), and to make sure the baby's thyroid is functioning properly and usually they check for certain growth hormones.  Also the baby should have been thoroughly checked for obvious infections as well as some other rare diseases.  All of this is a long shot but should be done, if you don't feel your doctor is taking this seriously because he or she believes your baby would gain fine if only you would put the baby on formula then you need to find a new doctor.

Also you need to make sure that you are using a breastfed baby chart:

http://www.who.int/childgrowth/standards... (To convert lbs and oz to kg just go to google and type something like: 7lbs 1oz to kg and the answer will be just above the search results)

The standard advice to increase weight gain are:

-Reduce or eliminate non-breastmilk foods

-As much skin-to-skin contact as possible

-Co sleep (including room sharing)

-Nurse on demand and do not restrict time at the breast, consider breast compressions

-Baby massage

-In general make sure the baby is not under stress

How might I increase baby's weight gain?

http://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns/gro...

PS Can I ask your baby's current weight and length?

Answer 4

Don't worry as long as your Doctor says his weight is normal he's fine. All three of my children were larger at birth 8'2, 8'13, and 8'4. In the beginning I thought I was going to have these chunky babies but they turned out very small. I was also concerned, but my doctor said genetics also play a factor in your baby's weight. Your baby might gain a little weight if you start feeding him baby food at about six months ( in addition to breast milk). Good luck and again don't worry. Also, smaller babies tend walk sooner.